Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor

School/Department Name: Biological Sciences

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $100,000   - $110,000       

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector.  See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August 2025

Application Deadline: November 15, 2024 (Applications will be accepted until the position is filled or closed)

Position Description

The Department of Biological Sciences at San José State University invites applications for a tenure-track position in the areas of Genetics or Cell Biology. We are a team of dedicated teacher-scholars recognized for our commitment to excellent teaching, engaging students in research projects, and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in Biology and in STEM disciplines.  

The Department of Biological Sciences offers degrees in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Systems Physiology, General Biology, and Marine Biology. The highest degree offered is the Master's degree. There are approximately 1000 undergraduate majors and 65 Master's students enrolled in Biology. Facilities include: a new, state of the art Interdisciplinary Science Building, molecular and microbiology research and teaching labs (BSL2 capable); imaging with confocal laser microscope (Zeiss 700), flow cytometry (FACSCalibur & FACScan); cell culture; Proteomics (QTOF LC/MS/MS, 2D Gel, TYPHOON Imager, and AKTA FPLC systems); anatomy and physiology research and teaching labs; bioinformatics and general computing labs; greenhouses, herbarium, plant growth chambers, and museums. There is technical support for laboratory courses and equipment maintenance. Opportunities for collaboration with biotechnology companies and local research-intensive universities are supported. 

The Department of Biological Sciences and San José State University value diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and staff who share our commitment to these values. SJSU enrolls more than 36,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved, and around 45% are first-generation and 38% are Pell-recipients. SJSU is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander (AANAPISI) Serving Institution. The university’s commitment to social justice extends from its vibrant, inclusive campus to an international network of over 275,000 alumni. As such, San José State is committed to increasing the diversity of its faculty so our disciplines, students, and the community can benefit from multiple ethnic and gender perspectives.

Successful candidates will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to equity and inclusion through their research, teaching, and/or service. We ask that all applicants include a Diversity Statement with their application package. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Diversity Statement Guidelines, along with information about how these statements will be evaluated.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. degree in Genetics, Cell Biology or a related field 
• Publication record reflective of expertise in Genetics or Cell Biology
• Post-doctoral experience in Genetics, Cell Biology or a related field 
• Potential to become an excellent instructor
• Applicants must demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:

• Teaching experience in Genetics or Cell Biology
• Evidence of undergraduate or graduate research student mentoring
• Experience working with Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and/or other historically excluded students in the classroom or research lab
• Demonstrated knowledge of how structural barriers and institutionalized racism have historically and continue to exclude marginalized communities within higher education and STEM Disciplines as well as how these policies shape patterns of participation and outcomes
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• The successful candidate is expected to develop a research program, publish in peer reviewed journals, obtain extramural research grants, and involve masters and undergraduate students in research
• Teaching duties may include General Genetics lecture, Molecular Genetics lecture and lab, Cell Biology lecture and lab, and development of graduate level courses in the applicant’s area of expertise. Teaching duties will also include participation in the freshman core biology series, upper division elective courses in molecular and cell biology, and courses in scientific communication
• The successful candidate is expected to participate in curriculum development and teaching of other courses to meet the needs of the program and its diverse student population
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies and advisement

Other Duties

Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA, Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Letter of interest
• Curriculum vitae
• Diversity statement (2 pages) that discusses the candidate’s knowledge of, experience with, and future plans to promote equity, inclusion, and diversity in biology and/or STEM
• Statement of Teaching interests/philosophy (2 pages) that describes the applicant's pedagogical approach as well as what role faculty play in student success
• Research Plans (2 pages) describing the candidate applicant's plans to engage undergraduate and MS students in research
• Names of three references who are willing to provide letters of reference upon request

Inquiries may be directed to the Department Chair: Dr. Rachael French (rachael.french@sjsu.edu)

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position is located in the State of California and requires commuting to the campus. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative regions in the world — San José State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San José State is an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University prohibits discrimination on the basis of Age, Ancestry, Caste, Color, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, Gender Expression, Gender Identity, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Military Status, Nationality, Race, Religion, Religious Creed, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Sex Stereotype, and Veteran Status. This policy applies to all San José State University students, faculty, and staff as well as University programs and activities. Reasonable accommodations are made for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Notification

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is available at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.