Assistant Professor in Cell or Molecular Biology

The Department of Biological Science at California State University, Fullerton, invites applications for a tenure‐track Assistant Professor position in Cell or Molecular Biology with an appointment to begin Fall 2027.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment
This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. CSUF complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California's Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU's Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

In addition, California State University, Fullerton is a leading public university known for its strong academic programs and commitment to student success. As one of the largest campuses in the CSU system, Cal State Fullerton fosters innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. The university values teaching, research, and service, creating an environment where students, staff, and faculty can thrive. Cal State Fullerton is a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The university also received the prestigious Seal of Excelencia in 2021 and 2024 from Excelencia in Education, the nation's leading authority on Latinx student success. Cal State Fullerton is an equal opportunity employer with a diverse student population of over 45,000 and a faculty and staff population of 4,000. Cal State Fullerton is firmly committed to helping students achieve academic excellence, career success, and economic mobility. Joining Cal State Fullerton means becoming part of a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact. We continuously seek individuals from various disciplines who share the university's mission and core values. We welcome you to consider joining the Titan community.  

CSUF is committed to retaining all faculty and has established affinity groups you can join to support your success. 

Position
We seek a candidate with a strong research background in any area of Cell or Molecular Biology, including, but not limited to, virology, plant molecular biology, or cancer biology, and clear potential for excellence in teaching and mentoring. The successful candidate will be expected to maintain an active and externally funded research program that involves undergraduate and master's students. Teaching responsibilities will include Introductory Cell and Molecular Biology, in addition to upper-division and graduate-level courses in the candidate's area of expertise. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students, serve on committees, and participate in the broader university and disciplinary communities. Preference will be given to candidates with relevant prior teaching experience using student-centered learning approaches and a demonstrated ability to support the success of a diverse student population, including first-generation and historically underserved students. The Department of Biological Science is committed to excellence in teaching in our classrooms and in our research laboratories and values faculty research as scholarship and as a means to engage and train students.

Required Qualifications

• A strong background in Cell and Molecular Biology and a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline from an accredited university.
• Relevant postdoctoral experience that demonstrates the ability to develop an externally funded, independent research program in an area of Cell or Molecular Biology that involves undergraduate and Master's students.
• A strong commitment to and demonstrated potential for effective teaching using student-centered, active learning, and inquiry-based approaches. Teaching responsibilities will include undergraduate and graduate-level cell and molecular biology lecture and laboratory courses.
• The ability to communicate with and effectively mentor an ethnically and culturally diverse campus population.

Preferred Qualification

• 2+ years postdoctoral experience.

Application
A complete online application must be received by electronic submission to be considered. To apply, please visit http://hr.fullerton.edu/workforce/careers.html, choose full-time faculty, search for the position 561521, and provide the following required materials:

• Cover letter in which you describe your motivation to teach at CSUF and live and work in Southern California, and respond to the qualifications for the position.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Graduate transcripts (unofficial copies are sufficient for initial review).
• Statement of teaching and mentoring philosophy:
• Describe your unique perspective and experience with student-centered, active teaching and learning techniques in the classroom and research laboratory, demonstrating a commitment to supporting the success of a diverse student population, and including relevant mentorship (academic and/or non-academic) experiences.

Statement of research plans:

Describe your short and long-term research program goals, including plans for seeking external funding, how your plans align with CSUF opportunities and resources, and how undergraduate and graduate students will participate and contribute to these goals.

Three documents that provide evidence of your experience or commitment to teaching and research:

One document that addresses teaching (e.g., curriculum development, syllabus) and two that address research (e.g., peer-reviewed publications, funding applications). Submit these three documents as a single pdf.

A list of three references with relevant contact information:

Letters of recommendation will be requested later in the application process. Please have these ready for the referents to submit. On the References page of the online application, enter information and email addresses for three referents who will provide a confidential letter of reference for your application. At the appropriate time in the search process, they will receive a request via email along with information on uploading the letter. You will be able to verify that each letter has been received by CSUF by logging back into your applicant portal.

Candidate statement on commitment to inclusive excellence (no more than 500 words):

Inclusive excellence is a strategic framework that recognizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in achieving organizational success and high-quality learning and teaching. It's a way of thinking and acting that integrates these values into all aspects of an institution, from curriculum and pedagogy to recruitment and hiring. Essentially, it means that excellence is not just about achieving high standards, but also about ensuring that all members of the community have the opportunity to thrive and contribute (Williams et al., 2005).

With the Inclusive Excellence Statement, we aim to learn about the applicant's perspective on their past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting and engaging with a diverse student population. This statement should showcase the candidate's professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or willingness to teach and create an academic environment supportive of all students, including but not limited to those of diverse ages, abilities, cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, languages, religions, and sexual orientations.

Cal State Fullerton serves a student body that reflects the rich cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic mosaic of Southern California. Please provide concrete examples of how you, as a faculty member, will support our students in one or more of the following areas, which fall under the areas of awareness and understanding, experience and commitment, and future plans.

1. Your contributions (past, present, or future) to embedding perspectives that are reflective of the student population into your teaching and/or scholarship.
2. Your experience in service activities that are reflective of a diverse student population.
3. Your experience and commitment to mentoring and providing opportunities to a diverse student body inside and outside the classroom environment. 
4. Your experience integrating creative activities that are inclusive of the identities of our student body and communities.

Please direct all questions about the position to: cell-molecsrch@fullerton.edu or call 657‐278‐3614.

