Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics or Bioinformatics
The Department of Biology at the University of Akron invites applications for an Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics or Bioinformatics position starting in August 2025. This position will fill a critical need providing Biology and Biomedical Science majors with training in genetics/genomics and related topics, which are integral for modern healthcare professionals. This position will enhance our degrees by offering lower and/or upper-level courses in a variety of topics related to genetics. The ideal candidate will have expertise in topics related to Health, Well-being and Community Flourishing such as: classical genetics, health disparities, genetic/genomic interactions with environmental exposures, behaviors associated with cancer risk and related outcomes, epigenetics of racism, human diversity, DNA vaccination, genomics/bioinformatics, population migration, biodiversity loss and/or genetics of sustainable agriculture. Successful applicants will demonstrate an ability to integrate across two or more of the college’s focus areas: Data Science & Analytics (critical to working with large biological datasets), Global Change Science (e.g., emerging infectious diseases, crop responses to climate change), and Health, Well-being & Community Flourishing (e.g., human genetic diseases, population genetics). This faculty member can also provide research opportunities to our large undergraduate population, as well as supervising Master’s and Ph.D. students.
The mission of the Department of Biology is to provide students with a broad understanding of biology, spanning molecules to ecosystems, through community engaged teaching, research, and service. We are seeking a tenure-track faculty in genetics, genomics, or related areas, who can maintain an active research program and teach modern genetics, genomics, and/or bioinformatics techniques to a diverse range of students.
The advertised position is part of a public and community health cluster hire being led by the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences. The search is part of an effort to grow certificate and curricular pathways in health, well-being, and community flourishing, with an emphasis on increasing research and teaching expertise in topics related to the social determinants of health, urban health, and health disparities. Participating units include: the Departments of Biology, Sociology, and the School of Communication. The University of Akron strongly values inclusion and diversity of ideas, experience, and methodology within the classroom and in the research and creative activity of its faculty. As such, we welcome applicants who use integrative approaches across a range of biological, computational, humanistic, socio-cultural, community-based, prevention science, behavioral, and statistical methods.
This search seeks to build a cohort of teacher-scholars who will offer a strong contribution to the excellence of UA through teaching, scholarship, service and collaboration. Specifically, as an urban-research university, we are particularly interested in scholars whose work touches on the pressing needs of cities and urban communities. Through our teaching, scholarship, and service, we strive to create an environment where every student at the University feels included and welcomed. We value the contribution of each individual in their commitment to a better University of Akron, and welcome applications that demonstrate experience working with students from different backgrounds, experiences and beliefs.
Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Biology or related area.
Preferred Qualifications: Evidence of research and teaching excellence in genetics, genomics, or a related area.
Applicants' research should demonstrate potential for external funding. Applicants' research and teaching should show potential to leverage existing resources such as the local health care infrastructure (e.g. Northeast Ohio Medical School, Summa Health, Akron Children’s Hospital, The Cleveland Clinic), Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the UA field station, or promote interactions with similar regional resources. This hire would support education in our biology and pre-health majors, graduate education in the Integrated Bioscience PhD program, and potentially reach into the underserved communities in our local urban school systems in Akron and Northeast Ohio. The ideal applicant should have Post-doctoral research experience.
Application Instructions: Applicants should submit a cover letter, C.V., and contact information for three references. The application should include statements of research and teaching.
Application Deadline: September 30, 2024.
