Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, Cellular and Molecular Biology or Genetics

Working Title: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, Cellular and Molecular Biology or Genetics

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

 

College/Division: College of Science and Mathematics

Department: 100006 - Biology Department

 

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

 

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

 

Beginning Review Date: 10/10/2025

 

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

 

General Information:

The Department of Biology at James Madison University (JMU) invites applications for a 10-month tenure-track Assistant Professor position in cellular and molecular biology or genetics. This is a full-time position with an anticipated start date of August 2026.

The successful candidate will join a thriving community of more than 60 biologists with broad sub-disciplinary diversity and preferably will expand this diversity in molecular and cellular biology or genetics through expertise in areas such as, but not limited to, molecular genetics, neuroscience, proteomics, immunology, virology, pharmacology, cancer biology, and synthetic biology. They will be expected to mentor primarily undergraduate and possibly master’s students and maintain an externally funded, discipline-specific research program. They will also be expected to develop and teach introductory and upper-level courses in molecular and cellular biology or genetics. Collaborative scholarship with other faculty members within and beyond the department is encouraged.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

A strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate student teaching is a core tenet of our departmental mission and a highly valued criterion for this position. The successful candidate will teach introductory and upper-level molecular and cellular biology or genetics courses in the Department of Biology. They may also have the option to develop other upper-level and/or graduate-level courses in their field of expertise. Expectations of the position also include establishing and maintaining an externally funded research program that includes mentoring and publishing with student co-authors.

 

Qualifications:

Applicants should have a Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology, genetics, or a related field including, but not limited to, areas such as molecular genetics, neuroscience, proteomics, immunology, virology, pharmacology, cancer biology, and synthetic biology. Post-doctoral experience is preferred.

 

Additional Posting Information:

Candidates will complete the application and attach the following documents:
1) Cover Letter of Application (up to 2 pages) that addresses the outlined minimum and preferred position qualifications;

2) Curriculum Vitae;

3) A Teaching Statement (up to 2 pages, uploaded to PageUp under “Statement of Teaching Philosophy”) t