Assistant Professor in Physiology

Position Rank and Title: Assistant Professor

School/Department Name: Biological Sciences

Compensation: Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule. Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $108,000 - $110,000

Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

Target Start Date: August 17, 2027

Application Deadline: November 14, 2026 (Applications accepted until filled or closed)

Position Description

The Department of Biological Sciences at San José State University is pleased to announce a search for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Physiology beginning in August 2027. The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching foundational and advanced courses in physiology, which may include Cell Physiology, Systems Physiology lecture and lab, Toxicology, Endocrine Physiology, Advanced Human Anatomy, and service courses in both anatomy and physiology. Candidates will be expected to develop an independent research program and mentor both undergraduate and masters students in research experiences. The successful candidate will also contribute to department and institutional service activities.

The Department of Biological Sciences at San José State University is a team of dedicated teacher-scholars recognized for our commitment to excellent teaching, engaging students in research projects, and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion in Biology and in STEM disciplines, more broadly. We offer degrees in Biology with concentrations in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Systems Physiology as well as degrees in Ecology & Evolution and Marine Biology. The highest degree offered is the Master's. There are approximately 1300 undergraduate and 70 graduate students enrolled across our programs. Facilities include molecular and microbiology research and teaching labs (BSL2 capable), confocal laser microscopy and imaging, a flow cytometry facility, cell culture facilities, anatomy and physiology research and teaching labs, animal facilities for rodents and frogs, bioinformatics and general computing labs, greenhouses, a herbarium, plant growth chambers, and a variety of natural history museums.

The Department of Biological Sciences and San José State University value institutional excellence and are committed to advancing equity through research, teaching, and service. We enroll more than 40,000 students, many of whom are historically underserved; approximately 45% of our undergraduate students are first-generation college students and 38% are Pell Grant recipients. In addition, we are both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aspires to create holistic learning environments that facilitate both individual and collective transformation. We seek teacher-scholars who cultivate inclusive, empowering spaces for mutual learning, skill-building, and knowledge exchange for all students. Our commitment to lifelong learning supports meaningful connections among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the broader communities we serve.

We invite all applicants to include a Statement of Institutional Excellence (or incorporate it into your cover letter) to share how your lived and professional experiences will contribute to the SJSU community—particularly in relation to student success. A guide to writing this statement can be found at SJSU Institutional Excellence Statement Guidelines.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in Physiology or a related discipline
• Post-doctoral experience in physiology or a related field.
• Publication record reflective of the candidate’s professional experience and the potential to become an excellent teacher-scholar.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Priority will be given to candidates who possess one or more of the following:

• Experience in any field of physiology will be considered; however, experience in cell physiology or exercise physiology, toxicology, renal physiology, gastrointestinal physiology, respiratory physiology and/or anatomy is desirable.
• Evidence of undergraduate or graduate research student mentoring.
• Experience working with historically underserved students and demonstrated evidence of integrating pedagogical approaches that support the success of all students

Key Responsibilities

• Candidate is expected to develop a research program, publish in peer reviewed journals, pursue extramural research grants, and involve masters and undergraduate students in research.
• Candidate is expected to teach in courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level. At the undergraduate level, teaching duties will include one or more of the following courses: Cell and Molecular Physiology, Systems Physiology lecture and laboratory, Integrative Physiology, Advanced Human Anatomy, Introduction to Principles of Toxicology, and the frosh core biology series. At the graduate level, teaching duties will include: Physiology lecture or laboratory courses and courses on Scientific Communication.
• Candidate is expected to participate in curriculum development and teaching of other courses to meet the needs of the program and its diverse student population.
• The candidate will participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Faculty shall organize all their classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• The candidate must demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

Other Duties

Note that all San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) and CSU systemwide policy, some faculty duties may lead to designation as a Campus Security Authority (CSA). CSAs are required to complete Clery Act training and to immediately report Clery incidents to the institution.

Faculty employees must complete CSU employee training as assigned and required based on their role (e.g., Data Security, FERPA, Preventing Discrimination and Harassment, Title IX, Health and Safety). The President may recommend or require compliance with safety measures that decrease the likelihood of COVID-19 transmission or illness and allows the core mission and activities of the campus to continue.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• letter of interest
• curriculum vitae
• institutional excellence statement (dedicated statement (2 pages) or addressed in letter of interest)
• statement of teaching interests/philosophy (2 pages)
• research plans (2 pages) including the candidate’s plans to engage undergraduate and masters students in research
• Contact information for three references

Inquiries may be directed to the Department Chair: Rachael French, rachael.french@sjsu.edu

Pursuant to California Education Code 89521, 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.

Conditional Offer

The work for this faculty position may only be performed in the State of California and requires establishing an on-campus presence. Employment is contingent upon US residence and proof of eligibility to work in the United States. Satisfactory completion of background and reference checks (including criminal records and prior employment) are required. SJSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background and reference checks reveal disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background and reference checks may affect the continued employment of a current employee who was conditionally offered the position.

San José State University: Silicon Valley's Public University

Located in the heart of Silicon Valley — one of the most innovative regions in the world — San José State University is the founding campus of the 23-campus California State University (CSU) system and the first public university in the West. Recognized as a leading transformative educational institution, San José State is an essential partner in the technological, economic, cultural, and social development of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area, and California. SJSU is a top-200 school nationally in research funding and second highest in research productivity in the CSU system. Cutting-edge research, world-class scholarship, student-centered learning, diverse communities, and commitment to social justice, allow SJSU to provide life-changing opportunities and advance the public good locally and globally.

Advertised: October 13, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Open until filled