Professor of Mucosal Immunology

The Pennsylvania State University•University Park, FL

About The Position

The Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, together with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, invites applications for an open-rank, tenure-track faculty position in Mucosal Immunology. This is a 9-month appointment with 75 percent research and 25 percent teaching. Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The successful candidate will develop a research program focused on mucosal immunology. Areas of interest include immune cell development, function, and metabolism at mucosal surfaces; animal models and/or clinical studies; and interdisciplinary research into how mucosal immune cells interact with internal and external cues such as the microbiome, pathogens, dietary components, and environmental toxins. Research may use computational, statistical, or data-driven approaches, while maintaining a connection to experimental biology and mechanistic insight through laboratory, biochemical, or molecular approaches and translation to human and/or animal health. The position includes teaching in the undergraduate Immunology and Infectious Disease major and participation in graduate education in Immunology. The successful candidate will join Penn State’s collaborative life sciences research community, with access to Huck Institutes centers and graduate programs, shared facilities in areas including genomics, metabolomics, and imaging, as well as gnotobiotic facilities and ABSL-3 capabilities. The department also has research ties to the Penn State Cancer Institute and the Institute of Energy and the Environment.

Requirements

Doctoral degree in a relevant discipline; the posting specifies PhD, MD, DVM/VMD, or equivalent, and lists Immunology, microbiology, metabolomics, or a related discipline.
Outstanding scientific ability demonstrated by a strong publication record.
Strong potential for securing extramural funding.
Excellence in research and teaching.
Effective communication skills and ability to work collegially in an inclusive academic environment.
Strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring.
For assistant professor candidates, postdoctoral training and a strong record of peer-reviewed publications are expected.
For Associate or Full Professor appointment, an established nationally or internationally reputable, extramurally funded research program and a strong track record of high-impact publications are required.
Research must maintain a clear connection to experimental biology and mechanistic insight, including wet-laboratory, biochemical, or molecular approaches and translation to human and/or animal health.

Nice To Haves

Research focused on immune cell development, function, and metabolism at mucosal surfaces.
Research programs incorporating animal models and/or clinical studies.
Interdisciplinary research on how mucosal immune cells interact with and respond to microbiome, pathogens, dietary components, and environmental toxins.
Use of computational, statistical, or data-driven approaches in research.