Assistant/Associate/Professor of Mucosal Immunology

The Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences (VBS) in the College of Agricultural Sciences, and the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for an open rank, tenure track faculty position in Mucosal Immunology. This is a 9-month position and has a 75 percent research and 25 percent teaching appointment. Rank and salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree (PhD and/or MD) in Immunology, microbiology, metabolomics, or a related discipline. Postdoctoral training with a strong record of peer reviewed publications is expected for candidates at the assistant professor level. For appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level, candidates must have established a national/international reputable, extramurally funded research program with a strong track record of high impact publications. We strongly encourage applicants focused on immune cell development and function at the mucosal surface and their metabolism with research programs that incorporate animal models and/or clinical studies. In addition, candidates with interdisciplinary research programs investigating the molecular mechanisms by which mucosal immune cells interact and respond to diverse internal and external cues, including microbiome, pathogens, dietary components, and environmental toxins will also be considered. The candidate may employ computational, statistical, or data driven approaches as part of their research program but are expected to maintain a clear connection to experimental biology and mechanistic insight through wet laboratory, biochemical, molecular approaches, and translation to human and/or animal health. The candidates must demonstrate strong potential for securing extramural funding, excellence in research and teaching, effective communication skills, and the ability to work collegially within an inclusive academic environment.

Candidates must have a strong commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring. Teaching responsibilities will include teaching in the undergraduate Immunology and Infectious Disease major and participation in graduate education in Immunology.

The successful candidate will be a part of a collaborative research ecosystem created by the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences.  The Huck Institutes serve as a hub for life sciences research at Penn State, bringing together scientists from across the University to address fundamental questions and societal challenges.  The Huck Institutes supports Centers, including the One Health Microbiome Center (OHMC), the Center for Molecular Immunology (CMI), and the Center for Environmental Health Sciences.; graduate programs, including the Interdisciplinary Graduate Degree Programs in Integrative and Biomedical Physiology; and manages shared and core facilities with instrumentation and expertise in genomics, metabolomics, imaging, and other technologies.  The candidate will have access to gnotobiotic facilities and ABSL-3 capabilities. The department has strong ties with other research units at Penn State including the Penn State Cancer Institute and the Institute of Energy and the Environment.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a PhD, MD, DVM/VMD, or equivalent degree in a relevant discipline and have an outstanding record of scientific ability as demonstrated by a strong publication record.

Applicants should apply at Penn State’s Job Posting Board, and should upload the following application materials electronically:

Cover letter that includes research area, qualifications, and contact information
Curriculum vitae
A statement of research interests (3-pages maximum)
A statement of Teaching interests
Three confidential letters of recommendation upon request.

System limitations allow for a total of 5 documents (5mb per document) as part of your application. Please combine materials to meet the 5-document limit.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For questions, please contact K. Sandeep Prabhu, Professor and Head of the Department of Veterinary & Biomedical Sciences, Penn State University, by email at ksp4@psu.edu

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.