Assistant Professor in Cell or Molecular Biology

Assistant Professor in Cell or Molecular Biology

Department of Biological Science

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Assistant Professor

Fall 2027

The Department of Biological Science at California State
University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure‐track
Assistant Professor position in Cell or Molecular Biology with an
appointment to begin Fall 2027.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and
Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex,
color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law
and federal civil rights laws, California State University,
Fullerton (CSUF) provides equal opportunity in education and
employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential
treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every
student and employee has access to the resources and support they
need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their
communities. CSUF complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of
1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act,
the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California's
Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California
Constitution), other applicable state and federal
anti-discrimination laws, and CSU's Nondiscrimination Policy. We
prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based
on race or any other protected status, and all forms of
discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university
programs, policies, and practices.

In addition, California State University, Fullerton is a leading
public university known for its strong academic programs and
commitment to student success. As one of the largest campuses in
the CSU system, Cal State Fullerton fosters innovation,
collaboration, and professional growth. The university values
teaching, research, and service, creating an environment where
students, staff, and faculty can thrive. Cal State Fullerton is a
designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and
Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The
university also received the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2021
and 2024 from Excelencia in Education, the nation's leading
authority on Latinx student success. Cal State Fullerton is an
equal opportunity employer with a diverse student population of
over 45,000 and a faculty and staff population of 4,000. Cal State
Fullerton is firmly committed to helping students achieve academic
excellence, career success, and economic mobility. Joining Cal
State Fullerton means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to
making a meaningful impact. We continuously seek individuals from
various disciplines who share the university's mission and core
values. We welcome you to consider joining the Titan community.

CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established
affinity groups you can join to support your success.

Position

We seek a candidate with a strong research background in any area
of Cell or Molecular Biology, including, but not limited to,
virology, plant molecular biology, or cancer biology, and clear
potential for excellence in teaching and mentoring. The successful
candidate will be expected to maintain an active and externally
funded research program that involves undergraduate and master's
students. Teaching responsibilities will include Introductory Cell
and Molecular Biology, in addition to upper-division and
graduate-level courses in the candidate's area of expertise. The
successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to and
participate in the life and development of the department, advise
students, serve on committees, and participate in the broader
university and disciplinary communities. Preference will be given
to candidates with relevant prior teaching experience using
student-centered learning approaches and a demonstrated ability to
support the success of a diverse student population, including
first-generation and historically underserved students. The
Department of Biological Science is committed to excellence in
teaching in our classrooms and in our research laboratories and
values faculty research as scholarship and as a means to engage and
train students.

Required Qualifications

• A strong background in Cell and Molecular Biology and a Ph.D.

in a relevant discipline from an accredited university.

• Relevant postdoctoral experience that demonstrates the ability

to develop an externally funded, independent research program in an
area of Cell or Molecular Biology that involves undergraduate and
Master's students.

• A strong commitment to and demonstrated potential for effective

teaching using student-centered, active learning, and inquiry-based
approaches. Teaching responsibilities will include undergraduate
and graduate-level cell and molecular biology lecture and
laboratory courses.

• The ability to communicate with and effectively mentor an

ethnically and culturally diverse campus population.

Preferred Qualification

• 2+ years postdoctoral experience.

Application

A complete online application must be received by electronic
submission to be considered. To apply, please visit http://hr.fullerton.edu/workforce/careers.html,
choose full-time faculty, search for the position
561521, and provide the following required
materials:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation to teach at

CSUF and live and work in Southern California, and respond to the
qualifications for the position.

• Curriculum vitae.
• Graduate transcripts (unofficial copies are sufficient for

initial review).

• Statement of teaching and mentoring philosophy:
• Describe your unique perspective and experience with

student-centered, active teaching and learning techniques in the
classroom and research laboratory, demonstrating a commitment to
supporting the success of a diverse student population, and
including relevant mentorship (academic and/or non-academic)
experiences.

• Statement of research plans:
• Describe your short and long-term research program goals,

including plans for seeking external funding, how your plans align
with CSUF opportunities and resources, and how undergraduate and
graduate students will participate and contribute to these
goals.

