Assistant Professor, Neuroscience, Gut-Brain Axis (T/TE)

University of Arizona; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Life insurance and disability programs

Sick leave and holidays

Tuition reduction for employee and/or

Retirement plans

Recreation and cultural activities

Job summary

University of Arizona invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Neuroscience with a Gut-Brain Axis focus, joint with Molecular and Cellular Biology, as part of the AI Innovation in Health initiative.

The candidate will build an independent, externally funded program integrating AI/ML and multi-omics to advance mechanistic understanding, mentor trainees, and teach across departments. Start date targeted for Aug 2027.

Qualifications

• PhD, MD, MD/PhD or equivalent terminal degree in neuroscience or related field by the start date.
• Record of rigorous and impactful research.
• Potential to establish innovative, independent, externally funded program.
• Commitment to teaching, trainee mentorship, collaboration, and inclusive academic excellence.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a rigorous, innovative, nationally recognized, externally funded independent research program.
• Conduct research that advances understanding of gut-brain and microbiome biology and complements strengths in Neuroscience and MCCB.
• Meaningfully incorporate AI, ML, computational modeling, multi-omics, or advanced quantitative methods within the research program.
• Engage in collaborative research and interdisciplinary scholarship across the University of Arizona.
• Demonstrate excellence and innovation in undergraduate and graduate teaching and contribute to educational missions.
• Provide mentorship to undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees and support their development as independent scientists.
• Participate in departmental, college, and University service.
• Advance the University’s land-grant mission through education, outreach, and translation of discovery.

Skills

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Teaching and mentorship

External grant funding

AI/ML integration

Education

PhD/MD/MD-PhD or equivalent

Tools

AI techniques

Computational modeling

Multi-omics approaches

Job description

Assistant Professor, Neuroscience, Gut-Brain Axis (T/TE)

Position Highlights

The Departments of Neuroscience and Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Arizona invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor. This joint appointment is part of the University's AI Innovation in Health initiative, which advances interdisciplinary discovery at the intersections of neuroscience, molecular and cellular biology, nutrition, metabolism, and artificial intelligence.

We seek an innovative scientist investigating fundamental mechanisms through which the gut, its microbial communities, and the brain interact to shape neural function, behavior, metabolism, health, and disease. The successful candidate will establish a rigorous, independent, and externally funded research program and contribute to a collaborative intellectual community spanning both departments and the broader AI Innovation in Health initiative. The successful candidate's research program should meaningfully integrate artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational modeling, multi-omics, or other advanced quantitative methods to generate or test biological hypotheses and deepen mechanistic understanding.

Relevant research areas include, but are not limited to:

• The microbiome-gut-brain axis and the mechanisms that support bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal system and the nervous system;
• Microbial metabolites and their effects on neural circuits, cellular physiology, behavior, or disease processes;
• Gut-derived metabolic, immune, or endocrine signaling and its influence on the brain and peripheral nervous system;
• Neuroimmune interactions and inflammatory mechanisms linking the gut, microbiome, and nervous system;
• Inter-organ communication among the gut, brain, liver, adipose tissue, immune system, and other physiological systems;
• Neural and molecular mechanisms governing feeding, appetite, energy balance, and metabolic homeostasis; and
• Effects of diet, nutrition, and metabolism on brain function, development, aging, and neurological or neuropsychiatric disease.

About the University of Arizona

The University of Arizona is committed to research, education, and service that address important scientific and societal challenges. As a land-grant institution, the University connects discovery and learning with public engagement and practical benefit. The successful candidate will join a community that values rigorous scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration, excellent teaching, and mentorship across career stages.

Collaborative Environment

The University of Arizona offers a highly collaborative environment for research across neuroscience, molecular and cellular biology, physiology, nutrition, data science, and related fields. The joint appointment will create opportunities to build connections across the Department of Neuroscience, the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and other University programs and centers whose strengths align with the candidate's research, such as the BIO5 Institute. Additionally, the successful candidate will have graduate faculty status in the Biochemistry & Molecular and Cellular Biology PhD Program, as well as the Graduate Interdisciplinary Programs of Neuroscience and Genetics. The successful candidate will be expected to contribute actively to this interdisciplinary community through collaborative scholarship, shared training, and intellectual leadership.

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026, and will continue until January 3, 2027, for an anticipated start date of August 16, 2027.

Outstanding U of A benefits

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; sick leave and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a rigorous, innovative, nationally recognized, and externally funded independent research program.
• Conduct research that advances understanding of gut-brain and microbiome biology and complements strengths in Neuroscience, Molecular and Cellular Biology, and the Food as Medicine Initiative.
• Meaningfully incorporate or develop artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational modeling, multi-omics, or advanced quantitative methods within the research program.
• Engage in collaborative research and interdisciplinary scholarship across the University of Arizona.
• Demonstrate excellence and innovation in undergraduate and graduate teaching and contribute to the educational missions of both departments.
• Provide thoughtful, effective mentorship to undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees and support their development as independent scientists.
• Participate in departmental, college, and University service.
• Advance the University of Arizona's land-grant mission through education, outreach, community engagement, or the translation of scientific discovery in ways that benefit Arizona and its communities.

Minimum Qualifications

• A PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent terminal degree in neuroscience, molecular or cellular biology, microbiology, physiology, computational biology, or a related discipline by the anticipated start date.
• A record of rigorous and impactful research appropriate to career stage.
• Evidence of the potential to establish an innovative, independent, and externally funded research program.
• A demonstrated commitment to high-quality teaching, trainee mentorship, collaboration, and inclusive academic excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research expertise addressing the microbiome-gut-brain axis or related mechanisms of inter-organ communication.
• Experience integrating experimental biology with artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational modeling, multi-omics, or advanced quantitative analyses.
• A strong publication record and evidence of scientific creativity and independence.
• Potential to develop collaborations across neuroscience, molecular and cellular biology, metabolism, nutrition, immunology, microbiology, and data science.
• Evidence of effective teaching, mentoring, outreach, public engagement, or translation of research.

Rank

Assistant Professor

Tenure Information

Tenure Track (T/TE)

FLSA

Exempt

Full Time/Part Time

Full Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week

40

Job FTE

1.0

Work Calendar

Academic

Job Category

Faculty

Benefits Eligible

Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay

DOE

Compensation Type

salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)

Type of criminal background check required

Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies

1

Target Hire Date

8/16/2027

Open Date

10/28/2026

Open Until Filled

Yes

Documents Needed to Apply

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover Letter
• Three Additional Documents

Contact Information for Candidates

Haijiang Cai, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Department Head
Department of Neuroscience
[e-mail]

Location

Tucson Campus
Tucson, AZ USA

Department

Neuroscience

Department Website Link

https://neurosci.arizona.edu

Posting Number

req27226