"Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences- Host-Microbiome Interactions"

Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences- Host-Microbiome Interactions

Company: University of Oklahoma

Job Location:

Category: Biology

Type: Full-Time

Position Title: Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences- Host-Microbiome Interactions

Location: University of Oklahoma Norman Campus, Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, School of Biological Sciences

Department: Biological Sciences

Position Type: Faculty

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, or other related discipline.
• Postdoctoral research experience.
• Strong record of research publication in high-impact, peer-reviewed research journals.
• Demonstrated record of, or clear potential for, strong extramural funding.
• Ability to contribute to core undergraduate and graduate curricula in Microbiology.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Potential for collaborations with others within the SBS, across the OU campuses, and beyond.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching, including commitment to or familiarity with effective teaching practices and mentoring approaches that support students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Application Instructions:

Applicants should submit 1) a cover letter describing their interest in the position and their fit in the SBS. The cover letter may address examples of strategies for broadening access, 2) a full curriculum vitae, 3) a research portfolio describing your current and future scholarship, consisting of up to a three-page narrative and up to three representative publications, 4) a teaching portfolio detailing your experience and approach to classroom teaching and undergraduate and graduate student mentorship, as well as any courses you are interested in teaching, within a narrative of up to three pages, and 5) names and contact information for three confidential letters of recommendation. Additional materials may be requested at a later date. Applications must be submitted online via Interfolio at: https://apply.interfolio.com/174540.

The search committee will begin reviewing applications on October 30, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.

Inquiries should be directed to:

Dr. Kara De León, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences

University of Oklahoma

deleonkb@ou.edu

Description:

The School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at the University of Oklahoma (OU) invites applications for a full-time 9-month tenure-track position as Assistant Professor with a start date of August 2026. This position is one of three in a cluster hire focused on advancing understanding of microbiomes. The other two positions are focused on microbiome-microbiome interactions and plant-microbiome interactions.

We are seeking an innovative and creative scholar who will establish a discipline-leading, student-involved, and externally funded research program on host-microbiome interactions. The ideal candidate will conduct high-quality research on the microbial communities of organismal hosts that could include, but is not limited to the following: interactions between the host immune response and microbes, the physiological and/or behavioral impacts of microbial diversity on the host, the molecular bases of host-microbe interactions, and the ecological and evolutionary factors that shape microbial communities in natural host systems. The candidate should complement one or more of the four synergistic research themes of the SBS (Biological Foundations of One Health, Behavior from Molecules to Ecosystems, Mechanisms of Biodiversity, and Ecology of a Changing Planet) and demonstrate a strong potential for creating cross-disciplinary collaborations across the SBS, the Norman and Health campuses, and nationally and internationally.

The research program should include mentoring of postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates in research and professional development. The candidate will also be expected to contribute to formal undergraduate and graduate instruction in the form of one course per semester within the SBS microbiology curriculum, as well as newly developed courses within their specific area of expertise.

The SBS was recently established through the integration of the departments of Biology and Microbiology and Plant Biology to align graduate programs and research with faculty strengths and the OU Norman Research Strategic Verticals and Lead On Strategic Plan.

OU invests in its faculty by providing support and resources through the Center for Faculty Excellence and Vice President for Research and Partnerships Office. The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences supports faculty development through mentoring, a new faculty orientation series, and access to research and educational support. We encourage candidates to apply who are seeking to work in a rapidly growing college with collegial interdisciplinary groups and strong academic units.