Assistant Professor in Medicinal Chemistry or Pharmacology

Role details

How to Apply

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Please submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of teaching philosophy (up to 2 pages), research plan (up to 5 pages), and contact information for three references through Interfolio: Teaching and research statements should address how you promote diversity of thought, perspective, background, and experience in your professional work.

Review of applications will begin November12, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated appointment beginning date is August 30, 2027.

All applications must be submitted via Interfolio; applications submitted through careers.umich.edu will not be reviewed.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The University of Michigan-Dearborn is unable to provide immigration-related sponsorship for this position.

Who We Are

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The University of Michigan-Dearborn was founded in 1959 on 200 acres of the original Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn, Michigan. As one of the University of Michigan's three campuses, we serve over 8,000 students and provide high-quality undergraduate, graduate, professional, and continuing education programs that embody the prestige of the University of Michigan name. Our mission is rooted in a commitment to Metro Detroit's well-being and diversity, fostering a caring, dynamic, intellectual, and socially welcoming environment.

UM-Dearborn utilizes the Boyer Model of academic scholarship. We distinguish ourselves by building and nurturing intentional, mutually beneficial partnerships with local industries, governments, and community organizations. Our faculty are recognized for their excellence in scholarship and teaching and are actively engaged in professional and academic service. UM-Dearborn offers ample opportunities for creative, collaborative research, practice-based learning, and community engagement through scholarly and educational partnerships.

Faculty have the privilege of working closely with their students, 47% of whom are first-generation college students, 46% are Pell Grant-eligible, and 31% are students of color.

The average class size is 25 students, and 69% of classes have fewer than 30 students. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UM-Dearborn among the best regional universities in the Midwest. In 2024, UM-Dearborn ranked the number-one regional public university in Michigan and third in the Midwest. The university is also recognized on Forbes list of America's Top Colleges. For more information, please visit our website at www.umdearborn.edu.

Dearborn is a vibrant, diverse community centrally located within one of America?s largest business regions. The area provides a variety of urban, suburban, and rural environments within a reasonable commute, including Detroit, its suburbs, and Ann Arbor.

Job Summary

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The Department of Natural Sciences in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters (CASL) at the University of Michigan-Dearborn invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Chemistry, with expertise in Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharmacology, or a closely related field. We seek an experimental scientist with a strong record of scholarly productivity and a demonstrated commitment to mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those pursuing pre-health and biomedical sciences. The preferred starting date is August 30, 2027.

The Department of Natural Sciences is a collaborative community serving more than 600 majors in Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Biological Sciences, with a strong focus on pre-health and biomedical sciences. We value high-impact, research-informed teaching and meaningful research experiences for a diverse student body, including first-generation and Pell-eligible students. Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration exist, including with programs in bioengineering.

The successful candidate is expected to establish and maintain a sustainable, externally funded research program that includes peer-reviewed publications and active engagement of undergraduate and graduate students. The department encourages interdisciplinary research collaboration and student mentorship.

The teaching load is 2:2 (two courses per semester), including organic chemistry and graduate-level courses such as Biochemical Pharmacology. Development of new courses in areas such as Molecular Targets, Drug Discovery, or Drug Development is encouraged. Faculty are expected to contribute to departmental and university service and to support an inclusive and collaborative academic environment.

This is an on-site position and expected to teach in various modalities.

Required Qualifications*

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• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a closely related field by the start date
• Postdoctoral or equivalent research experience
• Evidence of scholarly productivity and potential to secure external funding
• Demonstrated commitment to effective, inclusive teaching and student mentoring at the undergraduate level

Desired Qualifications*

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• Experience in computational drug discovery or integrative methods that complement experimental research
• Experience with interdisciplinary collaborations
• Experience in new course development

Why Work at U-M Dearborn? -----------------------------

The University of Michigan-Dearborn is a vibrant and diverse community, centrally located within one of America's largest business regions. The area provides a variety of urban, suburban, and rural environments within a reasonable commute, including Detroit, its suburbs, and Ann Arbor.

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan-Dearborn offers a comprehensive benefits package, effective on your first day to help you and your family stay well, and plan for a secure future.

Benefits include:

• Generous time off
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions after 12 months of eligible service
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance, along with prescription drug plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

Eligibility for benefits is based on your job group, your appointment percentage and the length of your appointment. Learn more about employee benefits and eligibility from the UM Human Resources Benefits and Wellness webpage.

Additional UM-Dearborn benefits include:

• Employees may be eligible for tuition reimbursement. Learn more about the tuition reimbursement policy.
• Eligible UM-Dearborn dependents may receive a 50% tuition and fees scholarship towards undergraduate courses. Learn more about the Dependent Tuition Scholarship from the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships webpage.
• No charge for all faculty and staff parking permits. Learn more from the Parking Transportation webpage.

Information about our mission, values and leadership can be found at: https://umdearborn.edu/about-um-dearborn/mission

Modes of Work

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Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

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Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. PLEASE NOTE: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Background Screening

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The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

U-M EEO Statement

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The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Job Opening ID

285323

Working Title

Assistant Professor in Medicinal Chemistry or Pharmacology

Job Title

ASST PROFESSOR

Work Location

Dearborn Campus

Dearborn, MI

Modes of Work

Onsite

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Organizational Group

Dbn Col Arts Sci Ltr

Department

Dbn CASL-Physical Sciences

Posting Begin/End Date

11/06/2026 - 2/02/2027

Career Interest

Instructional - Regular