What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chemistry - Organic Chemistry/Biochemistry Assistant Professor position at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)?
Mission or Goal of Unit: The mission of the College of Humanities and Sciences is to serve as the intellectual heart and soul of our institution and wider community. The College of Humanities and Sciences:
As the intellectual lifeblood of VCU and our community, the College of Humanities and Sciences seeks to inspire our students to explore their passions and dreams as individuals and provide the context to understand their place in the world and connections with others—locally, globally and throughout time. Most importantly, our educational and research environment addresses an array of technological, health-related and societal problems, as well as providing profound insights and reflections of what it means to be human and humane.. Chief Purpose of this position: The Department of
Chemistry at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) invites applications for two
non-tenure track positions at the Assistant Professor level in (1) General Chemistry and (2) Organic Chemistry and/or
Biochemistry to begin in August 2025. Position Responsibilities: We seek applicants who are excited about teaching chemistry to a diverse
pool of undergraduate students and willing to participate in curriculum
development directed on student-centered learning. These renewable instructional positions bring numerous
opportunities for educating undergraduate students in VCU’s new,
state-of-the-art STEM building, designed to encourage collaboration and
community in the students’ foundational course work. Required Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Chemistry, experience teaching at the undergraduate level,
and a commitment to working with students from diverse backgrounds while
fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Preferred Qualifications: Preferred candidates
should have deep knowledge of pedagogical best practices and an ongoing
commitment to developing and maintaining knowledge in these areas. The position
is at the level of an assistant professor, and there are university-wide
procedures in place for faculty promotion to associate and then full professor. VCU enrolls 29,500
students. Diversity is among our greatest assets and we strive to create and
sustain an equitable and inclusive environment as we know this is the best
approach to achieve universal excellence and success. Currently, 37% of
incoming freshman at VCU are first-generation college students and 55% of
undergraduate students are from minoritized backgrounds. Richmond is also a fantastic place to live
with many cultural events taking place throughout the year including the
Richmond Folk Festival and RVA Street Festival as well as great restaurants to
indulge your culinary tastes.
The Department of
Chemistry has 18 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, 12 instructional
term faculty appointments, 2 term facility directors, and approximately 300
undergraduate majors and 75 graduate students. VCU Chemistry attracts a diverse
student population including women, students from historically underrepresented minoritized groups, and
first-generation students. According to IPEDs (Integrated Postsecondary
Education Data System; 2019), we were 4th in African American BS Chemistry
degrees (2nd among non-HBCUs), 5th for women BS Chemistry degrees, and 9th for
the total number of BS Chemistry degrees among 1137 Colleges and Universities
in the USA. Further information can be
found at the department website: https://chemistry.vcu.edu/.
Candidates need to
submit (1) a cover letter, (2) a statement of teaching experience and
interests, (3) a diversity and inclusion statement,* and (4) a complete curriculum vitae to https://vcu.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/4556?c=vcu. In addition, the names of three references
must be entered; these individuals will be asked to provide recommendation
letters. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the
position is filled. Please contact the search committee chair, Debbie Polo (dlpolo@vcu.edu) with any
questions about the position.
*Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion: As a preeminent national, urban, public
research university and academic health center, Virginia Commonwealth
University is committed to organizational
diversity, equity and inclusion - an environment where all can thrive in their
pursuit of excellence. Applicants are requested to submit a
Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically
between 150-300 words) providing your career aspirations and contributions
toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you
can share how your lived experiences, and academic and professional activities
will impact your contribution to VCU’s mission of promoting equity and
inclusion. For more information and guidelines, see https://faculty.provost.vcu.edu/prospective-faculty/
Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity,
Affirmative Action University providing access to education and employment
without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political
affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender
identity, gender expression, or disability.
Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Assistant Professor
Months: 9
Department:
Department of Chemistry
Salary:
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Dr. Debbie Polo
Contact Email: dlpolo@vcu.edu
Contact Phone: 828-6660
