Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Description

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Bates College invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position in biochemistry, to begin July 2026. We seek an outstanding scholar with strong commitments to excellent undergraduate teaching and mentorship in a liberal arts context. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in any area of biochemistry, and should be familiar with the molecular details of energy and its transformation in biological systems, structure/function relationships of macromolecules, kinetics and mechanisms of enzyme catalyzed reactions, and information flow and storage in living systems. We welcome applications from individuals who are broadly trained Ph.D. scientists from chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, or related fields. 

The position carries a standard five-course annual teaching load each year (laboratory sections count as 0.5 courses). The duties of the position include the three main areas of faculty work: teaching, scholarly achievement, and governance and engagement. The standards of excellence for faculty at Bates are articulated in Article II of the faculty handbook, and include a commitment to inclusive and evidence-based pedagogy, peer-reviewed professional work, and contributions to the broader Bates community. The successful applicant will offer general chemistry (lecture and lab) and both semesters of the biochemistry sequence (lecture and lab.) They will also design and teach courses in their specialty area and contribute to the general education curriculum, provide academic advising, and mentor student theses. Successful candidates will be expected to develop a signature and independent research program. We also expect the candidate to take part in our system of shared governance.

Bates College is a residential liberal arts college in Lewiston, Maine—a diverse and growing community roughly 45 minutes from the state’s largest city (Portland), 2 ½ hours north of Boston, and 4 ½ hours south of Montreal. Faculty scholarship and creative work at Bates are robustly supported by start-up packages, internal grants, and a well-staffed external grants office. Community-engaged learning and study abroad are both broadly encouraged and supported; pedagogical development and innovation is further buttressed by the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning.

Educational access and racial justice are central to Bates’ history and mission and our faculty-led initiatives reflect this commitment.

Qualifications

A Ph.D. is required by July 1, 2026. Applicants should have completed applicable graduate-level coursework and/or developed equivalent expertise to teach appropriate courses. Post-doctoral or other additional relevant research experience is required. 

Application Instructions

Review of applications will begin on Sept. 15, 2025. Applications should include a cover letter and a curriculum vitae. Applicants should also submit a teaching statement that describes how they plan to meet Bates’ standards of excellence in terms of inclusive and evidence-based pedagogy and how their background has prepared them to teach general chemistry and biochemistry. In addition, a research plan that speaks to the current and future promise of a candidate’s professional work at a small liberal arts college is required. The research statement should describe the candidate’s current scholarship and future plans in a way that is accessible to a hiring committee of faculty with varied interdisciplinary specialties, including a discussion of how the candidate would incorporate undergraduates in their research agenda.

Given the wide range of backgrounds of Bates students, we seek candidates who are committed to each student’s success. As part of the submitted statements, we ask that candidates share plans for helping all students succeed, and share evidence of relevant preparation or experience. This can be either in a separate, additional document or integrated into the teaching and research statements.  We encourage applications from individuals from historically marginalized groups and from those who may have followed non-traditional pathways to higher education due to societal, economic, or academic circumstances. The search committee will request letters of recommendation from three referees for short-listed candidates. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check and verification of degree.

 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Bates College is committed to equal opportunity and to providing an educational and work environment free from discrimination. The college prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and other legally protected statuses in the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its education policies and programs, or in the recruitment of its faculty and staff.  Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations.  All college faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers are responsible for understanding and complying with the Non-Discrimination Policy.

Inquiries concerning the college’s policies, compliance with applicable laws, statutes, and regulations (such as Title VII, Title IX, and ADA/Section 504), and complaints may be directed to the Title IX Officer, Gwen Lexow at 207-786-6445 or titleix@bates.edu.