Assistant Professor Biochemistry

Department

Chemistry & Biochemistry Chair

Compensation

Negotiable

General Description:
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is seeking to hire two 9-month tenure earning faculty at the rank of Assistant Professor of Biochemistry. We seek collaborative and innovative scientists and educators who will contribute to our growing research and teaching missions.

UNF is aCarnegie R2 institution reflecting our commitment to high-impact research while maintaining our tradition ofexcellence in undergraduate teaching. We are proud to supportactive faculty researchersand offercompetitive startup packages. The department is also conducting simultaneous searches in other subdisciplines of chemistry; scientists working at the interface of these areas are encouraged to apply to the position most aligned with their teaching strengths.

Position Highlights:

• Research Expectations: Establish a research program focusing on biochemistry related topics that actively involves undergraduate students and/or masters students. This will include continually pursuing extramural grant support disseminating research results in presentations at professional conferences and publishing manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals. We encourage applications with research programs across the biochemistry spectrum.

• Teaching Load: Foursix courses per academic year with a reduced load (two per semester) for the first three years. Continued course reductions are available for faculty with strong research productivity aligned with the UNF Strategic Plan .

• Courses Taught: Biochemistry I & II (both lecture and lab) lower-level courses (such as General Chemistry) and upper-level electives in the candidates area of expertise.

• Mentorship and Service: Take part in departmental governance advise and mentor students and contribute to our service mission at the department college and university levels.

Supervisor : This position reports to the Department Chair Dr. Hannah Malcolm.

Working Hours : Varies

Supervision Exercised: Yes

Required Licensure: N/A

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Chemistry Biochemistry or related discipline.
• Excellence in research as demonstrated by a strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals and proposals for future work.
• A strong commitment to undergraduate research and teaching.

Preferred Qualifications/Skills:

• UNF seeks to attract faculty of the highest caliber who are skilled in the scholarship of teaching discovery application and integration of knowledge in biochemistry.
• Commitment to excellence in teaching undergraduate courses within the chemistry/biochemistry department curriculum specifically Biochemistry I and II as well as biochemistry electives and lower-level courses.
• Strong commitment to mentoring and supervising research students.
• Demonstrated potential to establish an independent research program.
• Postdoctoral experience and teaching experience are preferred.

Anticipated Start Date: August 2 2027

Additional Application Materials Required:

In addition to completing an online application applicants should provide the following required documents and information:

• Cover letter
• Current curriculum vitae
• Unofficial transcript of highest earned degree
• A single PDF that contains the following three sections
  • Research Statement (3-5 pages) including:
    • Project Summary
    • How UNF students will be active participants of the research program; include a brief overview of your mentoring plan for students with varying lab skills and
    • A short summary/list of where you will seek external funding (including which program)
  • For Proposed Startup Budget ($200-300K over three years) (1 page)including
    • A list of equipment required to start an independent research program (this list should include items that are greater than $10000) and
    • An estimate of supplies chemicals and consumables to complete the proposed research activities.
  • General Teaching and Mentoring Philosophy (1-2 pages)including:
    • Prior teaching experience (if any)
    • Strategies for mentoring research students at the undergraduate and masters level
    • Strategies for teaching students with varying levels of prerequisite knowledge and helping them succeed and persist in STEM disciplines and
    • Ideas for new elective courses that you would like to develop/teach.

Name phone number and email address of three professional references will be requested during the application review stage.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and as applicable U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials by the date of hire.

Additional Requirements : Applicants may be required to upload additional documents based on their responses to the Foreign Influence Review questions.

• Passport (all pages including blank pages) and
• Form DS-160 (if ever submitted. If not upload an explanation)

How to Apply: Applicants must submit an online application that includes all required application documents. If you have any questions about this position please contact Dr. Michael Lufaso at

Application Review Date: Initial review of applications will begin on October 30 2026.

Job Posting Close Date: Open until filled.

About the Department: About the Department: The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is a collegial research-active unit that values both pedagogical innovation and scholarly achievement. Faculty have access to excellent research and teaching facilities and we foster a culture of collaboration and student engagement. The Department offers chemistry baccalaureate degrees with concentrations in General Chemistry Pre-medical Professions and Materials Science and a Biochemistry baccalaureate degree. Masters level degrees are offered in Materials Science and Biomedical Sciences and other programs are being developed closely related to drug discovery and health research. For more information about the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry visit: Department Website .

In addition the Materials Science and Engineering Research Facility (MSERF) is available to all faculty and houses a broad range of analytical and physical testing instruments.

Statement(s) of Understanding

This position requires a background conjunction with the Universitys policy this position may also require a credit check.

The holder of this position is designated as a Responsible Employee pursuant to their role under Title IX. Therefore the incumbent must promptly report allegations of sexual misconduct sexual violence and child sexual abuse by or against any student employee contractor or visitor to the Universitys Title IX Administrator or any divisional Title IX Coordinator

Pursuant to Florida Statute 1010.35 this position requires additional information from all applicants seeking research or research-related positions prior to an interview or offer of employment. Applicants MUST fully complete the Foreign Influence Review section of their application. Additional documents (e.g. passport) may be required based on form responses.

Equal Opportunity

The University of North Florida (UNF) is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who interact in our building this environment we strive to attract students faculty and staff from a variety of cultures backgrounds and life experiences. The University of North Florida does not commit or permit discrimination or harassment on the basis of genetic information race color religion age sex disability marital status national origin or veteran status in any educational employment social recreational program or activity that it addition UNF will not commit or permit retaliation against an individual who reports discrimination or harassment or an individual who cooperates in an investigation of an alleged violation of university regulation.

Carnegie

UNF is a Carnegie Community Engaged Institution. This designation celebrates the Universitys collaboration with community partners from the local to the global level. It reflects UNFs mission to contribute to the public good and prepare educated engaged citizens.

Required Experience:

Junior IC