Professor of the Practice in Bioinformatics

Posted: 17-Apr-26

Location: Medford, MA

Categories: Academic/Faculty

Internal Number: 185031

The Department of Biology at Tufts University invites applications for an in-person, non-tenure-track faculty position as Professor of the Practice in Bioinformatics. This role emphasizes teaching and mentoring in applied bioinformatics, program leadership, and engagement with industry and external partners. This position will support and expand the Bioinformatics specialization within the Biology Master’s program, which is designed to introduce students with undergraduate training in biology to core bioinformatics concepts and tools through didactic coursework and hands-on learning and prepare them for careers in academia, industry, government, non-profits, and related sectors. For more information about the program, see https://as.tufts.edu/biology/academics/graduate-programs/ms-biology/bioinformatics-specialization-biology-oc-ms-program.

The successful candidate will be an experienced practitioner in bioinformatics or a closely related field, with demonstrated expertise in real-world applications and prior experience working in and/or collaborating closely with non-academic settings (e.g., biotech/pharma, government, NGOs). The full-time Professor of the Practice would create and supervise a bioinformatics capstone course, in which students will work 1:1 with a mentor to integrate statistical, computational, and biological knowledge to solve a real-world bioinformatics problem, going from raw data to biological interpretation, and teach one other graduate-level course in bioinformatics that matches the candidate’s expertise and is accessible to biology-trained students. They would also support students’ professional development by providing career advising and mentorship and engaging with external partners across biotechnology, pharmaceutical, government, non-profit, healthcare, and related sectors. Finally, they would administrative leadership to the bioinformatics specialization by coordinating curriculum, programming, admissions, program visibility, and academic support activities, in close collaboration with Biology faculty and staff. A part-time position is possible for the right candidate and would be scaled according to the percent of time.

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related discipline and maintain active engagement in professional practice (e.g., industry, government/non-profit, or consulting). The full-time Professor of the Practice would be expected to continue to spend time in their professional practice outside of Tufts (max 20% effort). Prior teaching or mentoring experience is preferred, which could include undergraduate/graduate instruction, professional education, mentorship of trainees or employees, or similar activities.

The successful candidate will be evaluated based on excellence in teaching, advising, program administration, and external engagement, as well as their continued professional contributions to the field.

Applicants should submit to https://apply.interfolio.com/185031 the following: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and separate statements of (a) research and/or practice interests, (b) experience in biotechnology/biopharma or other non-academic settings, and (c) teaching/mentoring experience and philosophy. Applicants of strongest interest will subsequently be contacted to submit three letters of recommendation uploaded directly by recommenders to Interfolio. Review of applications will begin on May 1 and continue until the position is filled.

For questions on this position please contact Jessica Orlando at jessica.orlando@tufts.edu.