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Assistant Professor - Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology - Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Position overview Position title: Assistant Professor
Salary range: The current salary range for this position is $78,200 - $123,400 (9-month academic year salary), however, off-scale salary and other components of pay, which would yield compensation that is higher than this range, are offered to meet competitive conditions.

Anticipated start: July 1, 2025

Application Window
Open date: August 29, 2024

Next review date: Thursday, Oct 31, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Thursday, Oct 31, 2024 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.

Position description

Assistant Professor
University of California, Berkeley
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB), Division of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology (BBS)

The Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology (BBS) Division of the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology (MCB) at the University of California, Berkeley is soliciting applications for a faculty position at the level of Assistant Professor (tenure track). The expected start date is July 1, 2025.

We broadly seek applicants studying fundamental aspects of Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Structural Biology and Molecular Genetics. This position would have the opportunity (if desired) to interact with the Innovative Genomics Institute, the Advanced BioImaging Center, and the Developmental and Regenerative Biology group, the UCB Drug Discovery Center, and the Center for Computational Biology at the University of California, Berkeley.

Candidates should demonstrate excellence, originality and productivity in research, an interest in undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring, professional and community service, and in contributing to diversity, equity, and inclusion among students, staff and faculty.

About the department

The faculty are internationally renowned, from senior experienced investigators including Nobel Laureates, HHMI investigators and members of various academies to emerging stars among the junior faculty. We recruit from an international pool of scholars and have a diverse faculty with outstanding gender balance. We invest heavily in the search process with the goal of identifying candidates who will excel in research, teaching and service throughout their careers. The campus and the MCB department provide a supportive environment of inclusion and belonging, and offer generous laboratory space, access to state-of-the-art research facilities, as well as formal and informal mentoring. In addition, we offer opportunities for educating the best and most diverse body of students in the country. Thanks to the high tenure achievement and retention of colleagues throughout their academic careers, we have a very close-knit and collaborative faculty.

The Department of Molecular and Cell Biology fosters a culture of inclusivity and belonging. The department addresses the family needs of faculty, including dual career couples and single parents and welcomes applications from candidates who have had non-traditional career paths , who have taken time off for family reasons, or who have achieved excellence in careers outside academia. For information about potential relocation to Berkeley, or career needs of accompanying partners and spouses, please visit: http://ofew.berkeley.edu/new-faculty

The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the advancement, application, and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic excellence, where all individuals who participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in a safe and secure environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. Consistent with this commitment, UC Berkeley requires all applicants for Senate faculty positions to complete, sign, and upload Authorization to Release of Information forms into AP Recruit as part of their applications. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration. Although all applicants for faculty recruitments must complete the entire application, applicants will only be subject to reference checks if and when they are selected as the candidate to whom the hiring unit would like to extend a formal offer. More information is available on this website: https://ofew.berkeley.edu/attestation-prior-misconduct

Department: https://mcb.berkeley.edu/

Division: https://mcb.berkeley.edu/faculty/bbs

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
A Ph.D. and/or M.D. or equivalent international degree at the time of application.

Preferred qualifications
Competitive applicants for this Assistant Professor position exhibit:

• Excellence in Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, Molecular Genetics or Structural Biology research
• A compelling vision and expected high impact of proposed research
• Research interests that align with and/or complement existing faculty
• Potential for excellence in teaching and mentoring
• Potential for contributing to an environment of inclusion and belonging

Application Requirements

Document requirements
Information for applicants for the Assistant Professor position in the Division of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology (BBS)

To avoid emphasis on the pedigree of the applicant (prestigious college or name recognition of letter writers) or bias towards applicants with long post-doctoral experiences and hence more substantial publication records, we will rank applicants first on the Research and Teaching and Mentoring Statements. Excellence in research and commitment to students and trainees are prime considerations for success at a top research university like UC Berkeley. The CV and the recommendation letters will be evaluated subsequently. Besides top-notch research and teaching, we also value leadership qualities, interpersonal communication, team spirit, skills and achievements in outreach or community service that would speak to the applicant's potential to contribute to service on campus and the global research community.

