ZipRecruiter

Log In

1

Associate Professor Jobs in Sebastopol, CA (NOW HIRING)

All JobsAssociate Professor JobsAssociate Professor Jobs in Sebastopol, CA

Associate Professor information

See Sebastopol, CA salary details

$48.2K

$113.6K

$158K

How much do associate professor jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for associate professor in Sebastopol, CA is $113,587.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $87,600.00 and $139,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by associate professors when balancing research, teaching, and service responsibilities?

Associate Professors often juggle multiple responsibilities, including conducting research, teaching courses, mentoring students, and participating in departmental or university service. Balancing these can be challenging, especially when research expectations remain high while teaching loads and committee work increase after promotion. Successful Associate Professors typically develop strong time-management skills, collaborate with colleagues to share best practices, and seek mentorship or support from their academic community. Proactive planning and clear communication with department leadership can also help manage these competing demands.

What is the difference between Associate Professor vs Assistant Professor?

AspectAssociate ProfessorAssistant Professor
Required CredentialsDoctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent), significant research and teaching experienceDoctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent), typically early in academic career
Work EnvironmentUniversity faculty, involved in teaching, research, and serviceUniversity faculty, primarily focused on teaching and beginning research
Employer & Industry UsageHigher education institutions, research universitiesHigher education institutions, research universities

In summary, an Associate Professor is a more senior academic role with extensive research and teaching experience, while an Assistant Professor is an entry-level faculty position focused on developing research and teaching skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate professor, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Associate Professor, you need advanced subject matter expertise, a doctoral degree in your field, and a record of research and scholarly publication. Familiarity with learning management systems (LMS), academic databases, and research software is typically required. Strong communication, mentorship, and organizational skills help foster student engagement and productive collegial relationships. These competencies are essential for effective teaching, impactful research, and meaningful contributions to academic communities.

What is an associate professor?

An associate professor teaches at a college or university campus and ranks below a full professor. As an associate professor, you still perform the primary job duties of a full professor, such as interacting with students, grading classroom assignments, assisting students with study techniques, and developing lesson plans. You may also spend part of your career working on research projects and writing articles for academic journals.

Do you need a PhD to be an associate professor?

Yes, most academic institutions require an associate professor to hold a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree. This qualification demonstrates expertise in the field and is typically necessary for tenure-track faculty positions at universities. Additional requirements may include teaching experience, research publications, and service contributions.
More about Associate Professor jobs
What cities near Sebastopol, CA are hiring for Associate Professor jobs? Cities near Sebastopol, CA with the most Associate Professor job openings:
Associate Professor jobs near you
Infographic showing various Associate Professor job openings in Sebastopol, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 68% Full Time, 28% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,587 per year, or $54.6 per hour.

Postdoctoral Researcher - Age Rejuvenation Screening & Data Analysis

Buck Institute

Novato, CA • On-site

$80K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 2 days ago

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY
The Ellerby and Gerencser labs at the Buck Institute seek a Postdoctoral Researcher (PhD required) with expertise in microscopy-based image processing, machine vision, and data operations supporting high-throughput small molecule screening. The lab integrates cell biology, advanced microscopy, robotic automation, and single-cell gene expression techniques to investigate cellular function in health and aging. Current efforts focus on defining youthful and aging-related cellular phenotypes to use in high-throughput screening efforts across multiple labs at the Buck Institute.
The successful candidate will develop and apply image-analysis pipelines, integrate imaging data with internal and external databases, and contribute to collaborative projects across Buck laboratories.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
This role involves developing and implementing algorithms, automated workflows, and analytical tools for modern microscopy and high-content imaging. Projects rely heavily on AI-based and classical segmentation methods, object detection, image registration, and object tracking. The lab uses automated microscopes and a fully robotic high-throughput screening system, generating large datasets requiring scalable, automated pipelines.
The candidate will:
  • Translate biological questions into analytical strategies.
  • Build and maintain image-analysis pipelines (deep learning and classical methods).
  • Work with multiple data modalities, including compound-library databases and phenotypic profiling datasets.
  • Support small-molecule screens, cell-painting-based phenotyping, and high-content imaging workflows.
  • Contribute to automation of data acquisition and experimental design.
Training will be provided in experimental technologies, and the candidate will also participate in experiment execution and data interpretation.
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential Requirements
  • PhD in bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related field
  • Experience with biological image processing and automated/pipeline-based image analysis
  • Proficiency in Python and common scientific/imaging libraries
  • Strong data analysis, database, and biostatistics skills
  • Windows and Linux proficiency
  • Demonstrated research portfolio or publication record
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Strong time-management skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively
Desired Skills
  • Experience with data from high-throughput small-molecule screens
  • Experience with laboratory automation and robotic systems
  • Microscopic phenotypic profiling or cell-painting experience
  • Deep-learning tools (CNNs for object detection, instance segmentation, embeddings)
  • GUI development in Python (e.g., Flask, Voila)
  • Pathway analysis or knowledge-graph-based approaches
  • Programming in R
  • Experience with programmatic prompting of large language models
Compensation & Benefits
  • Salary Range: $80,000-100,00 per year, depending on experience and qualifications
  • Dynamic research environment using state-of-the-art techniques
  • Comprehensive benefits package: health insurance, paid parental leave, childcare assistance, generous vacation/sick leave, and a 401(k) with 5% employer match
  • Highly collaborative scientific and social community
ABOUT US
The Buck Institute is dedicated to extending human healthspan by addressing the biological mechanisms of aging. As a leading independent non-profit research institute in Marin County, CA, the Buck brings together experts across multiple disciplines to prevent or delay age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment. We strongly encourage applicants who will contribute to the diversity of our community.
Core facilities supporting our research include Microscopy (directed by Dr. Akos Gerencser), Bioinformatics, Flow Cytometry, Single Cell Genomics, Proteomics, Metabolomics, and Mouse Phenotyping and Behavior.
TO APPLY
Please submit your CV, a cover letter describing your research interests, and contact information for 2 references. 
For Additional Information:
Professor Lisa M. Ellerby, Ph.D., and Research Associate Professor Akos Gerencser MD. Ph.D.
lellerby@buckistitute.org   
agerencser@buckinstitute.org 
 

Powered by JazzHR

yh11skVMfu