Assistant Professor Organic Chemistry Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Assistant Professor, Organic Chemistry

Department of Chemistry & Forensic Science

The Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics

FCSM-4008

Towson University:

Towson University (TU) is one of the nation's top 100 public universities. Located north of Baltimore, TU currently enrolls over 19,000 students and is the second-largest university in the prestigious University System of Maryland. Towson University fosters a climate that is grounded in respect to cultivate the intellectual and personal growth of the entire university community.

Position:  
The Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Organic Chemistry position in the Department of Chemistry & Forensic Science. Preferred start date, August 2027.

Qualifications:  

A Ph.D. in organic chemistry is required. Postdoctoral research and experience teaching undergraduates is strongly preferred.  The department is particularly interested in candidates whose proposed research program will complement existing departmental strengths in target-directed synthesis; however, candidates in all areas of organic chemistry will receive full consideration.

Responsibilities:

The candidate will primarily teach undergraduate lecture and lab courses in organic chemistry but may also teach courses in the general chemistry sequence and upper-division courses in their area of expertise. The candidate must establish a competitive research program that engages undergraduate students in chemistry, forensic chemistry, and other related majors.  The candidate is expected to pursue external research funding and disseminate their research findings in peer-reviewed journals and through presentations at professional meetings. Pre-tenure faculty members are assigned an instructional workload of five (5) course units per academic year.

The Department:

The Department of Chemistry & Forensic Science is ACS accredited, with 17 tenured or tenure-track faculty actively engaged in externally funded research involving undergraduates and graduate students. The department enrolls approximately 300 undergraduates in chemistry, forensic chemistry and chemistry secondary education, and 40 graduate students in the forensic science master's program. The department supports interdisciplinary programs in molecular biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics (MB3), and environmental science. Additional collaborative opportunities may be available with science faculty in the departments of anthropology, biology, computer sciences, mathematics, and physics, astronomy & geosciences. The department also features state-of-the-art instrumentation to support undergraduate research, including a new 400 MHz NMR spectrometer.

Application Process:

Review of applications begins on September 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Incomplete applications and applications received after September 1, 2026 may not be reviewed by the search committee. To apply, please upload a single pdf file containing the following documents in the specified order:

1.  A cover letter stating your interest in the position and your potential contributions to the undergraduate chemistry program at Towson University. (1 page limit)

2.   A current curriculum vitae highlighting relevant teaching and research experience. (3 page limit)

3.     A statement of teaching philosophy that specifically addresses your approach to teaching undergraduate organic chemistry lecture and lab. (2 page limit)

4.      A description of your proposed research program at Towson University.  You must include at least two different projects and describe how they are appropriate for undergraduate student researchers. (4 page limit, including references).

5.      Names and contact information (current affiliation, e-mail address, and telephone number) for three professional references.

6.      Copies of all graduate and undergraduate transcripts (listed in reverse chronological order).

      Click on the link below to apply. Please note that the search number for which you are applying is FCSM-4008.

Please be sure to visit the Applicant Data Form to complete a voluntary on-line form. All data collected are for internal, state, and/or federal reporting and will not be used for other purposes.

For more information, please contact the chair of the search committee, Dr. Keith Reber, at organicsearch2026@towson.edu.

Salary and Benefits:

Targeted salary range: $77,000 - $81,000, commensurate with experience.

Benefits: TU offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent health, life and retirement plans, and tuition remission. To learn more about our benefits, click here for regular faculty/regular lecturer or here for contingent lecturer. TU also offers a variety of great perks and discounts, which can be found here.

Background Check:

A Criminal Background Investigation is required for the hired candidate, and the results may impact employment.

COVID-19 Statement:

The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and neighbors has been our top priority and the focus of every one of our decisions since the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the University System of Maryland (USM) has strongly encouraged full COVID vaccination and up-to-date booster shots (when eligible) for all faculty, staff, and students at all schools in the USM as both a reasonable and necessary means of protecting our health and safety.