Assistant or Associate Professor of Microbiome Science

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Job Title:

Assistant or Associate Professor of Microbiome Science

Department:

Arts and Sciences | Microbiology Administration

Tenure faculty (regardless of rank) - persons with the titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor and instructor who serve on appointments totaling 50% or more service to the university and who are eligible for tenure or who have obtained tenure. Duties and responsibilities are assigned in accordance with the workload guidelines laid out in the pattern of administration of each faculty member’s tenure initiation unit (TIU) and, as appropriate, regional campus; obligations will include research, service and/or teaching or clinical practice.  These faculty will have earned doctorate or other terminal degree in the relevant field of study or possession of equivalent experience.

Position Overview

The Center of Microbiome Science (CoMS) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in the area of microbiome science, broadly defined. We welcome research on microbiomes in any ecosystem context (natural environments, plant/animal/human hosts, or engineered), organismal focus (microbial eukaryote, prokaryote, virus, or mix), and approach (wet-lab and/or computational) that aims to advance foundational organismal, ecological, evolutionary, and/or mechanistic understanding in a microbial community setting. CoMS was founded in 2020 to empower microbiome researchers across campus through a centrally-supported Microbiome Platform and “4 Cs” programming of capabilities, community, compute, and curriculum development that is now available to >140 faculty members across 9 colleges (further details below). This search aims to fill two positions at the assistant or associate professor level that will strengthen and benefit from CoMS. Successful candidates will be appointed to either the Department of Microbiology or the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology within the College of Arts and Sciences and will serve as a connection for research and opportunities within CoMS and their department.

Performance Objectives

-Develop and maintain an externally funded, nationally-visible and productive research program.

-Teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate level.

-Demonstrate excellence in student mentorship.

-Support departmental and CoMS operations as an active citizen through service on committees, project assignments, and/or administrative leadership roles.

Education and Experience Requirements

Required: Ph.D. in a relevant field (microbiology, biochemistry, evolution, ecology); postdoctoral training; a record of peer-reviewed research.

Desired: Track record as a mentor; experience with interdisciplinary research and/or genome-resolved microbiome science; evidence of independence.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits package.

How to Apply

Apply to the Careers at Ohio State website at

[https://osu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/OSUCareers/job/Columbus-Campus/Assistant-or-Associate-Professor-of-Microbiome-Science_R138211-1]. A competitive application consists of the following required elements: a cover letter, curriculum vitae, separate research and teaching statements, and three letters of reference. The application period will close on November 2nd, 2025. Inquiries may be directed to Matt Sullivan at [email protected]

You will be presented with the opportunity to attach up to FOUR documents in the Application Documents section. Please include the following:

• Attachment 1: Cover Letter: 1-2 page letter, which should include a brief summary of your academic background, thoughts on possible departmental fits in one or both departments, and why you are interested in this opportunity.
• Attachment 2: CV (Curriculum Vitae): Detailed overview of your scholarly experience, including your research experience, teaching and mentoring experience, service, funding, and publications.
• Attachment 3: Research Statement: Summary of your past research accomplishments, current work/research, and proposal for your future research plan as a faculty member (maximum 3 pages).
• Attachment 4: Teaching Statement: A one-page statement of your approaches, experience and philosophy regarding your teaching, learning, and mentoring.

All applicants will be asked to provide the names and contact information for three references within 48 to 72 hours following the submission of application materials.

Additional Information:

The College

With more than 80 majors and 100 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the university. The Arts and Sciences provides extraordinary opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, blending creativity and analysis to truly be at the forefront of thought. The breadth and depth of knowledge in the college gives students and researchers the critical thinking and adaptability skills essential for a lifetime of success. 

