The Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry (MBB) at the University of California, Irvine, invites applications for one tenure-track assistant professorship in microbiome research.

Host-microbiome interactions. The additive and synergistic factors influencing the host environment has important consequences for human health and disease. Our goal is to hire a researcher who investigates how to disentangle host-microbiome interactions broadly across diseases or animal hosts. Potential research areas for the position include (but are not limited to) investigating how the microbiome mediates host responses to pathogen infection, chemical challenge or injury, altering host metabolism or influencing host development or homeostasis. The home department of this faculty member would be in the MBB department, with the possibility of an additional appointment in Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB).

The successful candidate is expected to develop an independent, externally funded research program leading to innovations in microbiome research. Building synergistic connections with existing research programs is encouraged. The candidate will also contribute to teaching and mentoring at the graduate and undergraduate levels and to university and professional service.

The researcher would join an actively growing and collaborative group of campus faculty studying the microbiomes of hosts and the environment and organized and facilitated by the UCI Microbiome Initiative – http://microbiome.uci.edu/. MBB and EEB are part of the School of Biological Sciences, a vibrant community of scholars comprised of over 120 faculty members including Fellows of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Royal Society. Biological Sciences at UCI is highly interdisciplinary with many connections to the Schools of Medicine, Physical Sciences, Information and Computer Sciences, and Engineering, among others.

UCI is a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). These federal designations align with UCI’s aspiration to be a national leader and global model of inclusive excellence. UCI is a top ten public research university that excels at improving outcomes for students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and as a consequence has consistently been ranked as the best university in the nation in promoting upward mobility of its graduates.

The position will be open until filled. Review of applications will begin November 1, 2019. For application instructions, and to apply for the position, please go to https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF05519.

Salary is commensurate with qualifications and based on University of California pay scales.

Criteria for research, teaching, and diversity statement are available here:

Research Statement (3 pages).
This statement should:

  1. Detail the candidate’s specific area of expertise, with a description of their contributions to the field.
  2. Provide a detailed plan of their future independent research program, and how this program might be leveraged to obtain extramural funding.
  3. Indicate how the candidate’s research program will synergize with the research environment at UCI.

Teaching Statement (1 page).
For guidelines on how to prepare a reflective teaching statement please see http://dtei.uci.edu/the-reflective-teaching-statement/.
This statement should:

  1. Indicate the candidate’s teaching experiences to date, including experience with teaching/lecturing to undergraduates/graduate students (size of classes), or other populations, as well as their areas of interest. This should also include mentorship that they have given to others in the line of research or outreach activities.
  2. Detail the candidate’s teaching approaches and philosophies, as to how they will engage in effective teaching strategies.
  3. Provide evidence (if any) of effectiveness of previous teaching.

Diversity Statement (1 page).
The UC Statement on Diversity is available at: http://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/4400.html. The applicant’s diversity statement will help us evaluate both their past contributions to diversity, as well as their potential to impact the diversity mission of UC Irvine. The diversity statement is a key component of the application and the content of this statement will be discussed during candidate interviews.
This statement should:

  1. Indicate how the candidate has demonstrated awareness of the issues faced by historically underrepresented or economically disadvantaged groups and the benefits of a diverse and inclusive faculty.
  2. Provide evidence of the candidate’s track record and success in activities aimed at reducing barriers in education or research for underrepresented or disadvantaged groups.
  3. Detail specific plans to contribute through campus programs, new activities, or through national or off-campus organizations.

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy. As an inaugural recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity, UCI is responsive to the needs of dual-career couples, supports work-life integration through an array of family-friendly policies, and is dedicated to broadening participation in higher education.