Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor of Forensic Science

School/Department Name: Department of Justice Studies

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $86,000 - $90,000

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 - Extended date.  Applications will be accepted until the position is filled or closed.

Position Description

SJSU’s Department of Justice Studies invites applications for a tenure-track (assistant professor) position in the forensic science program to begin in August 2025. The Department offers forensic science as part of a vibrant interdisciplinary array of programs including criminology, legal studies and human rights.  When the program began in 2003, with concentrations in FS-Biology and FS-Chemistry, SJSU became the first university in the California State University to offer forensic science. Since then, the program has expanded with concentrations in FS-Digital Evidence (Spring 2021) and FS-Crime Scene Investigation (Spring 2023). We seek candidates who possess the ability to effectively teach and develop curricula in general forensic science courses, including crime scene investigative practices and techniques with preferred expertise in the area of analytical chemistry or digital/computer forensics. We highly encourage candidates whose research specializes in any of the following areas including, but not limited to, analytical/drug chemistry, forensic toxicology, instrumental chemistry, digital/computer crimes, computer science, or cybercrime.

The Department of Justice Studies is part of the College of Social Sciences, which is committed to equitable and inclusive teaching and learning. The College sees faculty and student success as inextricably linked, and strives to provide culturally-sustaining, and academically-affirming approaches to supporting and engaging students and faculty. We provide opportunities for faculty development around asset-based, holistic student success, and support scholarship of engagement that addresses issues that affect our campus and community. In all of our endeavors, we strive to build leadership capacity and foster a culture of support and belonging for faculty, staff, and students.

The Department of Justice Studies (https://www.sjsu.edu/justicestudies/) 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

• Applicants must hold a doctorate degree (Ph.D. or Ed.D) by the time of appointment in forensic science; forensic chemistry, toxicology, analytical or instrumental chemistry; digital, computer, or cyber forensics/crime; or similar fields.
• Active research agenda or evidence of scholarly activity directed towards publication and funded research.
• Evidence of experience supervising and mentoring undergraduate students through research/internship opportunities in laboratory and/or field settings.
• Applicants should also demonstrate relevant research and teaching experience in their respective field, or a closely related discipline, commensurate with their career experience.
• 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:

• A research agenda that welcomes collaborations with faculty in Justice Studies and affords research experiences for students.
• A track record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals and submitting grant proposals.
• Ability to teach forensic science from a critical perspective; experience teaching analytical chemistry, instrumental chemistry, toxicology, digital evidence processing, computer forensics applications, and/or crime scene investigation courses geared towards forensic analyses and research methods at the undergraduate level. 
• Evidence of effective teaching of graduate level statistics or Bayesian statistics.
• Development of pedagogical and scholarly projects focused on Black and/or Latinx populations.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Teach forensic science courses related to their area of specialty and additional forensic science courses to meet Department needs. 
• The candidate is expected to assist with the development, evaluation, and assessment of forensic science and justice studies programs.
• Support the Department’s mission to inspire active student learning pedagogy by incorporating interdisciplinary and innovative approaches.
• Contribute to curriculum development, program planning, and assessment within the Department of Justice Studies, as well as research, and service to the department, university, and various communities.
• Foster relationships with community partners such as law enforcement organizations, non-profit agencies, and private organizations.
• Provide career advising and mentorship to forensic science students. 
• Support program accreditation and development of a graduate forensic science program.
• 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

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

• letter of interest
• curriculum vitae
• diversity statement
• statement of teaching interests and student engagement (e.g. describe your teaching philosophy and your approach to teaching effectiveness both inside and outside of the classroom)
• research plans
• names of three references with contact information (name, affiliation, email, phone)

Inquiries may be directed to the Department Chair: Paul Knepper, paul.knepper@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.