Assistant Professor - INVEST Program, College of Science

About the Opportunity

About the Opportunity:

The College of Science at Northeastern University invite applications for positions at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning in academic year 2025-2026 or 2026-2027 in the field of plant-human interface, broadly defined. Candidates who are completing their PhD or at an early stage of their postdoctoral training are encouraged to apply to these tenure-track faculty appointments. Areas of particular interest in the current search include plant RNA biology, plant biochemistry, plant inter-species interactions, food allergy, pharmaceutical biomanufacturing, metabolic engineering, climate change, and sustainable foods. Primary appointments will be in the College of Science (Chemistry and Chemical Biology) with potential for joint appointments in other departments and across colleges. In the meantime, the successful candidates will also be appointed as members of the newly forming Institute for Plant-Human Interactions (IPHI). Appointments will have the opportunity to collaborate in cross-disciplinary teams across the University and will complement existing strengths.

IPHI is being formed as a new institute at Northeastern University. Its mission will be to pioneer groundbreaking research at the intersection of plant sciences and human biology, driving discoveries that enhance both human health and environmental sustainability. The institute will serve as a platform for bridging science and engineering, fostering academia-industry collaborations, and offering a range of experiential training opportunities for students and junior researchers in this emerging field. Inquiries may be directed to the chair of the search committee, Prof. Jing-Ke Weng (jingke.weng@northeastern.edu).

The Colleges are seeking to give excellent candidates at the earliest stages of their careers the opportunity, resources, and support to establish innovative and impactful research careers. These positions in the College of Science are part of the INVEST initiative to hire faculty at an early career stage, without need for a postdoctoral period. Our tenure and promotion process values collaborative research and teamwork. Hires will be mentored for success, with mentoring teams and group guidance. In addition, a strong and effective faculty development strategy is part of the Northeastern institutional mission. The ADVANCE Office of Faculty Development office works in conjunction with the Office of Research Development (ORD), the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI), the Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Research (CATLR), and University Decision Support (UDS) to provide programs and trainings to further develop and support a thriving faculty.

The College of Science comprises six departments: Biology, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Marine and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. The Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (“CCB”) (https://cos.northeastern.edu/chemistry-chemical-biology/) includes 38 tenured/tenure-track faculty, including joint appointments, 30% of whom are women; 22 full-time teaching faculty; two research faculty; and nine faculty with affiliated appointments. CCB was recognized as the most gender diverse faculty among the top 50 US Chemistry Departments in 2019. CCB enrolls approximately 150 undergraduate majors; 30 M.S. and PlusOne (BS/MS) students; and 120 Ph.D. students. CCB co-manages a Biochemistry major together with the Department of Biology. Under new leadership, the College of Science, and CCB are in a vibrant expansion phase with CCB operations in a new state-of-the-art building on the Boston campus.

Northeastern is home to the Coastal Sustainability Institute, the Global Resilience Institute, the Barnett Institute for Chemical and Biological Analysis, the Center for Drug Discovery, the Institute for Chemical Imaging of Living Systems, the Network Science Institute, the Northeastern University Center for Renewable Energy Technology, an NSF Frontier Center in Theoretical Biological Physics, and the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Complex Systems, providing a rich multidisciplinary intellectual environment.

Northeastern University is a global university system. Positions will primarily be on the Boston campus but may be available at any of our 14 campus locations. Opportunities to collaborate extend beyond the University.

At Northeastern University, we embrace a culture of respect, where each person is valued for their contribution and is treated fairly. We oppose all forms of racism. We support a culture that does not tolerate any form of discrimination and where each person may belong. We strive to have a diverse membership, one where each person is trained and mentored to promote their success. See our website for more information about the College of Science and its Leadership Team

Responsibilities:

Faculty members at Northeastern are expected to develop vigorous research programs cross cutting the fields of plant biology, chemical biology, chemical engineering, microbiology, food chemistry, or bioengineering, all related to the general topic of the plant-human interface. Faculty members at Northeastern are expected to develop independent research programs that attract external funding; teach courses at the graduate and undergraduate level; oversee students and postdocs in their area of research; and participate in service to the department, university, and discipline. Qualified candidates must have excellence in, or a demonstrated commitment to, working with diverse student populations and/or in a culturally diverse work and educational environment.

Qualifications:

Applicants must have a PhD in chemistry, biology, engineering or related fields by the appointment start date. The committee is particularly interested in research areas that include plant medicinal chemistry, plant polymer chemistry, plant-microbe interactions, AI applications in plant chemistry and biochemistry, food science and engineering, and biomanufacturing. We encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including academia and industry.

Applicants should have a strong record of scholarly accomplishment that demonstrates the ability to build a strong research program. Evidence of potential as a research scientist is expected, but postdoctoral experience is not required for appointments at the Assistant Professor level. Candidates must be committed to excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching. They should embrace the Northeastern emphasis on experiential education and the college philosophy that access to science education and careers must be inclusive. Candidates will articulate how their work would contribute to the university mission of advancing historically underrepresented and marginalized communities. Depending on the research profile and expertise, a joint or affiliate appointment in another department(s) within the University is possible.

We have a continuing commitment to ensuring equity and respect in our research collaborations, classrooms, and community. Successful faculty will be dynamic and innovative scholars with a record of research and teaching excellence and a commitment to improved equity, diversity, and inclusion. Thus, strong candidates for this faculty position will have the expertise, knowledge, and skills to build their research, pedagogy, and curriculum in ways that reflect and enhance this commitment. Applications will be reviewed beginning on October 28, 2024 and continue until the position is filled.

Successful faculty at Northeastern will be dynamic and innovative scholars with a record of research and teaching excellence and a commitment to contributing to improved equity, diversity, and inclusion. Thus, strong candidates for this faculty position will have the expertise, knowledge, and skills to build their research, pedagogy, and curriculum in ways that reflect and enhance this commitment. Please indicate how your expertise, knowledge, and skills have prepared you to contribute to this work with written statements addressing the following prompts:

Research statement (no longer than 5 pages):

Please describe the focus of your research, including the questions you have identified, the funding you have received to support the work (if applicable), the results you have discovered, and the products of these efforts. Highlight any cross-disciplinary research efforts you have undertaken. Please also describe any research you have undertaken with students, with the external community, and/or with individuals from marginalized groups. Finally, please outline the research directions you foresee pursuing at Northeastern, any cross-disciplinary and collaborative aspects, and the strategies you will take to address each direction.

Teaching statement (1 page):

Please summarize your past instructional and mentorship experiences, your pedagogical philosophy, your plans/goals for teaching in the College of Science or College of Engineering (including existing and proposed courses), and your strategies for teaching and mentoring a diverse cohort of undergraduate and graduate students.

Equity statement (1 page):

Please provide a statement describing a time when you altered or changed your approach to research, teaching, or service because of the diversity of the group you were working with or your awareness of marginalized populations. What changes did you make, and what did you learn from this situation? We are interested in how you respond to such situations, not the identities of the people involved, so please only disclose what you are comfortable with. Your statement should demonstrate an understanding of the barriers facing individuals from groups marginalized in your field and be in alignment with Northeastern’s mission to reflect the diversity of the societies in which it maintains campuses and to meet the educational needs and interests of its diverse population. Some faculty candidates may not have substantial past experience. If that is the case, we recommend focusing in your statement on the types of activities you think could be useful.

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff.  Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see:  www.northeastern.edu/diversity.

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.  

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff.  Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other  characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.