Assistant Professor in Chemistry (Tenure-Track)

Role details

Cornell College, a residential undergraduate liberal arts college, invites applications for a tenure-track appointment as Assistant Professor in its ACS-approved Department of Chemistry beginning Fall 2027. Primary teaching responsibilities will be a combination of organic and general chemistry courses, including an advanced organic course in rotation, and participation in the college’s core curriculum. The Department of Chemistry has a strong history of student/faculty research, and engagement in research with students is expected. PhD is required. Cornell’s One Course At A Time academic calendar is divided into eight 3½ week blocks in which students take and faculty teach a single course.

Full-time faculty teaching load is 6 block courses during the academic year with the other 2 blocks reserved for professional development, course preparations, or travel to academic meetings; further opportunities for summer teaching and research supervision may also be available. Candidate will be expected to participate in service to their department and to facilitate their department’s support of the college’s Ingenuity core curriculum. The college encourages interdisciplinary interests among its faculty and the development of teaching strategies that capitalize on our distinctive academic calendar.

One Course At A Time allows us the freedom to take students off-campus without impinging on other course commitments. In addition, class size is limited to 25 students, and upper-level courses are often smaller. About Cornell College Cornell College is a national liberal arts college committed to excellence in teaching and the creation of a welcoming community in which all individuals are respected and included. Our innovative curriculum includes a focus on the essential abilities of writing, quantitative reasoning, and intercultural literacy as well as experiential learning.

The One Course At A Time approach fosters strong student engagement and close faculty-student relationships while allowing faculty freedom to design and carry out their classes, on campus or off. Founded in 1853, Cornell was the first college west of the Mississippi to graduate both men and women. Academic immersion, real world experience requirements through Ingenuity in Action, and unparalleled flexibility attract an ambitious student body from around the world. Cornell’s picturesque hilltop campus is a National Historic District and was the first campus listed in its entirety on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mount Vernon is a small, college-centered town in the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City corridor, home to nearly half a million people. It has two additional National Historic Districts and a classic Main Street a short walk from campus. Mount Vernon attractions include boutique shopping; walking paths; a dedicated sledding hill; and 13 annual festivals and events including Chalk the Walk, Chili Cookoff, and Magical Mount Vernon. Cornell College offers a competitive benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, HSA and FSA accounts, a TIAA 403(b) retirement account, and tuition remission and exchange for employees and dependents.

We also offer life insurance, disability insurance, travel insurance, and accident insurance. Interested applicants should submit the following materials through Cornell College’s online application system:

• A letter of application/cover letter
• Current Curriculum Vitae
• Graduate transcript(s) (may be unofficial)
• Teaching statement, describing teaching interests, experience, and philosophy, including examples of inclusive pedagogy
• Names and contact information for a minimum of three references. Formal letters will be requested at a later date.

Applications will be reviewed beginning October 19, 2026, and continue until the position is filled. For more information about the department, please visit the Chemistry department website. Any questions can be directed to Cindy Strong, Department Chair and William Deskin Professor of Chemistry at [email protected] Cornell is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from underrepresented groups. Cornell complies with Iowa’s Smoke-free Air Act. Cornell utilizes E-Verify and requires the satisfactory completion of a background check.

Equal Opportunity

Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.