Forensic Science Associate/Full Professor

Role details

The School of Interdisciplinary Forensics (SIF) in the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (New College) at Arizona State University (ASU) invites applications for one full-time, benefits-eligible tenured faculty position in the forensic science program at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. Salary and rank are based on qualifications at hire. The anticipated start date is August 2027.

The area of specialization is open. Preference will be given to candidates whose expertise is not currently represented or is underrepresented among SIF faculty, or whose work contributes to a growth area such as humanitarian forensics, wildlife forensics, or forensic pathology. We are particularly interested in candidates whose research incorporates artificial intelligence, machine learning, or data visualization in ways that help bridge forensic science and digital forensics, although such expertise is preferred rather than required.

About The School

SIF bridges science, law, and justice, offering a unique approach to forensic research and education. The School has strengths in the psychological sciences (including social, clinical, and developmental psychology, as well as psychology and law), the natural sciences (including anthropology, biology, chemistry, entomology, and genetics), and information technology (including cybersecurity and digital forensics). We integrate a wide array of disciplines, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the role of science and technology in the legal system.

With a focus on real-world applications and ethical considerations, SIF prepares students for careers that require scientific and technical expertise and a commitment to improving the administration of justice.

Our forensic science programs include courses in core natural sciences, such as anatomy, anthropology, biology, chemistry, entomology, and toxicology, as well as in application of these sciences to the law and legal proceedings in specialized classes such as death investigations, advanced scene mapping, statistical applications in forensic science, fundamentals of forensic analysis, forensic anthropology, forensic botany, forensic chemistry, forensic molecular biology, forensic entomology, forensic photography, forensic toxicology, analysis of human and nonhuman DNA evidence, human osteology and forensic techniques, humanitarian forensics, wildlife forensics, and seminars in a variety of advanced forensic science topics.

Accordingly, we encourage candidates with expertise in a broad array of forensic sciences and closely related fields to apply.

About The New College Of Interdisciplinary Arts And Sciences At ASU’s New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, we take pride in breaking down disciplinary barriers, cultivating an environment where innovative research flourishes. Our faculty are not just educators; they are trailblazers in their fields, consistently expanding the frontiers of knowledge. We invite you to join this dynamic community, where you will lead and engage in pioneering projects that redefine academic excellence.

Our interdisciplinary approach offers you unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional growth. By joining our faculty, you’re not just advancing your career; you’re shaping the future of education and research in meaningful ways. You’ll be empowered to innovate and address complex global challenges, all while preparing the next generation of leaders. We are committed to supporting and guiding you throughout your academic journey, ensuring that your contributions are impactful and transformative. For more information visit us at https://newcollege.asu.edu/.

New College is located on ASU’s West Valley campus, blending a liberal arts and science education with 21st-century workforce preparation and a learning hub for students of all ages and backgrounds supporting the rapid growth of its surrounding 14 communities. Integrating modern amenities with the natural beauty of outdoor spaces, the West Valley campus offers over 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs across business, engineering, education, and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.

About Arizona State University

Arizona State University, ranked the No. 1 “Most Innovative School” in the nation by *U.S. News & World Report* for twelve years in succession, has forged the model for a New American University. Year after year, ASU ranks at or near the top of the list in areas that matter. ASU is a comprehensive public research institution, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.

ASU operates on the principles that learning is a personal and original journey for each student; that they thrive on experience and that the process of discovery cannot be bound by traditional academic disciplines. Through innovation and a commitment to accessibility, ASU has drawn pioneering researchers to its faculty even as it expands opportunities for qualified students, attracting some of the highest- quality students from all 50 states and more than 130 nations. To learn more about ASU, visit http://www.asu.edu.

All we do at ASU is guided and inspired by the ASU Charter, which reads:

ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves.

Successful candidates will demonstrate throughout their materials how their teaching, research, and service will contribute to the fulfillment of this charter.

Essential Functions Of The Position

• Sustain a vigorous, nationally or internationally visible program of scientific research with forensic application.
• Seek and secure external research funding appropriate to the candidate’s discipline and research program.
• Create and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in relevant areas of forensic science in face-to-face, hybrid, and/or online formats.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in research and professional development.
• Provide academic and intellectual leadership that strengthens SIF’s research, graduate education, and external partnerships.
• Contribute to interdisciplinary research and program development across forensic science and related fields.
• Contribute meaningful service to the School, College, University, profession, and community.
• Engage in regular professional development and foster collegiality throughout the organization.
• Attend faculty unit and committee meetings per unit expectations.

Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. or similar terminal degree in biology, chemistry, toxicology, biochemistry, physics, forensic science, or a closely related scientific field by the time of appointment.
• A portfolio of university teaching, research, and service that merits appointment as an Associate or Full Professor with tenure at Arizona State University.

Desired Qualifications

• Research expertise in an area that expands SIF’s existing research portfolio, including, but not limited to, criminalistics (e.g., mathematics, physics, firearms/toolmarks, and analysis of trace evidence), engineering and applied sciences as applied to forensics, scene investigation, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, pathology, humanitarian forensics, questioned document analysis, and/or wildlife forensics.
• A nationally or internationally recognized research program with applications in forensics, demonstrated by high-quality peer-reviewed scholarship and success securing external research funding, each commensurate with career stage.
• Research incorporating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and/or data visualization with relevance to forensic or digital evidence.
• Evidence of effective undergraduate and graduate course development and implementation.
• Evidence of effective undergraduate and graduate teaching and mentoring.
• Demonstrated academic leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Established partnerships with forensic laboratories, governmental agencies, industry, professional organizations, or other external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to working successfully with students from a wide variety of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, including first-generation college students.
• Demonstrated excellent English written and verbal communication skills.