Job Summary

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is seeking applications to fill full-time, academic year, tenure track positions in biochemistry and biophysical chemistry, with appointment beginning September 11, 2025.

The teaching assignment will include biochemistry or biophysical chemistry, and general chemistry courses. It is expected that the successful applicant is committed to quality undergraduate teaching, continued scholarly activity, and service to the University. Candidates with an interest in and ability to pursue scholarly projects with undergraduate students are preferred.

Appointment at the Assistant Professor rank is anticipated; higher ranks will be considered. Rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications and experience.

• If appointed at the Assistant Professor rank, the anticipated hiring range is $97,788 - $107,628.
• If appointed at the Associate Professor rank, the anticipated hiring range is $112,500 - $118,524.

The Bailey College of Science and Mathematics (BCSM) at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse, equitable, and inclusive university community that reflects and serves the population of California. Cal Poly strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), especially in the classroom and among its areas of study. Cal Poly seeks to recruit faculty who enthusiastically support the University’s strong commitment to the academic success of all our students, including students of color, students with disabilities, students who are first generation to college, veterans, students with diverse socio-economic backgrounds, and students of diverse sexual orientations and gender expressions. Cal Poly seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to maintain the excellence of the University and to offer our students a rich variety of expertise, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning. The successful candidate will be mindful to promote student success, especially for students from historically excluded communities. Successful candidates should consider the University’s goals for diversity, equity, and inclusion in their approach to teaching, research, and service.

Cal Poly embraces a teacher-scholar model in which faculty are expected to be excellent teachers, produce scholarship in their field of interest, and provide service to the institution. The selected candidate will consider using creative teaching approaches that enhance student learning and participate in scholarly practices such as peer-reviewed research, conference, presentations, and grant development that leads to publication. The selected candidate will pursue a systematic program of research and scholarship, curricular improvement, and participate in service activities including committee service, student advising, and building industry relationships.

At California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly’s values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility. Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. California Polytechnic State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in chemistry or biochemistry, or a related field, with emphasis in biochemistry or biophysical chemistry, or with experience in biochemistry or biophysical chemistry, is required prior to the start date of the appointment. 
• The focus of an individual's research specialization is open to all relevant areas of biochemistry or biophysical chemistry, including but not limited to metabolic/cellular engineering, computational biochemistry, computational biophysics, bioinformatics, biochemical data science, machine learning, chemical biology or protein/lipid/carbohydrate biochemistry. 
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to student-centered learning and teaching, as well as the ability to collaboratively work in multidisciplinary settings.
• Demonstrated proficiency in written and oral use of the English language.
• Must provide evidence of (or potential for) high quality teaching and research with students.
• Must provide evidence of (or potential for) scholarly productivity.
• Must provide evidence of (or potential for) promoting diversity and inclusivity in higher education as well as a dedication to the well-being and advancement of students, colleagues, and the department.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching lecture and laboratory courses at the university level is desired but not required.
• Experience in working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive and inclusive environment. 
• Expertise in an area compatible with or broadening the research activities of the department.
• Experience supervising student research.
• We would be especially interested in candidates who can engage undergraduate students in a bench research program which focuses on experimental techniques in biochemistry, including protein chemistry, enzymology, or metabolic pathways or candidates who can engage undergraduate students in a research program which includes molecular simulation, modeling, or computation.

Special Conditions

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

About the Department

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department's mission is to serve the many technological and general education programs of the University as well as prepare students to be professional chemists and biochemists. Facilities include an excellent variety of instruments for faculty and student use. B.S. degrees in chemistry and biochemistry are offered as well as a Master's degree in Polymers and Coatings. The department is A.C.S. certified. Information regarding the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department can be found at https://chemistry.calpoly.edu/.

 About the University

Founded in 1901, Cal Poly is one of only five comprehensive polytechnic universities in the nation, with approximately 22,000 undergraduates, 120 postbaccalaureate, and 900 graduate students. U.S. News and World Report has ranked Cal Poly #1 among public master's universities in the western United States for 28 consecutive years. A primarily undergraduate university, Cal Poly offers academically focused students 66 baccalaureate degrees and 27 master's degrees. Operating on the quarter calendar system, Cal Poly takes pride in its "Learn-by-Doing" approach to teaching and learning, which has characterized Cal Poly since its founding. One of the 23 campuses of the California State University system, Cal Poly has a statewide mandate as a polytechnic university. Cal Poly is one of the largest land-holding universities in the nation and uses all of its land holdings in active support of its educational programs. Cal Poly is located in historic San Luis Obispo, a city of 47,000, 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean and midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California's scenic Central Coast. With excellent public education resources, recreational facilities and an expanding dedication to the arts, the area is known for its scenic landscapes and extraordinarily temperate climate.

How to Apply

Interested candidates must submit the following documents:

1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. Teaching Statement -  The teaching statement provides an opportunity for candidates to articulate their teaching philosophy, approach, and goals.
4. Research Plan - The research plan provides an opportunity for candidates to summarize their expertise, outline their proposed research agenda, and articulate how undergraduates may contribute to it.
5. Diversity Statement - The diversity statement is a way for applicants for a tenure-track position, to demonstrate their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in teaching, scholarship and service. It should display evidence of the ability to promote and support a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. Please consider using the following questions to prepare the diversity statement.
   1. What pedagogical practices would you use to foster an inclusive learning environment for our student population? Teaching may include curriculum, pedagogy, or climate, and teaching that occurs outside the classroom setting.
   2. In what ways have your experiences shaped your perspectives, behaviors, or actions about or towards others, and what did you learn from these experiences?
   3. What activities, outside of the area of teaching, do you plan to engage in as a faculty member that would address diversity, equity, and inclusion?
6. Unofficial undergraduate transcript(s) as one document. 
7. Unofficial graduate transcript(s) as one document. 
8. As needed, evidence of successful teaching. 

These documents are not accepted in hard copy format; they must be uploaded as part of your application via the applicant portal. When completing the online faculty application, please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses. Official transcripts are required prior to appointment.

Review of applications will begin October 24, 2024. Complete applications received after that date may be considered. Semi-finalists will be required to submit a 10-minute video sample of their teaching and preliminary Zoom interviews will be held in October 2024. Finalists will be asked to interview in-person in November 2024. For questions, please contact Dr. John Hagen at jhagen@calpoly.edu.