Tenure Track Faculty - Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

About the Role

Cal Poly Humboldt and the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry invite applicants for a full-time, academic year, tenure-track faculty position with an emphasis in Biochemistry, starting Fall 2027. This position will also partner with the new Health and Medical Sciences program as a student advisor and advisor to the program. Cal Poly Humboldt is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive community that supports students of diverse backgrounds.

Department Overview

The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry is an active undergraduate program certified by the American Chemical Society, serving 100+ majors in Chemistry & Biochemistry within the College of Natural Resources and Sciences. Biochemistry is a growing major; the majority of students participate in course-based and faculty-mentored research. The department houses modern instrumentation including: LC-MS, GC-MS, HPLC, 400MHz FT-NMR, UV-Vis Spectrophotometers, Luminescence Spectrofluorometer, Dynamic Light Scattering, Flash Chromatography, FT-IR, Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, Incubator shakers, Biosafety Cabinet, and High Speed and Ultracentrifuges. The College of Natural Resources and Sciences includes a core facility with rtPCR, fluorescence and UV-visible plate reader, SEM and TEM electron microscopes, and a CIRM-funded stem cell shared resource facility housing a cell culture suite, fluorescence activated cell sorter, confocal microscope, and cryostat.

Responsibilities

• Teaching excellence across the curriculum, including General Chemistry I & II, Biochemistry I, II & III or Introductory Biochemistry, Brief Organic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry I and II, and electives such as Medicinal Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, or Biomaterials, Biosensors and Bionanotechnology (depending on expertise).
• Establishing and maintaining an active research program involving undergraduate students, with publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Advising students, maintaining office hours, and participating in campus and system-wide communities.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues and participating in traditional academic functions.
• Service to the University, profession, and community.
• During the first two years of the probationary period, teaching responsibilities are reduced by approximately one course each semester to support research establishment.
• Partnering with and supporting the Biochemistry BS (2024) and the new Health and Medical Sciences program.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned Ph.D. or equivalent in Biochemistry or Chemistry with experience in biochemistry, biotechnology, medicinal chemistry, or a related field from an accredited college or university, required at time of appointment. If ABD, degree requirements must be completed by date of appointment.

Required Demonstrated Qualifications

• Record of training or experience in the field of Biochemistry.
• Excellence in, or clear potential for, university-level teaching and creating a student-centered learning environment.
• Evidence of, or clear potential for, conducting and publishing original research on Biochemistry in peer-reviewed journals.
• Training or experience sufficient to teach General Chemistry I and II.
• Training or experience sufficient to teach Biochemistry I, II and III, including gene regulation and expression.
• Training or experience in laboratory-based instruction in biochemistry and chemistry.
• Experience teaching, or demonstrated preparation to teach, large-enrollment courses.
• Record of, or potential for, involving students in research and scholarly activity.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively with diverse student and/or research populations.
• Demonstrated knowledge and familiarity addressing issues of concern facing students from diverse backgrounds in higher education.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with colleagues in academic, research, or professional settings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Training or experience in organic chemistry sufficient to contribute to instruction in that area.
• Training or experience relevant to upper-division electives such as Medicinal Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, Natural Products Chemistry, and Biosensors, Biomaterials and Bionanotechnology.
• Experience with or knowledge of pre-professional pathways (e.g., medicine, optometry, pharmacy, clinical laboratory science) and/or biotechnology industries.
• Expertise in modern biotechnology and bioinformatics applied to biochemistry.
• Postdoctoral, clinical, and/or industrial experience.
• Experience developing laboratory hands-on learning experiences.

Compensation & Benefits

The position is sought at the Assistant Professor rank; rank and salary are dependent on the appointee's qualifications and experience. The Assistant Professor classification annual salary range is $74,652 – $158,688;