Asst/Assoc Professor, BS Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry

Advertising 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 2026.

Unit: School Of Pharmacy MBU

Department: Medicinal Chemistry

About Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU is a top 50 public research university with a genuine commitment to student success and community service. One of just a handful of universities to receive both a "Very High Research Activity" status and a "Community Engaged" designation from the Carnegie Foundation, VCU also hosts the region's top-rated medical center. The medical campus is home to top-ranked programs in Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Public Health, and Health Professions, as well as the Center for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Care, the Wright Center for Clinical and Translational Research, the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Pauley Heart Center, the Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health, among many other institutes and centers.

About the School of Pharmacy

The School of Pharmacy (SOP) has a 127-year tradition beginning with the Medical College of Virginia and continuing to the present. Ranked in the Top 20 of 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. 

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.

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 2026. Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States and must not require current or future visa sponsorship.

Position 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.

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, Molecules to Medicines 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.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related discipline.

• Post-doctoral 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 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:

• Teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Benefits: All full-time university employees are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, 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.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Rank: Open

Tenure: Ineligible

Months: 12 months

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Keith Ellis
Contact Email: kcellis@vcu.edu

The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue until the position is filled. 

Applicants should submit the following materials:

1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Summary of Teaching Experience
4. Summary of Research Interests and Plans
5. Names and Contact Information for three References

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.