Assistant Professor in the field of Brain Plasticity

Position in Brain Plasticity

School of Molecular and Cellular Biology

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology (http://mcb.illinois.edu/) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks outstanding applicants for a full-time tenure-track assistant professor position in the field of brain plasticity.

The Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a world leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. Faculty in the College create knowledge, address critical societal needs through the transfer and application of knowledge, and prepare students for lives of impact in the state, nation, and globally. To meet these objectives, the College embraces and values diversity and difference through hiring faculty candidates who can contribute through their research, teaching, and/or service to the diversity and excellence of the Illinois community.

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals, with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO .

We seek candidates who will address fundamental questions in brain plasticity: for example, how does a healthy nervous system develop and function? How does neural circuitry adapt to changes in physiology, or extrinsic cues? How is plasticity altered in cases of inherited or acquired disease? Candidates may address these questions at any level, from molecular to cellular to system-wide. We are especially interested in candidates using a combination of cutting edge approaches (including but not limited to optogenetics, single-cell approaches, organoid culture, novel neuroimaging or electrophysiological techniques) to gain fundamental, quantitative, mechanistic insight into brain plasticity in response to experience or disease.    

Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in biochemistry, cell and developmental biology, molecular and integrative physiology, or closely related field, an M.D. or equivalent degree, have an excellent track record of creativity and productivity, and strong potential for future independent research. The target starting date is August 16, 2020, and the salary is competitive. Successful candidates will be located in one of the three departments within the School of MCB (Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology or Molecular and Integrative Physiology), depending on the specific area of interest and expertise. The candidate will be expected to conduct independent research, participate in our B.S. and Ph.D. programs, and teach effectively at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The position offers excellent laboratory facilities, relocation and start-up funds, and opportunities to work with outstanding graduate students.

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus offers state-of-the-art research facilities and programs that include the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center, Cancer Center at Illinois, and multiple student training grants, as well as facilities for high-throughput screening, flow cytometry and sorting, next generation sequencing and genomics, imaging (including fMRI), transgenic mice, proteomics, and metabolomics. The candidate will be integrated into a vibrant, cross-disciplinary Neuroscience Program including more than 88 faculty from across the campus. UIUC has strong cross-departmental graduate programs in neuroscience, as well as chemical biology, biophysics and quantitative biology, and superb computational resources at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications and the NIH Resource for Macromolecular Modeling and Bioinformatics.

Urbana-Champaign offers the residential advantages of a medium-sized university city, excellent cultural opportunities, and a high quality of life paired with a low cost of living. The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign received top rankings by Harvard University’s Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education for its pre-tenure practices in balancing work and home-life:  https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/11/15/exemplars-good-pre-tenure-practices

To ensure full consideration, create your candidate profile through https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload your application cover letter, curriculum vitae, concise summary of past research accomplishments, statement of future research plans and contact information for three professional references by October 15, 2019. Applicants should also include a statement detailing how their teaching, service and/or scholarship has contributed to the success of students from racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds that are underrepresented in your academic field. Applicants who have not yet had the opportunity for such experience should note how their work will further Illinois’ and the College of LAS’ commitment to diversity.

Letters of recommendation may be requested electronically from referees at a later date.  Although early applications are appreciated and interviews may be conducted before the closing date, hiring decisions will not be made until after the closing date. The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer.  Questions can be addressed to the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, 217-244-8116.