• Three documents that provide evidence of your experience or

commitment to teaching and research:

• One document that addresses teaching (e.g., curriculum

development, syllabus) and two that address research (e.g.,
peer-reviewed publications, funding applications). Submit these
three documents as a single pdf.

• A list of three references with relevant contact information:
• Letters of recommendation will be requested later in the

application process. Please have these ready for the referents to
submit. On the References page of the online application, enter
information and email addresses for three referents who will
provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. At
the appropriate time in the search process, they will receive a
request via email along with information on uploading the letter.
You will be able to verify that each letter has been received by
CSUF by logging back into your applicant portal.

• Candidate statement on commitment to inclusive excellence (no

more than 500 words):

• Inclusive excellence

is a strategic framework that recognizes the importance of
diversity, equity, and inclusion in achieving organizational
success and high-quality learning and teaching. It's a way of
thinking and acting that integrates these values into all aspects
of an institution, from curriculum and pedagogy to recruitment and
hiring. Essentially, it means that excellence is not just about
achieving high standards, but also about ensuring that all members
of the community have the opportunity to thrive and contribute
(Williams et al., 2005).

• With the Inclusive Excellence Statement, we aim to learn about

the applicant's perspective on their past and present contributions
to and future aspirations for promoting and engaging with a diverse
student population. This statement should showcase the candidate's
professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or
willingness to teach and create an academic environment supportive
of all students, including but not limited to those of diverse
ages, abilities, cultures, ethnicities, gender identities,
languages, religions, and sexual orientations.

-
Cal State Fullerton serves a student body that reflects the
rich cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic mosaic of Southern
California. Please provide concrete examples of how you, as a
faculty member, will support our students in one or more of the
following areas, which fall under the areas of awareness and
understanding, experience and commitment, and future plans.

• Your contributions (past, present, or future) to embedding

perspectives that are reflective of the student population into
your teaching and/or scholarship.

• Your experience in service activities that are reflective of a

diverse student population.

• Your experience and commitment to mentoring and providing

opportunities to a diverse student body inside and outside the
classroom environment.

• Your experience integrating creative activities that are

inclusive of the identities of our student body and
communities.

Please direct all questions about the position to: cell-molecsrch@fullerton.edu
or call 657‐278‐3614.

Application Deadline

To be assured full consideration, all application materials must be
received by September 27, 2026. The anticipated
appointment date is August 16, 2027.

The Department

The Department of Biological Science, with 23 active full-time
faculty members, has long been committed to an educational program
that includes extensive involvement of undergraduate and graduate
students in research. Over 50% of our majors are from
underrepresented groups with 51% Hispanic/LatinX, 2% Black and 5%
multiethnic. Approximately 47% of our students come from
economically disadvantaged backgrounds and 30% are the first in
their family to pursue a college degree. In addition to the General
Biology pathway, the Department has undergraduate concentrations in
Molecular Cell Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Marine
Biology, and Plant Biology. The Department offers a research-based
Master of Science in Biology.

We have several active, externally-funded training programs that
support student research and contribute to the diversity of STEM
fields. The Department is an active participant in the system-wide
CSU Biotechnology Program (https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/research/csubiotech).
The Department also fosters several research oriented programs,
including the Bridges to Stem Cell Research (BSCR) Program, Cancer
Research Education Program (CREP), Creating Opportunities through
Mentorship and Partnership Across Stem cell Science (COMPASS)
Program, Project Eager, McNair Scholars Program, Minority Health
and Health Disparities Research Training (MHRT) Program, The
CSU-STEM Pathways and Research Alliance (SPaRA) , Neurocognitive
Aging and Analytics Research Education (NAARE) Program, The MSTEM
Star Program, Building Bridges to the Professoriate (BB2P),
Research Careers Preparatory (RCP) Program, and Undergraduate
Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE)
Program (https://www.fullerton.edu/uroc/research-opportunities/index.html).