Guidance on the application is provided below. We recognize that this guidance may not always apply, as some applicants may have followed different or non-traditional career paths, and we welcome applications from all qualified individuals.

For additional guidance in preparing statements, applicants are encouraged to refer to the UC Berkeley Principles of Community and UC Regents policy 4400.

• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V., including:
  a. Education and training in chronological order
  b. Professional experience in chronological order
  c. Fellowships, honors, awards, licenses, and certifications in chronological order
  d. Invited lectures or platform presentations at conferences
  e. List service or leadership positions in professional or academic societies or organizations
  f. Any additional achievements, skills, talents, contributions, or experiences relevant to the position (e.g. entrepreneurship, community service, outreach, or volunteer activities)
• Summary of major research accomplishments - Provide a summary of your major research accomplishments in approximately 250 words (not including citations and any figure legends). Details about the 3 most significant publications and their impact will be provided separately.
• Summary of ongoing and planned research program - Summary of your ongoing and planned research program (up to ~ 1,500 words with intermixed figures), including a title for your research program and a list of essential publication citations. The word count should include figure legends.
  
  Assume that the reader is an educated scientist, but not familiar with your research area. Therefore, an introduction section that sets the frame for the proposed project is critical. Your goal should be to intrigue the readers and motivate them to dive deeper into your research questions. Present the long-term goals or the scientific problem you will solve and tell us how you will approach the problem in the next 5 years, for instance by formulating specific aims. Make sure that the illustrations are clear with legible fonts for a reader who may print the document or view it on a small tablet.
• Publications list - All publications in chronological order, separated into a) peer-reviewed, b) pre-prints for peer-review, c) patents, d) review articles, opinion pieces, and book chapters.
• Significant publication or preprint #1 - In addition to a pdf of each publication, provide a cover statement that begins with the manuscript title and author list and then summarize, in up to ~300 words each, the applicant's role and the significance and impact of the selected publication.
• Significant publication or preprint #2 - In addition to a pdf of each publication, provide a cover statement that begins with the manuscript title and author list and then summarize, in up to ~300 words each, the applicant's role and the significance and impact of the selected publication.
• Significant publication or preprint #3 - In addition to a pdf of each publication, provide a cover statement that begins with the manuscript title and author list and then summarize, in up to ~300 words each, the applicant's role and the significance and impact of the selected publication.
• Statement of Teaching and Mentoring Philosophy, Experience and Plans - Applicants may write separate teaching and mentoring statements (up to ~500 words each) and combine them into a single PDF. Applicants can have vastly different exposure to teaching opportunities. The points below are not intended as a checklist, but rather an applicant's range of experiences.
  a. Teaching experience, if any and at any level. Include presentations at workshops, classroom and one-on-one mentoring. Point out successful placement of trainees or output (publications, presentations, research awards).
  b. Teaching and mentoring philosophy, in the classroom and in the laboratory. What are your goals? Do let us know about participation in formal mentoring workshops or teacher training programs.
  c. Areas of teaching interest. You may find it useful to survey the BBS division's teaching program to determine how you might fit in. You may also propose courses that might fill a gap in our curriculum.
  d. Plans for building a group. Have you thought about your research group? How might you recruit the best trainees to your group, what type of mentoring wil you offer them?, and how will your create an inclusive training and research environment? You may draw on your experience.
  e. If you have any pedagogical ideas or strategies for inclusive teaching and mentoring, please present them.
• Authorization to Release Information Form - A reference check will be completed only if you are selected as the candidate to whom the hiring unit would like to extend a formal offer. Download, complete, sign, and upload the Authorization to Release Information form.

Reference requirements

• 3-5 letters of reference required

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04562

Help contact: mcb_ap_assist@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

Please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location
Berkeley, CA


To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF04562