Tenure-Track Faculty

The Opportunity

The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) invites applications for full-time, tenure-track faculty positions, primarily at the Assistant Professor level. Higher-rank appointments may be considered for exceptionally qualified candidates. We seek outstanding biomedical scientists who will establish nationally recognized, externally funded research programs and contribute to our highly collaborative research, training, and teaching environment.

The Department has broad strengths spanning pharmacology, toxicology, physiology, immunology, cancer biology, molecular and cellular biology, and translational science. We particularly welcome investigators whose research complements, expands, or bridges our major areas of strength:

• Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Pharmacology

• Cancer Biology, Cancer Pharmacology & Environmental Toxicology

• Neuropharmacology, Neurovascular Injury & Substance Use Disorders

Candidates using innovative molecular, cellular, genetic, systems, computational, or translational approaches to address important questions in human health and disease are especially encouraged to apply. We value investigators whose work creates opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration within the Department and across the broader UAMS research community.

Candidate Qualifications and Expectations

Applicants should hold a Ph.D., M.D., M.D./Ph.D., or equivalent doctoral degree and have at least two years of postdoctoral research experience, with a strong record of research accomplishments appropriate to their career stage. Candidates should demonstrate clear potential to develop a rigorous, impactful, and independently funded research program. Individuals who have obtained competitive postdoctoral fellowships, career-development awards, or independent research funding, including NIH K99/R00 awards or equivalent awards, are especially encouraged to apply.

Successful candidates will be expected to:

• Establish and sustain a high-impact, externally funded independent research program;

• Publish innovative and rigorous research in high-quality scientific journals;

• Develop collaborations within the Department and across UAMS;

• Mentor graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other trainees;

• Participate in graduate and/or professional education; and

• Contribute to the academic and service missions of the Department and College of Medicine.

UAMS offers competitive salaries and startup packages, dedicated faculty mentoring, access to outstanding institutional research resources, and a collaborative environment designed to support the development of successful independent investigators.

About the Department

The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology in the UAMS College of Medicine has longstanding strengths in biomedical research and education, with multiple externally funded programs (NHLBI, NIDDK, NIEHS, NIDA, NEI, NIGMS, USDA, VA, DoW, FDA, AHA, NSF, etc.) spanning cardiovascular and renal pharmacology, cancer biology and environmental toxicology, neuropharmacology, and substance use research. Faculty collaborate broadly across UAMS and with the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.

The Department is also strongly committed to graduate and postdoctoral training. It is home to the Pharmacology, Toxicology and Experimental Therapeutics (PTET) graduate training track and supports the NIH-funded Systems Pharmacology and Toxicology (T-SPaT) T32 program. This recruitment is part of the Department’s strategic growth, offering new faculty opportunities to help shape emerging research programs and build interdisciplinary collaborations.

Academic Environment at UAMS

UAMS provides a highly collaborative environment for basic, translational, and clinical research, with strong programs spanning cancer, neuroscience, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, aging, and inflammation. Investigators have access to extensive shared resources and state-of-the-art core facilities, including genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics, flow cytometry, advanced microscopy, genetically engineered models, toxicology, and cardiovascular phenotyping.

Faculty benefit from broad opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across the Colleges of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Public Health. Cancer-focused investigators also benefit from strong support and collaborative opportunities through the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute and its expanding basic and translational research programs. Collaborative partnerships also extend through the Translational Research Institute, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute, the FDA National Center for Toxicological Research, and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.

UAMS also provides a strong multidisciplinary environment for biomedical research training, supported by multiple NIH-funded T32 programs, a newly established NIH-funded Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), and several NIH-funded COBRE centers that provide research infrastructure, mentoring, pilot funding, and career-development opportunities.

About UAMS and Little Rock

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is Arkansas’ only academic health sciences university, bringing together five health professions colleges, the Graduate School, major research institutes, and a statewide clinical enterprise. This integrated environment supports collaboration across basic, translational, and clinical research.

UAMS is centrally located in Little Rock, Arkansas’ capital city, which offers an attractive cost of living, a broad range of cultural and recreational opportunities, and easy access to outdoor activities. Little Rock offers a diverse, welcoming community with a vibrant arts and cultural scene, numerous parks and trails, and convenient access to Arkansas' natural resources, including the Ouachita and Ozark Mountains.

Application

Applicants should submit PDF files of the following materials to View email address on nature.com

• A curriculum vitae;

• A statement describing research accomplishments and future research plans;

• Teaching/mentoring statement;

• Names and contact information for 3-5 references.

The application deadline is February 1, 2027. Early submission is encouraged, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled. Questions may be directed to:

Dr. Ricky Leung, Chair of the Faculty Search Committee, or

Dr. Shengyu Mu, Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Additional information about the Department is available at:

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.