Application Deadline
To be assured full consideration, all application materials must be received by September 27, 2026. The anticipated appointment date is August 16, 2027.

The Department
The Department of Biological Science, with 23 active full-time faculty members, has long been committed to an educational program that includes extensive involvement of undergraduate and graduate students in research. Over 50% of our majors are from underrepresented groups with 51% Hispanic/LatinX, 2% Black and 5% multiethnic. Approximately 47% of our students come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and 30% are the first in their family to pursue a college degree. In addition to the General Biology pathway, the Department has undergraduate concentrations in Molecular Cell Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Marine Biology, and Plant Biology. The Department offers a research-based Master of Science in Biology.  

We have several active, externally-funded training programs that support student research and contribute to the diversity of STEM fields. The Department is an active participant in the system-wide CSU Biotechnology Program (https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/research/csubiotech). The Department also fosters several research oriented programs, including the Bridges to Stem Cell Research (BSCR) Program, Cancer Research Education Program (CREP), Creating Opportunities through Mentorship and Partnership Across Stem cell Science (COMPASS) Program, Project Eager, McNair Scholars Program, Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training (MHRT) Program, The CSU-STEM Pathways and Research Alliance (SPaRA) , Neurocognitive Aging and Analytics Research Education (NAARE) Program, The MSTEM Star Program, Building Bridges to the Professoriate (BB2P), Research Careers Preparatory (RCP) Program, and Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) Program (https://www.fullerton.edu/uroc/research-opportunities/index.html). 

The Department and College are well-equipped with modern research instruments and laboratory facilities that include fluorescence microscopes, a confocal microscope, a flow cytometer, a greenhouse, an herbarium, animal housing facilities, a Raman spectrophotometer, and other shared equipment. Each tenured and tenure-track faculty member has dedicated research space, and new faculty members are supported with start-up funds. Annual departmental research funding is approximately $6.5 million from internal and external sources, and collaborative and interdisciplinary research is encouraged. Further information about the department is available at https://www.fullerton.edu/biology/.

The College
The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (NSM; http://www.fullerton.edu/nsm/) is dedicated to the principle that teaching and research are intricately mixed and that undergraduate and M.S. graduate research, when properly approached, is an integral part of teaching. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to partner with the transdisciplinary Centers for Applied Biotechnology Studies (CABS, http://cabs.fullerton.edu),  Catalyst (http://www.fullerton.edu/catalyst/), Titan Supercomputing Center (TSC, https://tsc.fullerton.edu/),  and the Arboretum and Botanical Garden (https://arboretum.fullerton.edu/) to support teaching and research.  

The University
California State University Fullerton (CSUF) is the largest university in the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system, serving the Southern California region, particularly Orange County. With 57 undergraduate and 52 graduate degree programs, including doctorates in education and nursing practice, CSUF has graduated over 300,000 students since its establishment in 1957. The university's economic impact on Orange County exceeds $2 billion and supports over 15,000 jobs. Notably, nearly 80% of CSUF alumni reside within close proximity to the campus. Recognized for its commitment to diversity, CSUF ranks third nationally for the number of bachelor's degrees awarded to underrepresented students.  

California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) is an R2 public University and a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. CSUF is an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to enhancing the opportunities and experiences of a diverse campus community through its curriculum, and by fostering an inclusive environment, as described in the Strategic Plan (https://planning.fullerton.edu/_resources/pdfs/Fullerton%20Forward%202024-2029%20-%20CSUF%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf). Candidates committed to advancing these strategic goals, and those from groups underrepresented in the American professoriate, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Compensation
The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is $6,221 to $13,224 monthly (12 monthly payments per academic year). The anticipated hiring range is $7,206 to $7,350 per month. 

Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm).  

Summer research grants, moving expenses, start‐up funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.

CSUF Benefits
An excellent comprehensive benefits package includes health/vision/dental plans; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent fee‐waiver; access to campus child‐care; and a defined‐benefit retirement through the state system and optional tax-sheltering opportunities. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://hr.fullerton.edu/total-wellness/.

New employees hired by the CSU for the first time who first become CalPERS members on or after July 1, 2017, are subject to a 10-year vesting period for retiree health and dental benefits.

International Candidates
California State University, Fullerton, is not currently sponsoring any new H-1B petitions for staff, management, or faculty positions.

For tenure-track faculty positions, California State University, Fullerton is currently not sponsoring H-1B applicants subject to the $100,000 fee established by the "Presidential Proclamation: Restriction on Entry of Certain Nonimmigrant Workers" issued on September 19, 2025. Individuals in the U.S. who hold a valid lawful nonimmigrant status visa can have a petition filed on their behalf to change their status to H-1B without being subjected to the fee. For example, the fee does not apply to an H-1B petition filed by an individual presently in the U.S. who is an F-1, J-1, or O-1 status holder.

CSU Policies
The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017, as a condition of employment.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be formally offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self‐disclose.

Notice of Non-Discrimination based on Gender or Sex and Contact Information for Title IX Coordinator.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. It requires hiring employees to perform CSU-related work within the State of California. The employee must be able to accept on-campus instruction, as assigned, and come to campus when needed. The CSU also prohibits hiring and retaining employees working permanently from a business location outside of the United States.

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

To apply, visit https://careers.pageuppeople.com/873/fl/en-us/job/561521/assistant-professor-in-cell-or-molecular-biology je-904c717d1a9d4890be77cc8b0326942b