Assistant Professor of Chemistry (pos # 73258)

Title: Assistant Professor of Chemistry

Position Number: 73258

Hiring Unit: College of Natural & Health Sciences

Location: UH-Hilo

Date Posted: January 10, 2025

Closing Date: Continuous recruitment, first review February 24, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled.

Salary Information: Commensurate with qualification and experience

Monthly Type: 9-month

Tenure-Track:   Tenure-Track

Full Time/Part Time: Full-time

Temporary/Permanent: Permanent

 Other Conditions: Appointment to begin approximately August 2025, pending position clearance and availability of funding.

The Department of Chemistry at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo (UH Hilo) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level. We are seeking applicants who will: deliver high-quality undergraduate and graduate-level courses in environmental chemistry; teach additional chemistry courses; develop an innovative, independent research program in environmental chemistry; mentor and advise students; and contribute to the university and broader community by engaging in service activities.  

The successful candidate should demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching and research at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including working with students from a variety of backgrounds and those from traditionally underrepresented groups. The successful candidate should be a collaborative investigator who will develop a research program that involves undergraduate students and augments the current expertise within the department. The ideal applicant will also be able to teach a broad range of courses throughout our curriculum including the development of new chemistry courses that emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of science.   

The UH Hilo chemistry department offers the bachelor degree in chemistry (BS), including emphasis areas in biosciences and health sciences. In addition, the chemistry department offers a minor in chemistry and a certificate in pre-pharmacy. The department houses a wide variety of chemistry instrumentation, including a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC), a 90 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer, two single crystal x-ray diffractometers, two Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers, multiple UV-Vis spectrophotometers, a fluorescence spectrophotometer, and an electrochemical analyzer. The department also has equipment for most common methods of sample preparation and processing.   

More information about the Department of Chemistry can be found at https://hilo.hawaii.edu/depts/chemistry.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Teach undergraduate and MS level courses in environmental chemistry.
• Teach undergraduate lecture and laboratory courses as needed that may include introductory chemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, instrumental chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and physical chemistry.   
• Prepare syllabi and instructional materials, develop and deliver lectures, evaluate student performance, and develop and implement hands-on laboratory exercises.
• Hold weekly office hours, advise students on academic progress, and provide individual assistance to students.
• Timely and professional communication with students, colleagues, staff, and administrators.
• Engage in reflective self-assessment of teaching styles and methods to ensure consistently effective instructional performance.
• Participate in the tenure and promotion evaluation process in accordance with UHPA, University of Hawai’i, and UH Hilo guidance documents.
• Participate in program review, curriculum development, advancement of department programs, and evaluation of student learning outcomes.
• Attend department meetings and work collaboratively with department faculty to ensure curriculum outcomes and accreditation standards are met.
• Perform regular scholarly research resulting in peer-reviewed publications.
• Actively participate in community, institutional, and professional service in furtherance of UH Hilo’s mission.

Minimum qualifications:

• At the time of appointment, Ph.D. in Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Geochemistry, Marine Chemistry, Atmospheric Chemistry, or closely related field.  
• Ability to teach environmental chemistry courses.
• Ability to teach lecture and lab courses in one or more of the following areas: introductory chemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, instrumental chemistry, inorganic chemistry, and physical chemistry.
• Evidence of research engagement and productivity.
• High-quality communication skills as demonstrated by an articulate cover letter and curriculum vitae that detail how the applicant meets minimum and desired qualifications.   

Desirable qualifications:

• Postdoctoral experience in environmental chemistry or related fields.
• Demonstrated high-quality instruction at the college or university level.
• Experience developing and teaching hands-on laboratory course material.
• Experience working as a teaching assistant or tutor.
• Experience in, or demonstrated commitment to, teaching in a diverse, multicultural, and inclusive atmosphere.
• Experience integrating perspectives of Indigenous peoples into science teaching.
• Experience in recruitment and retention of students. 
• Potential to establish a research program that could engage UH Hilo undergraduate and/or graduate students.
• Experience in grant writing to obtain external research funds as evidenced by submission of proposals.
• Experience operating analytical instrumentation, such as: NMR, GC, GC-MS, HPLC, UV-VIS, IR, Raman, X-ray diffractometer.  
• Familiarity with computational packages to be incorporated into the curriculum. 
  
  

To Apply: For a complete description, application instructions and to submit an application, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/hawaiiedu and search for position number 73258 or Assistant Professor of Chemistry. Please be sure to review the full job posting before applying. Failure to submit all required documents will result in the application being ineligible for consideration. Note: If you have not applied for a position before using NEOGOV, follow the instructions to create an account.

Click on the “Apply” button on the top right corner of the screen to complete an application and attach each required document. 

A complete application must include as separate documents:  

(1) Cover letter highlighting the ability to perform the stated duties, how the applicant meets all minimum qualifications and any desirable qualifications, and which summarizes how relevant teaching and research experience would complement the current expertise within the department; 

(2) a current curriculum vitae clearly listing courses that have been taught in the past; 

(3) one-to-two page statement of teaching philosophy, including evidence of high-quality teaching; 

(4) one-to-two page statement of research goals; 

(5) one-page diversity statement; 

(6) academic transcript(s) showing degrees and course work appropriate to the position (original official transcripts will be required prior to employment); 

(7) contact information (names, affiliations, addresses, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers) of three current professional references.

Do not include any self-identifying photos and REDACT REFERENCES TO SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS AND DATE OF BIRTH ON TRANSCRIPT COPIES. All requested documents/information become the property of the University of Hawai’i at Hilo. Failure to submit all requested documents/information shall deem an application to be incomplete and will not be considered. Electronic submissions only.  

Inquiries: Chair of the search committee, Dr. Mazen Hamad, mazen@hawaii.edu, 808-932-7198.

The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, sex, gender identity and expression, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, genetic information, marital status, breastfeeding, income assignment for child support, arrest and court record (except as permissible under State law), sexual orientation, domestic or sexual violence victim status, national guard absence, or status as a covered veteran.   For more information or inquiries regarding these policies, please refer to the following link: http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/eeo-coordinators/.

 Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.

 Accommodation Request:   The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly.  Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/.