Tenure Track Assistant Professor – Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Working Title: Tenure Track Assistant Professor – Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Science and Mathematics

Department: 100014 - Chemistry Department

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 9/12/2025

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels.  JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at James Madison University invites applications for a tenure track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin in Fall 2026. Applicants with expertise in analytical, environmental, physical, nuclear, or inorganic chemistry are especially encouraged to apply. This position builds on our history of undergraduate teaching and research training that leverages over $10 million of existing instrumentation, including comprehensive nuclear chemistry facilities.

JMU Chemistry is an undergraduate-only program at an R2 institution. The department currently serves approximately 200 majors and about 3000 undergraduate students each year. We offer a wide variety of courses for chemistry majors, other STEM majors, general education, and pre-health professionals. Majors are actively involved in SAACS, AXE, NOBCChE, and undergraduate research.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry is actively committed to increasing the success of all students, attracting faculty and students with a range of backgrounds and experiences, and sustaining an inclusive work and learning environment. We are committed to excellence in undergraduate education, research, and mentoring undergraduates to help them reach their personal and professional goals. With 28 full-time faculty members, the department offers ACS certified B.S. degrees and teaches courses in all major areas of chemistry. We have facilities for nuclear chemistry, materials science, high performance computing, NMR, and mass spectrometry; and these house over $10 million in state-of-the-art instrumentation (https://www.jmu.edu/chemistry/instrumentation.shtml). More information about the department can be found at http://www.jmu.edu/chemistry/.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Teaching responsibilities include introductory and upper division courses and laboratories. Establishing an externally funded undergraduate research program is expected. Successful candidates will mentor undergraduates in research during the academic year and in the summer.

Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in Chemistry or a related field is required. Candidates will be evaluated based on their potential to teach and conduct research at a primarily undergraduate institution. Preference will be given to candidates that can contribute to the further development of an undergraduate nuclear chemistry curriculum with expertise in analytical, environmental, physical or inorganic chemistry.

Additional Posting Information:

Our search will follow an anonymized, multi-stage review process.

For the initial review, all candidates will complete an application and attach a cover letter. The cover letter should be 3 pages or less and must briefly address the candidate’s
interest in the position;
outline of proposed research and the role that undergraduates will play;
courses they prefer to teach;
commitment to inclusive excellence, including examples;
vision for their role in contributing to the department’s mission.

As much as possible, personal information should be removed. Cover letters will be anonymized by the candidate liaison. In addition to the requested cover letter, candidates will also submit a curriculum vitae and the names of three references with the application. Selected candidates will be asked to submit a research plan and a statement on teaching and inclusive excellence. Any questions about the search can be addressed to the candidate liaison at chemsearch@jmu.edu

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.