Faculty/Type Title
Assistant Professor - Cosmetic ScienceBegins
Fall 2027About the College
Spelman College seeks teacher/scholars dedicated to excellence in teaching and to the continued enhancement of the academic environment for students and colleagues. Founded in 1881, Spelman College is a private four-year liberal arts college located in Atlanta, GA. The oldest historically Black college for women in the United States, Spelman is a member of the Atlanta University Center Consortium and Atlanta Regional Consortium for Higher Education.The Spelman College Cosmetic Science Program is an innovative, interdisciplinary academic program designed to prepare students to be STEM experts in the cosmetics and personal care industry. Launched in 2024, the program offers rigorous scientific training focused on cosmetic ingredients, formulation, product performance, and safety for textured hair and melanated skin science. The curriculum draws upon expertise across natural sciences, mathematics, and other disciplines to provide students with a distinctive educational experience that connects fundamental science with real-world applications.
The program is entering an important period of growth and curricular expansion. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help shape the future direction of Cosmetic Science at Spelman, providing intellectual leadership in developing lectures, instructional laboratories, and research-based experiences. We are particularly interested in candidates who can translate their scientific expertise into a rigorous, laboratory- and research-based curricula that respond to advances in cosmetic science.
Position Description
The Spelman College Cosmetic Science Program seeks to invite applicants for a tenure-track professorship starting Fall 2027.Research Expectations
The successful candidate will establish an innovative, externally fundable research program that advances the scientific understanding of cosmetic ingredients, formulations, finished products, and/or their interactions with biological systems. The research program should provide meaningful opportunities for undergraduate students to engage in discovery, develop technical expertise, and contribute to scholarly outcomes.
We particularly welcome candidates whose research uses instrumental and analytical approaches to investigate questions related to product safety, performance, efficacy, formulation, hair and skin science, ingredient characterization, or other areas relevant to cosmetic and personal care science. Candidates whose current research could expand into cosmetic science applications are strongly encouraged to apply.
Teaching Expectations
The successful candidate will contribute to both the Chemistry and Cosmetic Science curricula. Within Chemistry, teaching responsibilities may include foundational and advanced courses and laboratories. The candidate will also have the opportunity to shape the expanding cosmetic science curriculum and related co-curricular activities. While prior teaching experience in cosmetic science is not required, candidates must demonstrate the capacity to teach and develop innovative cosmetic science courses and laboratory experiences.
The successful candidate will join a growing community of faculty, students, and external partners committed to expanding Spelman's capacity in cosmetic science. In line with this, the position offers a unique opportunity for a faculty member who is excited not simply to teach within an established program, but to help build and define its next phase of growth.
Qualifications
- A Ph. D. in chemistry, chemical engineering, toxicology, pharmacology, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.