The Department and College are well-equipped with modern
research instruments and laboratory facilities that include
fluorescence microscopes, a confocal microscope, a flow cytometer,
a greenhouse, an herbarium, animal housing facilities, a Raman
spectrophotometer, and other shared equipment. Each tenured and
tenure-track faculty member has dedicated research space, and new
faculty members are supported with start-up funds. Annual
departmental research funding is approximately $6.5 million from
internal and external sources, and collaborative and
interdisciplinary research is encouraged. Further information about
the department is available at https://www.fullerton.edu/biology/.

The College

The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM; http://www.fullerton.edu/nsm/)
is dedicated to the principle that teaching and research are
intricately mixed and that undergraduate and M.S. graduate
research, when properly approached, is an integral part of
teaching. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to
partner with the transdisciplinary Centers for Applied
Biotechnology Studies (CABS, http://cabs.fullerton.edu),
Catalyst (http://www.fullerton.edu/catalyst/),
Titan Supercomputing Center (TSC, https://tsc.fullerton.edu/), and
the Arboretum and Botanical Garden (https://arboretum.fullerton.edu/)
to support teaching and research.

The University

California State University Fullerton (CSUF) is the largest
university in the 23-campus California State University (CSU)
system, serving the Southern California region, particularly Orange
County. With 57 undergraduate and 52 graduate degree programs,
including doctorates in education and nursing practice, CSUF has
graduated over 300,000 students since its establishment in 1957.
The university's economic impact on Orange County exceeds $2
billion and supports over 15,000 jobs. Notably, nearly 80% of CSUF
alumni reside within close proximity to the campus. Recognized for
its commitment to diversity, CSUF ranks third nationally for the
number of bachelor's degrees awarded to underrepresented
students.

California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is an R2 public
University and a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution.
CSUF is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to
enhancing the opportunities and experiences of a diverse campus
community through its curriculum, and by fostering an inclusive
environment, as described in the Strategic Plan (https://planning.fullerton.edu/_resources/pdfs/Fullerton%20Forward%202024-2029%20-%20CSUF%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf).
Candidates committed to advancing these strategic goals, and those
from groups underrepresented in the American professoriate, are
particularly encouraged to apply.

Compensation

The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range
is $6,221 to $13,224 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic
year). The anticipated hiring range is $7,206 to $7,350 per
month.

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and
qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits
employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite
sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work
(https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm).

Summer research grants, moving expenses, start‐up funds, and a
reduced teaching load may be available.

CSUF Benefits

An excellent comprehensive benefits package includes
health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent
fee‐waiver; access to campus child‐care; and a defined‐benefit
retirement through the state system and optional tax-sheltering
opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit
https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/.

New employees hired by the CSU for the first time who first
become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017, are subject to a
10-year vesting period for retiree health and dental benefits.

International Candidates

California State University, Fullerton, is not
currently sponsoring any new H-1B petitions for staff, management,
or faculty positions.

For tenure-track faculty positions, California State University,
Fullerton is currently not sponsoring H-1B applicants subject to
the $100,000 fee established by the "Presidential Proclamation:
Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" issued on
September 19, 2025. Individuals in the U.S. who hold a valid lawful
nonimmigrant status visa can have a petition filed on their behalf
to change their status to H-1B without being subjected to the fee.
For example, the fee does not apply to an H-1B petition filed by an
individual presently in the U.S. who is an F-1, J-1, or O-1 status
holder.

CSU Policies

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated
reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting
Act and must comply with the requirements set forth in CSU
Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of
employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be
completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be formally
offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete
the background check may affect the application status of
applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who
apply for the position.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified
applicants with disabilities who self‐disclose.

Notice of
Non-Discrimination based on Gender or Sex and Contact Information
for Title IX Coordinator.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU)
Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose
business operations reside within the State of California. It
requires hiring employees to perform CSU-related work within the
State of California. The employee must be able to accept on-campus
instruction, as assigned, and come to campus when needed. The CSU
also prohibits hiring and retaining employees working permanently
from a business location outside of the United States.

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have
received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision
determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the
last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the
minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of
employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of
the application process must also sign a release form that
authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current
and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated
allegations of misconduct.

To apply, visit https://careers.pageuppeople.com/873/fl/en-us/job/561521/assistant-professor-in-cell-or-molecular-biology
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