Assistant or Associate Professor - Synthetic Biology, Biotechnology, and Applied Biochemistry

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 103,000 - 128,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Generous time off

Tuition benefit program

Excellent retirement plans

Job summary

University of Minnesota invites applications for tenure-track/tenured faculty in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics (BMBB). We seek colleagues at assistant or associate professor level to develop innovative, funded programs using biochemical, computational and AI tools to engineer proteins, enzymes, metabolism and genomes with environmental applications.

The BMBB is part of CBS and the Medical School, offering rich facilities and collaboration across disciplines;

Qualifications

• PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, or related discipline.
• Commitment to teaching and mentoring students and trainees.
• Plan for future research and extramural funding; strong publication record.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative, extramurally funded research programs in synthetic biology, biotechnology, and applied biochemistry with environmental applications.
• Contribute to undergraduate and graduate education, supervise students and trainees, and participate in service.
• Lead and collaborate within BMBB and CBS to advance departmental goals.

Skills

Teaching

Mentoring

Research planning

Education

PhD in biochemistry or molecular biology

Tools

Computational biology

Job description

Location: Twin Cities

About the Job

The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics (BMBB) seeks to hire two tenure-track / tenured faculty at the assistant or associate professor rank with research in the areas of synthetic biology, biotechnology, and applied biochemistry with environmental applications. The new faculty will develop innovative, extramurally funded research programs using biochemical, computational and artificial intelligence tools to engineer proteins and enzymes, metabolism, and nucleic acids and genomes. Environmental applications of interest include but are not limited to carbon capture, circular bioeconomy, remediation, environmental engineering, renewable biomanufacturing, biosensors and monitoring, and waste biotechnology and resource recovery. New faculty will be supported by a competitive startup package, salary, and research space. They will contribute to undergraduate and graduate educational programs, research mentorship, and academic and professional service.

The BMBB Department is part of the College of Biological Sciences (CBS) and Medical School. BMBB has strengths in biochemistry, biotechnology, synthetic biology, metabolism, proteomics, molecular genetics, signaling, and structural biology. BMBB supports an undergraduate biochemistry major and doctoral program. The Department has multiple core facilities including cryo-electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray crystallography, metabolomics and proteomics. BMBB and CBS interface with university-wide initiatives in biotechnology, supercomputing, biomanufacturing, genomics, structural biology, field stations, and advanced imaging that empower research exploration. The University offers a collaborative, world-class research environment embedded in a region renowned for innovation. For more information about BMBB and CBS, please visit the department's website: https://cbs.umn.edu/bmbb.

Qualifications

Successful candidates should hold a PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, or related discipline and have a commitment to teaching and mentoring students and trainees. All applicants will be evaluated based on their research accomplishments, plan for future research and extramural funding, publication record, and teaching experience and philosophy. Applicants at the associate professor level will additionally be evaluated based on their record of research and scholarship, extramural funding, teaching, mentorship, and service since establishing independence.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $103,000-107,000 (Assistant) or $113,000-128,000 (Associate) 9-month salary; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100%, 9 Month Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.