Associate / Full Professor of Biological Sciences - Microbiome Research - George Lynn Cross Endowed Chair

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus • Norman, OK

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The School of Biological Sciences (SBS) at the University of Oklahoma (OU) invites applications for a full-time, 9-month tenured or tenure-track position as an Associate or Full Professor. The position begins in August 2027 and includes a 1:0 teaching load as a condition of being appointed to the endowed chair. The school seeks an innovative, creative, and collaborative colleague with a strong record of scholarship in microbiomes, who will lead a productive, cross-disciplinary, and externally funded research program. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated success in using a combination of empirical and computational approaches to study metabolic processes, with areas of interest including the regulation of inflammation, bacterial pathogenesis, and microbiome-immune system interactions. The successful candidate will also have a proven record of forming and leading productive interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary teams focused on advancing fundamental knowledge of the role of microbiomes in disease, building collaborations within and outside their institution, and mentoring research trainees while teaching microbiome-related courses. SBS has integrated research strengths in One Health, Behavior, Ecology, and Evolution, and is expanding in alignment with the Lead On Strategic Plan, particularly in areas that complement the OU Health Campus. OU supports its faculty through the Center for Faculty Excellence and the Vice President for Research and Partnerships Office. The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences offers faculty development through mentoring, new faculty orientation, and access to research and educational support. The university encourages candidates seeking to work in a rapidly growing college with collegial interdisciplinary groups and strong academic units to apply. The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Carnegie-R1 comprehensive public research university recognized for excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement. It serves the state, region, and nation from its Norman, Health Campus in Oklahoma City, and Schusterman Center in Tulsa campuses, enrolling over 32,000 students and employing more than 2,700 full-time faculty members across 21 colleges. Norman is a vibrant university town of over 130,000 residents with a growing arts and entertainment scene, excellent schools, amenities, and a low cost of living. Oklahoma City, within easy commuting distance, offers a dynamic economy and cultural venues.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Microbiology or a related discipline.
• Established record of forming and leading research teams.
• Sustained record of high-quality research and publications on microbiomes.
• Demonstrated record of sustained nationally competitive extramural funding for research on microbiomes.
• Record of scholarship sufficient for appointment as an Associate or Full Professor.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated record of excellence in teaching.
• Familiarity with effective teaching practices and mentoring approaches that support students from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Evidence of ability to build partnerships within and across institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in convergent and interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary approaches to scholarship.

Responsibilities

• Lead a productive, cross-disciplinary, and externally funded research program in microbiomes.
• Use a combination of empirical and computational approaches to problems in metabolic processes.
• Focus on areas of interest including regulation of inflammation, bacterial pathogenesis, and microbiome-immune system interactions.
• Form and lead productive interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary teams working on the role of microbiomes in disease.
• Build collaborations within and outside the institution.
• Mentor research trainees.
• Teach courses related to the microbiome.
• Maintain a 1:0 teaching load as a condition of being appointed to the endowed chair position.

Benefits

• Support and resources through the Center for Faculty Excellence
• Support and resources through the Vice President for Research and Partnerships Office
• Faculty development through mentoring
• New faculty orientation series
• Access to research and educational support

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree