Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry
Position Overview
The Department of Chemistry at the University of Kansas is seeking exceptional candidates for a tenure-track position in Organic Chemistry, broadly defined, at the assistant professor level. The position is expected to begin in the Fall of 2025. The Department is particularly interested in candidates with a strong track-record and research interests in areas that intersect with research centers at KU. These include the recently founded EARTH research center for applied refrigerant technologies as well as centers for biomedical research and environmentally beneficial catalysis. The department welcomes applications from all candidates who will strive for teaching excellence and are excited to establish world-class research programs. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.
The Department of Chemistry at KU has a vibrant research and training environment with an ACS certified curriculum. The department includes 25 tenured and tenure-track faculty (including four distinguished professors and two endowed chairs), 3 teaching professors, and 4 professional support personnel. Our graduate program is the largest on campus and continues to grow, with over 110 talented graduate students currently enrolled in the program. Faculty research labs are housed in two modern state-of-the-art research facilities – the Multidisciplinary Research Building opened in 2006 with 106,000 square feet of research space and Gray-Little Hall, which is a 290,000 square foot mixed research/teaching facility that opened in 2018. The Chemistry Department enjoys a highly collaborative environment and research is supported by modern core laboratories and shared facilities (NMR, EPR, XRD, mass spectrometry, imaging, and nanofabrication), making the department and the University of Kansas an outstanding place to build a world-class research program.
The University of Kansas is a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive (R-1) university and AAU member with 28,500 students (19,000 undergraduate) drawn from over 100 nations and all 50 states. The 1,000-acre main campus is in Lawrence, a vibrant college town of 95,000 located just 35 miles west of Kansas City. Lawrence has a lively historic downtown and a thriving arts and music scene and the campus hosts events at its Lied Center for the Performing Arts and various sports venues. The city has numerous sports and recreational opportunities and is home to a large number of quality restaurants. Nearby Kansas City provides quick access to historic jazz clubs, restaurants, museums, world-class music and theatre venues, and professional sports teams. The KU School of Medicine/Medical Center is also located in Kansas City, and is an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center.
KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success.
The Department of Chemistry at KU has a vibrant research and training environment with an ACS certified curriculum. The department includes 25 tenured and tenure-track faculty (including four distinguished professors and two endowed chairs), 3 teaching professors, and 4 professional support personnel. Our graduate program is the largest on campus and continues to grow, with over 110 talented graduate students currently enrolled in the program. Faculty research labs are housed in two modern state-of-the-art research facilities – the Multidisciplinary Research Building opened in 2006 with 106,000 square feet of research space and Gray-Little Hall, which is a 290,000 square foot mixed research/teaching facility that opened in 2018. The Chemistry Department enjoys a highly collaborative environment and research is supported by modern core laboratories and shared facilities (NMR, EPR, XRD, mass spectrometry, imaging, and nanofabrication), making the department and the University of Kansas an outstanding place to build a world-class research program.
The University of Kansas is a Carnegie doctoral/research-extensive (R-1) university and AAU member with 28,500 students (19,000 undergraduate) drawn from over 100 nations and all 50 states. The 1,000-acre main campus is in Lawrence, a vibrant college town of 95,000 located just 35 miles west of Kansas City. Lawrence has a lively historic downtown and a thriving arts and music scene and the campus hosts events at its Lied Center for the Performing Arts and various sports venues. The city has numerous sports and recreational opportunities and is home to a large number of quality restaurants. Nearby Kansas City provides quick access to historic jazz clubs, restaurants, museums, world-class music and theatre venues, and professional sports teams. The KU School of Medicine/Medical Center is also located in Kansas City, and is an NCI designated comprehensive cancer center.
KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success.
Job Description
The distribution of effort for the appointment will be 40% Teaching, 40% Research, and 20% Service.
40% Teaching: In the area of teaching, the current classroom teaching assignment for a full-time faculty member in chemistry is two courses per academic year. Faculty members are expected to have established office hours for students each week and to participate in advising activities. Effective teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels is expected.
40% Research: In the area of research, faculty members are expected to develop a nationally recognized research program that is supported through external funding; and to share their scholarship with colleagues and/or the public, through publications, presentations, and other scholarly works.
20% Service: In the area of service, all faculty members are expected to contribute to the department, University, and profession. This can include serving on appropriate department and university committees, reviewing manuscripts for journals, and contributing to regional, national, and international activities of the discipline
40% Teaching: In the area of teaching, the current classroom teaching assignment for a full-time faculty member in chemistry is two courses per academic year. Faculty members are expected to have established office hours for students each week and to participate in advising activities. Effective teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels is expected.
40% Research: In the area of research, faculty members are expected to develop a nationally recognized research program that is supported through external funding; and to share their scholarship with colleagues and/or the public, through publications, presentations, and other scholarly works.
20% Service: In the area of service, all faculty members are expected to contribute to the department, University, and profession. This can include serving on appropriate department and university committees, reviewing manuscripts for journals, and contributing to regional, national, and international activities of the discipline
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D. in organic chemistry or closely related field expected by start date of appointment
- Demonstrable research qualifications in the field of organic chemistry.
- Well-defined plans for development of a vigorous research program of national and international repute in organic chemistry or a closely allied area.
Evaluation of the requirements above will be made through: (1) descriptions of work experience and educational experiences in letter of application, (2) record of accomplishments and productivity addressed in CV, (3) graduate and post-graduate coursework, (4) publications and conference presentations in the field, (5) statement of teaching philosophy, experience in making scientific presentations in organic chemistry, and/or previous teaching experience, and, (6) information provided from professional references.
Additional Candidate Instructions
A complete online application includes the following materials: (1) cover letter (3-page limit); (2) curriculum vitae; (3) research agenda (3-page limit); (4) teaching philosophy statement (1-page limit); and (5) the names, email and contact information for three professional references.
Letters will be solicited after initial candidate review and phone interviews have been completed.
Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2024 and continue as needed.
Letters will be solicited after initial candidate review and phone interviews have been completed.
Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2024 and continue as needed.
Contact Information to Applicants
For questions about the position, please contact search chair Dr. Jon Tunge, tunge@ku.edu.
Advertised Salary Range
Commensurate with experience
Application Review Begins
Tuesday October 15, 2024
Anticipated Start Date
Monday August 18, 2025