Position overview
Position title: Assistant Professor
Salary range: $80,800 to $104,700 base
Anticipated start: July 01, 2026
Review timeline: December 08, 2025
Application Window
Open date: October 13, 2025
Most recent review date: Monday, Dec 8, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The University of California, Riverside (UCR) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in computational and/or analytical metabolomics, with research focused on cellular and physiological adaptation, plant metabolism, or plant-microbe interactions. The anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2026. This position is part of a strategic, campus-wide initiative to expand UCR's research capacity in metabolomics and systems biology.
The successful candidate will join a department to be determined based on their expertise and alignment with research and teaching needs. They will contribute to UCR's dynamic growth in the evolution of secondary metabolic pathways, plant-derived medicinal and nutritional metabolites, and the interface between plant metabolism and human health. Candidates should develop innovative, interdisciplinary research programs in frontier areas such as microbiome-metabolome interactions, eco-metabolomics, quantitative metabolomic imaging, small molecule-proteome interactions, and the integration of multi-omics datasets for biological discovery and prediction.
Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field by the time of application, with postdoctoral research experience strongly preferred. A demonstrated record of impactful scientific contributions, reflected in peer-reviewed publications, and the potential to secure extramural funding are essential. The successful candidate is expected to establish an independent and externally funded research program and demonstrate expertise in either computational or analytical metabolomics. Computational metabolomics may include approaches such as pathway reconstruction, statistical modeling, machine learning, or predictive analytics of metabolite function. Analytical metabolomics may involve techniques such as LC-MS/MS, MS imaging, or NMR-based profiling. While expertise in both areas is welcome, candidates are not required to have strengths in both.
In addition to developing a productive research program, the successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and graduate instruction in areas such as biochemistry and metabolomics. They will also participate in the development of curriculum for a forthcoming Master's Program in Metabolomics.
The candidate's research program must incorporate metabolomics analyses or provide a conceptual and/or technical platform for the application or development of metabolomics tools, including imaging, to address biologically significant questions.
UCR is ranked among the Top 15 Public Research Universities in the United States by Washington Monthly. The new faculty member will have access to world-class core facilities housed in the Institute of Integrative Genome Biology (IIGB), including metabolomics, bioinformatics, proteomics, microscopy, and sequencing cores. UCR supports a highly collaborative research environment and actively encourages interdisciplinary partnerships, entrepreneurship, and translational applications of academic research.
The UC salary consists of a base pay of $ 80,800 to $104,700 for Assistant Professors and additional off-scale to be commensurate with market value, qualifications and experiences. The off-scale portion of the salary will be maintained as long as satisfactory academic progress is made. Additionally, the off-scale will be maintained subject to market adjustments to the UC salary scale.
Advancement through the Professor ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input.
To Apply:
Applicants must submit their materials online at https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02151 . A complete application must include the following:
• Cover Letter - A brief letter describing the applicant's background, research interests, and motivation for applying.
• Curriculum Vitae - A comprehensive CV detailing educational background, research experience, publications, and other relevant achievements.
• Statement of Teaching and Mentoring (2-page maximum) - A concise summary of teaching and mentoring philosophy, including past experiences and future plans for instruction and student development.
• Statement of Research (2-page maximum) - A description of past research accomplishments, current work, and future research directions.
• Letters of Recommendation - Applicants must request letters from three referees at the time of application. Referees should submit their letters directly to UC Recruit by December 08, 2025.
Review of applications will begin on December 08, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, all application materials should be submitted before the review date.
For questions about the position, please contact Professor Katayoon Dehesh, Chair of the Search Committee, at katayoon.dehesh@ucr.edu . For inquiries about application procedures or requirements, contact Rocio McFadden, Academic Personnel, at rocio.mcfadden@ucr.edu .
Department: https://iigb.ucr.edu/
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field by the time of application, with postdoctoral research experience strongly preferred. A demonstrated record of impactful scientific contributions, reflected in peer-reviewed publications, and the potential to secure extramural funding are essential. The successful candidate is expected to establish an independent and externally funded research program and demonstrate expertise in either computational or analytical metabolomics.
Preferred qualifications
Computational metabolomics may include approaches such as pathway reconstruction, statistical modeling, machine learning, or predictive analytics of metabolite function. Analytical metabolomics may involve techniques such as LC-MS/MS, MS imaging, or NMR-based profiling. While expertise in both areas is welcome, candidates are not required to have strengths in both.
The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) as well as the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission ( https://apro.ucr.edu/mission-statement ) is a preferred qualification.
Application Requirements
Document requirements
- Cover Letter - A brief letter describing the applicant's background, research interests, and motivation for applying.
- Curriculum Vitae - A comprehensive CV detailing educational background, research experience, publications, and other relevant achievements.
- Statement of Teaching and Mentoring (2-page maximum) - A concise summary of teaching and mentoring philosophy, including past experiences and future plans for instruction and student development.
- Statement of Research (2-page maximum) - A description of past research accomplishments, current work, and future research directions.
Reference requirements
- 3 letters of reference required
Please provide the contact information for a minimum of three references. You will need to request the confidential reference letters via AP Recruit as part of your application.
Apply link: https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/JPF02151
Help contact: rocio.mcfadden@ucr.edu
About UC Riverside
The University of California, Riverside is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. UCR is a member institution of the American Association of Universities (AAU) and the Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU). A commitment to the UCR mission ( https://apro.ucr.edu/mission-statement ) is a preferred qualification.
We seek to hire scholars who will both advance our research directions and effectively educate our undergraduate and graduate students, while also engaging with University and Professional service activities. Research and teaching statements that are included with application materials are opportunities for candidates to share knowledge, experience, and goals that support the mission of UCR. For more information on UC's criteria for successful faculty, refer to the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) 210 - Criteria for Appointment, Promotion, and Appraisal ( https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-210.pdf ).
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.
As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, State, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any
final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.
"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer. A Misconduct Disclosure Survey will be completed through Truescreen, which is the vendor that administers this process for the campus.
For the University of California's Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy please visit:
https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000385/SVSH .
For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students, and Third Parties, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination .
For the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy, please visit: https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-035.pdf .
Job location
900 University Ave., Riverside, CA 92521
