Assistant Professor in Cell Biology or Organismal Biology
Position Type:
Regular
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $102,060 to $113,443, depending on the successful candidate’s years of teaching experience at the college-level. The position comes with generous benefits (scu.edu/hr/benefits), including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, and university contributions toward retirement. Recognizing the high cost of housing in the local area, there are two University housing assistance programs: Rental assistance to ease the transition into the local housing market, and housing purchase assistance for tenure-stream faculty. For details, go to
The Department of Biology at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic university, is currently accepting applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning Fall 2025. We seek candidates interested in conducting research in cell biology or organismal biology, broadly defined. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Biology, Cell Biology, Organismal Biology or a related field. Applicants who deploy genomic or computational methods are strongly encouraged to apply. Postdoctoral experience is expected. The Biology Department is part of the College of Arts and Sciences at SCU, which is entirely dedicated to undergraduate students. Ideal applicants will have a passion for teaching undergraduates and a strong record of scholarship, with the potential and desire to include undergraduates as research collaborators. We highly value candidates who demonstrate inclusive pedagogical practices that advance SCU’s goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and who provide evidence of experience teaching and mentoring a diverse population of students. The candidate should be prepared to teach Introductory Biology courses as well as upper-division and/or non-majors courses in their area of expertise.
Santa Clara is a Jesuit, Catholic, private university located in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley. Faculty are teaching scholars who balance a commitment to high quality teaching (40%), an active research program (40%) and service (20%). This is an in-person position.
Santa Clara is on the quarter system. The successful candidate will be expected to teach six undergraduate course equivalents per year (typically one lecture plus two lab sections of the same course each term), successfully develop a research agenda that will lead to peer-reviewed publications and may include obtaining extramural funding, and provide service to the Department, College, University, and the profession. Applicants are invited to visit the University’s website (www.scu.edu) for more information on Santa Clara’s mission, scope of programs and degrees offered, and faculty opportunities for interdisciplinary programs and research. The successful candidate will be able to address ways in which they can help the university achieve its goals.
Santa Clara University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to excellence through diversity and inclusion, and, in this spirit, particularly encourages applications from women, persons of color, and members of historically underrepresented groups. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to individuals with a disability.
Specific duties include but are not limited to:
TEACHING
Teach lower- and upper-division undergraduate courses for life science majors and/or the University Core Curriculum, as assigned by the Chair. Lower-division courses taught will include regular participation in the Introductory Biology Experience (IBE), a three-term series required for all life science majors. Candidates will also be expected to develop and teach at least one new upper-division course in their area of expertise or adopt and modify a course currently in the Biology catalog. Candidates may also choose to develop a course that satisfies a University Core requirement. SCU is on the quarter system and a typical load is two courses per quarter. When teaching laboratory courses, a typical load is one lecture and two laboratory sections of that same course per quarter. Teaching responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Conducting and appearing in person at all assigned class meetings in a timely and prepared manner, demonstrating a command of the discipline and skill in effective presentation.
Assigning and evaluating students’ written work, projects, and exams that align with course learning objectives, and providing timely feedback to students.
Holding weekly office hours.
Assigning and submitting student grades that are appropriate, accurate, and fair measures of student performance to the Office of the Registrar by the designated deadline.
Seeking regular student feedback and updating courses as appropriate and consistent with the development of the sub-discipline.
When teaching in the IBE, working collaboratively and effectively with teaching partners and laboratory staff, demonstrating excellent teamwork and leadership skills.
Develop and teach courses that contribute to curriculum development in Biology and/or the University Core. Faculty teaching University Core Courses should follow an approved syllabus or work with the chair to design an appropriate syllabus for submission for approval from the relevant Faculty Core Curriculum Committee.
Assess student learning in their courses following known best practices.
Provide informed advice and mentoring to undergraduate Biology majors other students in their courses.
Fulfill other instructional or academic duties as may be assigned by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences or by the Chair of the Biology Department.
RESEARCH
Candidates must develop a rigorous research program at SCU that will result in the publication of peer-reviewed publications per the Biology Department’s scholarship standards.
Candidates must establish a research program that can accommodate the participation of undergraduate collaborators. The research program should provide learning and training opportunities accessible to students with a range of prior academic experiences and future interests.
Candidates should have a mentoring plan to help undergraduate collaborators understand scientific theories and research ethics and train them with practical research skills.
Candidates are expected to engage undergraduate students with meaningful outcomes, such as publications or professional conference presentations with student co-authors, no matter the authorship order.
We encourage candidates to pursue collaborative work within the Biology Department or across different departments. We value work that advances the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives of the university whether in research topics, research that expands the generalizability of findings in the field, populations that the work serves, or the diversity of the participants, methods used, or research team. We endorse open science practices that promote transparency, replicability, and ethical scholarship.
SERVICE
Provide effective service to the Department of Biology, the College, the University and profession through contributions other than teaching and scholarship. This can include service on committees, participation in professional organizations and activities, leadership, and community service performed by virtue of professional expertise or association with the university as appropriate to rank and experience.
Minimum Qualifications:
Completion of the Ph.D. in the Biological Sciences (e.g., Biology, Organismal Biology, Evolution and Ecology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Zoology, Botany, and the like) by the time of application.
Evidence of a research program and promise of ongoingly publishing high-quality, peer-reviewed research in the area of expertise.
Evidence of potential for effective and excellent university-level teaching in lower- and/or upper-division classes.
Potential to utilize inclusive pedagogical practices that advance SCU’s goals of diversity and equity.
Preferred Qualifications:
Postdoctoral experience in cell biology or organismal biology, broadly defined.
Experience teaching and mentoring a diverse population of undergraduate students.A rigorous and long-term research plan that could be successfully supported by extramural funding and provide opportunities for undergraduate involvement.
Application materials should be submitted via WorkDay by October 15th and must include (1) a cover letter that addresses how your expertise and experience aligns with the position; (2) a current curriculum vitae; (3) a research agenda highlighting how you will involve undergraduate students; (4) a teaching philosophy statement describing your approach to teaching and that highlights your prior teaching experiences; (5) a statement describing your experience and skills in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion; and (c) the applicant’s understanding of the mission of Santa Clara, and how they might contribute to the College or University priorities; (6) the names and contact information of three references. Three letters of recommendations will be requested from referees for candidates advancing beyond initial review. Applicants should identify in their application materials any areas of intersection between their teaching, research, and their diversity goals and the academic mission of Santa Clara University. Inquiries regarding the position may be emailed to Dr. Elizabeth Dahlhoff at biology@scu.edu.
COVID-19 Statement
The health and safety of the University community is a top priority. The University strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as the vaccination and boosters are safe, effective tools that significantly minimize the chances of serious illness and hospitalization. Please contact Human Resources if you have any questions.
Telecommute
Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.
Work Authorization:
A foreign national who is appointed to a tenured or tenure-track faculty position is eligible for visa sponsorship assessment by Santa Clara University together with its legal counsel.
EEO Statement
Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination
Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and California State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at www.scu.edu/title-ix. Information about Section 504 and the ADA Coordinator can be found at https://www.scu.edu/oae/, (408) 554-4109, oae@scu.edu. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Clery Notice of Availability
Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website. To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.
Americans With Disabilities Act
Santa Clara University affirms its' commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia@scu.edu.
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