Assistant Professor - Chemistry - 140575
Western Carolina University·Cullowhee, NC
- Type
- Full-time
Assistant Professor - Chemistry - 140575
Western Carolina University
Department: Chemistry &
Physics
About WCU:
Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year.
Including:
2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
2024 -
Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400
employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in
North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems
westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy
and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on
the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include
employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also
available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the
constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a
discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts,
12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at
least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental
leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs,
certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.
Position Summary:
The
primary location of this position is our main Cullowhee, NC campus.
Western Carolina University (WCU) and the Department of Chemistry & Physics invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track faculty position at the
rank of Assistant Professor. Anticipated start date of August 1, 2026.
The Department of Chemistry & Physics at WCU offers B.S. degrees in Chemistry (including an ACS-certified degree) and Forensic Science,
an M.S. degree in Chemistry (both as a stand-alone program and as part of an accelerated Bachelors/Masters (ABM)
program), and minors in Chemistry and Physics. The Department has a vibrant undergraduate and graduate research program, with some students
beginning research during their freshman year. The Department is located in the new Tom Apodaca Science Building, which provides
state-of-the-art laboratory and classroom spaces. Our Chemical and Trace Analysis laboratory provides access to over 25 scientific
instruments in the areas of Atomic Spectroscopy, Molecular Spectroscopy, Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance
Spectroscopy (400 MHz), Electrochemistry, and Materials Characterization. For a complete list of available instrumentation, please visit https://www.w
cu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/cas/science-and-math/chemphys/instrumentation/index.aspx
We
invite applications from candidates whose teaching and research interests align with the field of analytical and environmental chemistry.
Applicants with a strong commitment to innovative teaching and scholarly research are encouraged to apply.
The
successful applicant is expected to develop, revise, and teach courses in the general chemistry curriculum as well as upper-level courses
within the analytical field (undergraduate and Masters level). The applicant is also expected to develop and maintain an active research
program that attracts extramural funding and actively engages undergraduate and Masters students within the chemistry program. In addition,
all faculty in the Department of Chemistry and Physics are expected to engage in student advising as well as in department, college, and
university-level service.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required for this position:
Minimum
Qualifications:
- The minimum education/professional requirement for the position is a Ph.D. in chemistry, analytical chemistry,
or a closely related field. Although post-doctoral or other professional experience beyond the Ph.D. is welcome. - ABD candidates will be considered with degree conferral by July 30, 2026.
- Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in environmental chemistry. We are particularly interested in candidates whose
expertise will enhance and strengthen our departments curriculum and research offerings in the areas of analytical chemistry and
environmental chemistry.
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate
has been selected for hire.
Please include the following:
- letter of application
- current
CV - teaching philosophy - (ca. 2 pages) should include a description of the types of courses the application would most like to
teach. See https://catalog.wcu.edu/ for current course offerings) - research
philosophy and plan - (ca. 3-5 pages) should specifically address how the applicants scholarship will support the education of undergraduate
and Masters-level students - list of three professional references with complete contact information
- unofficial transcripts
showing degree conferral dates for all degrees at the masters degree level and higher*.
information please contact Channa De Silva at mhdesilva@wcu.edu
*All applicants are required to submit an
unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The
transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please
submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your masters degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The masters degree
transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred or similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed
degree.
AA/EOE
Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive
consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or
expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with
applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with
disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.
University Safety
The Western Carolina University Annual Safety
Report is available online at University Annual Safety Report or in hard-copy by request at the office of the Vice Chancellor for Student
Affairs, 227 HFR Administration Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723 (828-227-7147) or the Office of University Police, 111 Camp Annex, Cullowhee,
NC 28723 (828-227-7301). The report, required of all universities participating in Title IV student financial aid programs, discusses crime
statistics, procedures for reporting suspicious or criminal activity, security, police authority, crime prevention strategies, university
policies on substance abuse and sexual offenses, workplace violence and fire safety.
To apply, please visit: https://jobs.wcu.edu/postings/33592
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