Asst/Assoc Professor, BS Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy

About Virginia Commonwealth University

We are the university for Virginia. We know that the unique backgrounds and experiences of the VCU community are what drive the university forward. Together, we’re forging a future that is built by us. Here, artists and engineers, doctors and designers come together to reimagine the human experience and tackle the problems of tomorrow.

About the School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy (SOP) has a 126-year tradition beginning with the Medical College of Virginia and continuing to the present. Ranked in the Top 20 Schools of Pharmacy nationwide, the SOP is dedicated to graduating outstanding future scientists and pharmacists who will develop new medicines and therapies, improve human health, foster exemplary research, and provide sustaining contributions to interprofessional patient care. The University has recognized the SOP as the highest-ranking academic unit for Inclusive Excellence.

About the Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmaceutical Sciences Degree Program

Our Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) Degree Program is a new multi-disciplinary applied sciences program that welcomed the first student cohort in the Fall 2024 semester. As the only public BSPS program in the Commonwealth of Virginia, our mission is to educate and train students for entry-level pharmaceutical sciences positions in the private and public sectors, for further education in MS/PhD graduate programs, and for further training in a professional degree program such as Pharmacy (PharmD), Medicine (MD), Dentistry (DDS), and other healthcare-oriented fields. Students in the BSPS program will be rigorously trained in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Medicinal Chemistry/Drug Discovery, Biology, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Drug Development (ADME/PK, drug dosage forms, and preclinical development). Graduates from the BSPS program will be competitive for employment in the pharmaceutical/life sciences/biotechnology industries, service laboratories, and government agencies, as well as be ready to pursue advanced graduate (MS/PhD) and professional studies (PharmD, MD, DDS, etc).

About the Department of Medicinal Chemistry

The Department of Medicinal Chemistry is one of three academic departments within the SOP. The mission of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry is the advancement of science through research, education, and training of undergraduate (BSPS), graduate (MS/PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences), and professional (PharmD) degree students in our discipline. The Department provides students with courses and research experiences that prepare them for their chosen career path. It also provides service courses to other programs that require a medicinal chemistry foundation, and to other VCU students who wish to become more scientifically knowledgeable. Finally, the Department fosters a level of research and professional activity essential to the professional growth of both the students and faculty.

Summary

The Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) Degree Program in VCU School of Pharmacy (SOP) invites you to apply to our non-tenure track (term) faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. This full-time position will provide primarily teaching (70-80% effort) in the new BSPS Degree Program , ensuring that the undergraduate students receive a high-quality education that prepares them for their chosen career track in pharmaceutical sciences or healthcare fields. The preferred start date for this position is July 2025.

Key Responsibilities

This non-tenure track (term) Faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry will primarily teach applied sciences content in medicinal chemistry, drug discovery & development, and pharmaceutical sciences in the undergraduate BSPS Degree Program. The faculty member should have strong training in and also be able to teach basic science content including organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, molecular and cellular biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and pharmacology. The faculty member will assume teaching responsibilities in the undergraduate BSPS Degree Program, with potential occasional teaching opportunities in the graduate (MS/PhD) and/or professional (PharmD) degree program(s). A secondary purpose of the position is to contribute to the scholarly work in his/her area of interest.

Position Responsibilities

Teaching: The Faculty Member will have teaching responsibilities in didactic, laboratory, and experiential education courses in the undergraduate BSPS Degree Program. Possible course assignments may include but are not limited to: Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences, Molecules to Medicines, Analytical Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Principles of Drug Action, Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics, and the 2-semester Capstone and Seminar courses.

Scholarship: The Faculty Member will conduct scholarship (broadly defined) in the area of Medicinal Chemistry (broadly defined), potentially through collaborations with established faculty members in the Department, SOP, University, or externally. The successful applicant will conduct and publish some scholarship in their chosen field, commensurate with the time (10-20% effort) and resources provided.

Service: The Faculty Member will serve on departmental, School, and/or University committees as assigned, as well as in a professional capacity in their field, e.g., reviewer, conference organizer, etc.

Required Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related discipline.
  
• Postdoctoral or advanced training experience in design, discovery and development of drugs for the treatment of human diseases or related areas OR 5+ years of experience in Pharmaceutical Industry or an Allied Field (Life Sciences, Biotechnology, etc).
  
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty/staff member at VCU.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
  
• The faculty member should have strong training in and also be able to teach basic science content including organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, molecular and cellular biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, and pharmacology.
  

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please contact the search committee chair, Keith C. Ellis (kcellis@vcu.edu), Director of the Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) Degree Program, for questions/clarifications regarding this position.

ORP: Yes