Assistant Professor - Molecular and Precision / Medicine

Penn State University • Tallahassee, FL

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About The Position

The Penn State College of Medicine, Departments of Medicine, and Molecular and Precision Medicine, in Hershey, PA, invites applications for faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Professor non-tenure line. We seek innovative and collaborative scientists with research programs aligned with emerging priorities in aging biology, infectious diseases, cancer biology, mucosal immunology, regenerative biology, and advanced model systems, including organoids and tissue-engineered platforms. Successful candidates will join a highly interactive and growing research environment that integrates basic discovery with translational and clinical investigation. The Department of Medicine and affiliated institutes provide strong infrastructure for interdisciplinary work, including access to core facilities in genomics, proteomics, imaging, computational biology, and advanced cell and tissue modeling. Faculty will have opportunities to collaborate across departments and centers focused on precision health, host–pathogen interactions, cancer biology, aging, and regenerative medicine. We are particularly interested in candidates developing innovative approaches to study mechanisms of tissue homeostasis and disease across the lifespan, including host–microbe interactions, immune regulation at barrier tissues, epithelial biology, tumor–microenvironment interactions, and the use of organoid and organ-on-chip systems to model human disease and therapeutic response. The successful candidate will be expected to establish an independent, externally funded research program and contribute to the academic mission through mentorship and teaching.

Requirements

• PhD, MD, or MD/PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Molecular Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Cancer Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or related discipline)
• Evidence of strong postdoctoral training and a record of high-quality publications
• Research focus in one or more of the following areas: – Biology of aging and age-related disease – Infectious diseases and host–pathogen interactions – Cancer biology and tumor microenvironment – Mucosal and epithelial biology – Organoid, stem cell, or tissue-engineered disease models – Precision medicine and systems biology approaches
• Strong critical thinking skills, scientific rigor, and the ability to generate innovative hypotheses
• Excellent organizational, communication, and collaborative skills

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a highly innovative, externally funded research program in molecular and precision medicine
• Conduct impactful research in areas such as aging biology, infectious diseases, cancer, mucosal biology, regenerative medicine, or advanced human model systems (e.g., organoids, assembloids, tissue chips)
• Develop and apply cutting-edge molecular, cellular, and systems-level approaches to understand disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets
• Collaborate with clinicians and translational researchers to define and address clinically relevant problems
• Publish high-impact research and contribute to national scientific visibility
• Mentor graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and trainees across interdisciplinary programs
• Contribute to the educational mission through teaching and training activities

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees