"Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences-Plant Microbiomes"

Job Details

Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences-Plant Microbiomes

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

Open Date: Oct 01, 2025

The School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at the University of Oklahoma (OU) invites applications for a full-time 9-month tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor with a start date of August 2026.

We are seeking an innovative and creative scholar who will establish a dynamic research program studying plant microbiomes. The candidate will have expertise in understanding how microbial communities impact the physiological responses of plants across ecological gradients from a genomic perspective and could have their primary training in either Microbiology and/or Plant Biology, including the soil microbiome, as it relates to plants specifically. The candidate could teach courses in either Microbiology or Plant Biology. The ideal candidate would be able to collaborate with one or more of the four exciting, synergistic research themes of the SBS (Ecology of a Changing Planet, Behaviors from Molecules to Ecosystems, Mechanisms of Biodiversity, and Biological Foundations of One Health). The candidate will be expected to work with graduate and undergraduate students to establish a productive research lab and will have a 1:1 teaching load. 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 host-microbiome interactions.

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

University of Oklahoma:

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, the 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 program with collegial interdisciplinary groups and strong academic units.

The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Carnegie-R1 comprehensive public research university known for excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement, serving the educational, cultural, economic, and healthcare needs of the state, region, and nation from three campuses: Norman, Health Campus in Oklahoma City, and the Schusterman Center in Tulsa. OU enrolls over 32,000 students and has more than 2,700 full-time faculty members in 21 colleges.

The Norman Community:

Norman is a vibrant university town of more than 130,000 inhabitants with a growing entertainment and art scene. With outstanding schools, amenities, and a low cost of living, Norman is a perennial contender in “best place to live” rankings. Visit http://soonerway.ou.edu for more information. Within an easy commute, Oklahoma City features a dynamic economy and outstanding cultural venues adding to the region’s growing appeal.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Microbiology, Plant Biology, or a related discipline in hand by start date.
• Established record of high-quality research and publications on plant microbiomes.
• Demonstrated record of, or clear potential for, strong extramural funding.
• Familiarity with effective teaching practices and mentoring approaches that support students from a wide range of backgrounds
• Ability to contribute to core physiological curricula in the SBS.

Preferred Qualifications:

• One or more years of post-doctoral experience.
• Experience leading collaborative projects and working with interdisciplinary teams.
• Potential for collaborations with others within the SBS, across the OU campuses, and beyond.
• Evidence of excellence in teaching and/or mentoring.

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 their current and future scholarship, consisting of up to a three-page narrative and up to three representative publications; 4) a teaching portfolio detailing their experience and approach to classroom teaching and advising undergraduate and graduate students, with up to a two-page narrative and optional syllabus for a course they are interested in teaching; 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/174588

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

Inquiries should be directed to the search committee chair:

Dr. Abigail Moore, Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences

University of Oklahoma

abigail.j.moore@ou.edu