Assistant Professor, Department of Forensic Science

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Unit: College of Humanities and Sciences MBU

Department: Forensic Science

Duties & Responsibilities:

Chief Purpose of this position: The Department of Forensic Science (http://forensicscience.vcu.edu/) at Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications for a nine-month, full-time, tenure-track faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor. Applicants should have research experience in forensic toxicology and/or drug chemistry, with interests that compliment and expand existing expertise in the department.  Candidates must have a clear potential for external funding from a variety of sources and be committed to developing a nationally-recognized interdisciplinary research program. 

Position Responsibilities: Duties of the position include excellence in scholarly publication, effective extramural grant solicitation, and high-quality mentoring and teaching of both undergraduate and graduate students. Teaching responsibilities may include core lecture and laboratory courses in the department, to include forensic chemistry, drug analysis, and/or toxicology. The faculty member will serve on Departmental, College, and/or University committees and is expected to engage in professional service in their field. The anticipated start date for this position is August 16, 2026.

Virginia Commonwealth University seeks to attract an active, culturally and multidisciplinary faculty and staff of the highest caliber.  The University has an enrollment of over 29,000 students, of which approximately 16,000 represent ethnic minorities. The Department of Forensic Science includes nearly 400 undergraduate and graduate students, many of whom are actively engaged in community STEM activities through programs with our partners in the local schools and other collaborating agencies such as the Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Both the B.S. and M.S. degree programs are fully accredited by the AAFS Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). The Department is operated with a close collaboration with the Virginia Department of Forensic Science (http://www.dfs.virginia.gov/).

 Applicants should submit: a cover letter; curriculum vitae; statement of research interests; statement of teaching philosophy, experience and interests; and contact information for at least three professional references to https://VCUJobs.com.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must have a doctoral degree or equivalent at the time of appointment related to Forensic Chemistry or related field.

Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

Postdoctoral research experience and prior college-level teaching experience are strongly preferred.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Rank: Assistant Professor

Tenure: Tenure Track

Months: 9 months

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Sarah Williams
Contact Email: sseashols@vcu.edu