State of Virginia

Mission or Goal of Unit:

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is a premier urban, public research university with a diverse student body in historic Richmond, Virginia. VCU enrolls more than 28,000 students on two campuses. The Center for Biological Data Science (https://cbds.vcu.edu) in VCU Life Sciences is a Chartered Research Center and focal point for bioinformatics instruction at VCU. The Center consists of 12 full-time, affiliate, and adjunct faculty and staff. The unit administers several academic programs, including a Bachelor of Science in Bioinformatics and Master's degree programs for thesis (MS in Bioinformatics) and non-thesis (Professional MS in Bioinformatics) seeking students. Beginning in the Fall of 2025, the Bioinformatics programs will reside in the new School for Life Sciences and Sustainability in the College of Humanities and Sciences (https://chs.vcu.edu/). The School for Life Sciences and Sustainability comprises more than 60 full-time faculty who support undergraduate and graduate degrees in Biology, Environmental Studies, Integrative Life Sciences, as well as Bioinformatics.

Chief Purpose of this position in support of the above mission or goal.

The Center for Biological Data Science is seeking applicants for the position of Assistant Professor (non-tenure eligible) whose expertise in bioinformatics will contribute to the teaching and service missions of the program. The core mission of the Center for Biological Data Science focuses on bioinformatics instruction and research. This is a unique and exciting opportunity for the selected individual to be part of a growing bioinformatics program and an interdisciplinary faculty.

Position Responsibilities:

This 9-month faculty position will be housed in the Center for Biological Data Science and report to the Director. This position has both teaching (80% effort) and service (20% effort) effort allocations. Primary responsibilities for instruction will support the existing bioinformatics curriculum (e.g., courses such as Introduction to Scientific Computing or Introduction to Bioinformatics) and develop upper-level courses aligned with the individual’s expertise.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Bioinformatics, Computer Science, Biology, Molecular Biology, Evolution, Ecology, Statistics, Mathematics, or other discipline salient to bioinformatics.
• Fluency in conducting bioinformatics analyses.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively and positively in a team environment.
• Broad understanding of skills salient to teaching core content in bioinformatics (data collection & analysis, and hands-on education).
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching at the undergraduate level (or equivalent).
• Fluency in the R or Python programming language for data analysis.
• Development experience with scripting languages for bioinformatics analyses.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple work priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently and cooperatively as a team member.

Application Instructions

Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, teaching statement, and contact information for three references. Questions about the position should be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Allison Johnson, at aajohnson@vcu.edu.