The Center

Ohio State has built a university-level Center of Microbiome Science (CoMS) and a genome-resolved Microbiome Platform that empowers >140 faculty members across the university to understand the impact of microbes and viruses across ecosystems ranging from humans and animals, to oceans and soils, to plants, to engineered systems (including the international space station!). The Microbiome Platform leverages the powerful Ohio SuperComputer and advanced analytical workflows that establish metagenome-assembled microbial and viral genomes in their full taxonomic, functional, and ecological context. Uniquely, the platform includes (i) collaborative microbiome data analysts who collaboratively power domain experts to maximize the impact, translatability, and application of these data, and (ii) real-time updates that constantly refresh its capabilities and performance to remain bleeding-edge in this nascent, emergent field of genome-resolved microbiome science. Ohio State’s genome-resolved and eco-systems biology approaches better capture fast-evolving niche-defining genomic traits and outperform traditional pairwise statistical approaches that only reveal enrichment of taxa, but do so in isolation – whereas eco-systems biology approaches capture foundational variations in the highly-connected, interactive nature of microbiomes. This matters, with many recent examples in the literature showing genome-resolved and community-context relevance in diverse body sites (e.g., skin, oral, vagina) and diseases (e.g., cancer), Center members benefit from CoMS efforts to support other capabilities (e.g., gnotobiotic facilities, scalable microbiome approaches), to bring members together through diverse community events, and to help organized and ‘connect’ courses across campus so that microbiome curriculum is ideally presented for trainees.

The Departments

The successful candidates will become a member of either the Department of Microbiology or the Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology. Both departments represent national leadership in education and research. training). In keeping with Ohio State University’s Shared Values, both departments are committed to building an  intellectually diverse intellectual community.

The Department of Microbiology’s 23 faculty members are fully committed to advancing knowledge through research, educating students from all backgrounds, and serving communities and organizations at all levels. The department values basic science and has long-standing strengths in molecular microbiology, microbial physiology, and microbial communities. Many faculty have ties to multi-disciplinary organizations on campus, including the Center for RNA Biology, the Center for Microbiome Science, the Infectious Disease Institute, and the Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity.

The Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology is a national leader in education and research, with a rich tradition of blending basic and applied research. The department is home to many renowned research facilities, including the Museum of Biological Diversity, Aquatic Ecology Lab, and Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership. The department currently has 40 tenure-track and teaching practice faculty across the Columbus and four regional campuses and 70 graduate students.

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America’s leading academic health centers and recently ranked No. 4 on Forbes’ list of best U.S. employers for diversity. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

Grounded in Ohio State University’s Shared Values, our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established central resources to focus on offering support to new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual career partner consultation, potential employer and/or employment opportunity identification, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community.  While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are available.  More information about dual career and faculty recruitment can be found here.

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies.  Ohio State is a member of the Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia HERC.

Located in Ohio’s capital city, Ohio State’s Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and diverse metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools, and a strong economy based on government as well as service, transportation, and technology industries. Additional information about the Columbus area is available here. Beyond its Columbus campus, Ohio State has four regional campuses including Ohio State Lima, Ohio State Mansfield, Ohio State Marion, and Ohio State Newark, in addition to the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Wooster Campus, which houses Ohio State ATI.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability.  

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check. Additionally, there may be further requirements specific to the college or unit, which could include drug and health screenings, as well as faculty misconduct checks depending on the rank of the position.

Location:

Biological Sciences Building (0276)

Position Type:

Regular

Scheduled Hours:

40

Shift:

First Shift

The Ohio State University believes in diversity in people and ideas. What Ohio State does matters. And how we do it matters. When we are at our best, we make a real difference to people. Our size, breadth, geography, history and standard of excellence position us to drive the future of higher education. We believe that the university should be a place where people can work and learn together in a safe environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. As such, finalists for any faculty position that carries tenure must sign an authorization and disclosure form, which will allow current or prior employer(s) to share information to the University regarding any findings of employment-related misconduct or disciplinary proceedings against a candidate and/or any pending investigations related to alleged misconduct. Such information shall include findings and pending investigations with respect to sexual harassment, violence, or harassment; research misconduct; financial fraud or misconduct; foreign influence violations, grant misuse or misconduct; and/or any other type of finding or pending investigation relating to a candidate’s employer’s policies and rules governing faculty conduct that may reasonably be expected to affect a candidate’s appointment. If the University becomes aware of any past finding of misconduct or pending investigations that were not disclosed, Ohio State will treat that as a serious omission and reserves the right to rescind an offer or terminate employment.

Final candidates are subject to successful completion of a background check.  A drug screen or physical may be required during the post offer process.

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability. 

As required by Ohio Revised Code section 3345.0216, Ohio State will: educate students by means of free, open and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth; equip students with the opportunity to develop intellectual skills to reach their own, informed conclusions; not require, favor, disfavor or prohibit speech or lawful assembly; create a community dedicated to an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the autonomy of each member, supports individual capacities for growth and tolerates differences in opinion; treat all faculty, staff and students as individuals, hold them to equal standards and provide equality of opportunity with regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.