School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
The School of Dentistry at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile invites applications for a full-time academic position in the Faculty Track at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor. This appointment is intended for individuals seeking to pursue an academic career with a strong commitment to research, teaching, and university service.
We seek an outstanding scholar with a demonstrated record of achievement and strong potential for leadership in dental research or related biomedical and health sciences disciplines, with proven capacity to conduct independent and internationally competitive research. Particular consideration will be given to candidates with experience in securing external research funding, producing high-impact scientific publications, and developing interdisciplinary collaborations.
The successful candidate will contribute to the strengthening of undergraduate and graduate programs within the School of Dentistry and will participate actively in academic leadership, institutional engagement, and administrative service activities.
The Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile is consistently recognized among the leading universities in Latin America and actively promotes equal opportunity, diversity, and inclusion as fundamental principles of its educational and academic mission. In this context, applications from women and individuals belonging to groups historically underrepresented in academia are especially encouraged.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Develop an independent, innovative, and internationally impactful research program in dentistry or related biomedical and health sciences fields, leading to high-quality publications indexed in Web of Science (WoS) or Scopus in dentistry and/or related interdisciplinary scientific areas.
- Establish and strengthen scientific collaborations with national and international researchers, promoting interdisciplinary research initiatives in partnership with faculty members across the University and with external research institutions.
- Secure competitive research funding through successful applications to national and international funding agencies, thereby contributing to the sustainability and growth of their research program.
- Participate actively in the education and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students, including thesis supervision.
- Deliver excellence in teaching across undergraduate, specialty training, master's, and doctoral programs, incorporating innovative education approaches and current scientific evidence.
- Contribute to the design, revision, and assessment of academic curricula within the School of Dentistry.
- Participate in academic and administrative service activities that support the institutional development of the School and the Faculty of Medicine.
- Promote research, community engagement, knowledge transfer, and scientific dissemination activities directed toward academic, professional, and broader societal audiences.
- Contribute to an inclusive, collaborative, and excellence-driven academic environment aligned with the mission and values of the University.
QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a professional degree in Dentistry (DDS, DMD, or equivalent) or a professional degree and/or academic qualification in a discipline relevant to dental education and research.
- Hold a doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) awarded by a recognized institution.
- Demonstrate a strong track record in scientific research, evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed WoS-indexed journals, participation in competitive research projects, and involvement in national and international collaborations.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop an independent and competitive research program with strong potential for academic leadership.
- Show interest and commitment to contributing to university service and institutional development activities.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Applicants must submit the following three documents:
1. CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)
The CV should include:
a. Educational background.
b. Professional and teaching experience.
c. Scientific publications.
d. Participation in research projects.
e. Presentations at national and international conferences.
f. Academic service and leadership activities.
g. Awards, honors, and distinctions.
h. Names and contact information of at least two academic referees.
2. STATEMENT OF INTENT
The statement should include the following sections:
a. Research Plan
A description of the research program the applicant intends to develop over the coming years, including its potential integration with existing research areas within the School of Dentistry and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
b. Teaching Plan
A description of the applicant's anticipated contributions to undergraduate, specialty, master's, and doctoral education, including initiatives related to educational innovation and the training of students and early-career researchers.
c. Contribution to Academic Service and Institutional Development
A description of previous experience and potential contributions to university service activities, quality assurance processes, curriculum development, internationalization initiatives, and community engagement.
3. LIST OF WoS-INDEXED SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS (Word Document)
This document must include all WoS-indexed publications authored by the applicant, listing all co-authors and the corresponding DOI for each publication. Publications lacking this information will not be considered during the evaluation process. Within this publication list, applicants must identify their two most significant publications using an asterisk (*) and provide a brief explanation of why these articles are particularly relevant to the research program they intend to develop. Manuscripts currently under review or submitted for publication may also be included, clearly indicating their status. The applicant's name must be underlined within each citation.
Each publication should follow the format below:
Feher B, de Souza Oliveira EH, Mendes Duarte P, Werdich AA, Giannobile WV, Feres M. Machine learning-assisted prediction of clinical responses to periodontal treatment. J Periodontol. 2025 Nov;96(11):1199–1212. doi: 10.1002/JPER.24-0737. Epub 2025 Apr 20. PMID: 40254962; PMCID: PMC12671691.*
This article describes the methodology that I will implement in a research program focused on analyzing periodontal treatment outcomes using artificial intelligence. The methodology was validated in this study, and I aim to incorporate this emerging technology into future research projects. (Example)
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applications will be evaluated based on:
- Quality, impact, and future potential of the candidate's academic and scientific trajectory.
- Research leadership and productivity.
- Potential to establish and lead an innovative and competitive research program.
- Ability to secure external research funding.
- Experience and excellence in university teaching.
- Potential for integration and collaboration within the academic activities of the School of Dentistry.
- Experience in academic leadership and university service.
- Contributions to interdisciplinary team development and scientific collaboration networks.
- Academic references.
When candidates are equally qualified, diversity and inclusion considerations will be applied in accordance with the University's institutional policies.
START DATE
The successful candidate must be available to assume the position in March 2027.
APPLICATION SUBMISSION
Applications must be submitted electronically to the Office of the Director of the School of Dentistry, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Statement of Intent
- List of Publications (Word document)
Application period: October 01– November 20, 2026.
Questions regarding the position and application materials should be directed to:
mdiazva@uc.cl
INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS
Applicants who are not Chilean citizens and are selected for appointment must possess the appropriate visa or legal authorization required to join the academic faculty of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, in accordance with current Chilean immigration regulations.