Job Details The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Santa Clara University, a Jesuit, Catholic university, seeks applicants for a
full-time tenure-track assistant professor position in Biochemistry. The successful candidate will hold the title of the Michael and Elizabeth Valeriote Assistant Professor position for the duration of their probationary period, and will also have access to supplementary research funds. SCU is a welcoming and inclusive community of teaching scholars whose work is grounded in the University’s fundamental values. Those values, which include academic excellence, social justice and community engagement, are infused with a culture of care that defines our community—upholding the dignity of all. The University draws on the many resources of the greater Bay Area, including Silicon Valley, where we are located. The Chemistry & Biochemistry department consists of 19 full-time faculty. Faculty expertise spans a wide range of subfields including organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, analytical chemistry and biochemistry. We serve over 500 undergraduates across STEM fields. We actively engage undergraduates in meaningful faculty-led research. The successful candidate will start on September 1, 2027 and be expected to teach, engage in scholarship and do service for the department, college, University, and profession. SCU is on the quarter system and tenure-stream faculty are expected to teach six courses per year (two each quarter), assuming they are actively engaged in scholarship. Required Qualifications Terminal degree (Ph.D. or foreign equivalent) and minimum of 3 months of postdoctoral experience or a related postgraduate position in Biochemistry or a related field by appointment start date. Demonstrated potential for effective and inclusive teaching and mentoring. Demonstrated potential for establishing an externally-funded undergraduate research program in the broadly defined area of Biochemistry. Responsibilities Tenure-track faculty at SCU are teaching scholars who are expected to balance teaching, research, and service. This is an in-person position. More specifically, duties include but are not limited to the following: Teaching Teach lower- and upper-division courses in the major and university core curriculum, as assigned by the chair, including courses such as biochemistry and general chemistry. SCU is on the quarter system and a typical load is two courses per quarter, assuming active engagement with research. High-quality teaching is prioritized at SCU; therefore, significant faculty-student interaction is expected. The University offers many different opportunities to develop teaching skills through Faculty Development, including regular lunchtime workshops on pedagogy, teaching and technology grants, communities of practice, teaching mentors, and a scholarship of teaching and learning faculty group. Teaching will be evaluated according to the Teaching Effectiveness Standards and Evaluation (TESE) document developed by each department. Ignatian pedagogy, a hallmark of Jesuit, Catholic universities, is based on the principle of cura personalis, that is, teaching the whole person. At Santa Clara University we define effectiveness in teaching as respectful, challenging, inclusive, engaging, and evidence based. Teaching Expectations and Academic Policies at SCU can be found here. Research The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry strongly values the involvement of undergraduate students in faculty research. The successful candidate must develop a program of research involving undergraduate students at SCU that will result in meeting the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department’s established scholarship standards. The department has created a document that outlines the standards for scholarship that lead to tenure and promotion in Chemistry & Biochemistry, which will be shared with candidates invited to campus. Additional information on the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry can be found on our website. SCU offers significant support to early career faculty in the development of their program of research. All new faculty will be assigned mentors, placed into a cohort learning community with other new faculty, and offered faculty retreats, workshops and numerous professional development opportunities to build their programs of research. Service Provide effective service to the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, the College of Arts and Sciences, the University, and the profession through contributions other than teaching and scholarship, such as service on committees, participation in professional organizations and activities, leadership, and community service performed by virtue of professional expertise or association with the university, as appropriate to rank and experience. Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity employer. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University’s nondiscrimination policies, see the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX website. Special Instructions for Applicants Applicants should submit the following materials by September 18, 2026: A cover letter Curriculum vitae. Detailed research plan, which should include a description of how the candidate’s research program will be implemented at a Primarily Undergraduate Institution. Statement of teaching philosophy (please include specific experiences and effective strategies for inclusive pedagogies) Graduate transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable at this stage) Contact information for three references. Sample syllabi and teaching evaluations for any lecture course(s) taught, if available. Telecommute Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.
