[Jun-Ho La]

Associate/Full Professor Faculty Position in Omics and Computational Biology

College of Science

Department of Biological Sciences

The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX

 

POSITION DESCRIPTION: The Department of Biological Sciences at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Associate or Full Professor level. Candidates should have expertise in proteomics, metabolomics, or lipidomics, with a strong computational focus, particularly related to infectious and metabolic diseases, inflammation, neurodegeneration, or cellular signaling. The chosen applicant is expected to be highly competitive for both individual investigator and collaborative center grants. UTEP already possesses much of the necessary instrumentation, core facility support, and computational infrastructure, making it a very attractive location for an experienced researcher to quickly develop an externally funded research program.

A successful candidate at the Associate or Full Professor level should demonstrate a strong record of extramural funding and extensive experience in mentoring, leadership, directorship, and participation in large center grant programs. Faculty appointed as tenured full professors will also hold the title of Regents’ Distinguished Research Professor; those hired as associate professors can attain this title upon promotion to full professor with tenure.

The Department of Biological Sciences offers two Ph.D. tracks: Bioscience and Ecology/Evolution, with over 100 graduate students and more than 2000 undergraduates. The department features multiple state-of-the-art NIH-funded core facilities staffed with full-time personnel, covering areas such as biocontainment, high-resolution mass spectrometry, genomics, tissue culture, high-throughput drug screening, confocal microscopy, bioinformatics, and biostatistics. The Biological Sciences faculty maintains strong collaborative and programmatic ties with several UTEP departments, including Psychology, Pharmacy, Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science. Beyond the department, the selected candidate would have the opportunity to strengthen interdisciplinary ties with the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences (DEERS), the Environmental Science and Engineering program (ESE), and the Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC). This position offers a unique opportunity for an outstanding investigator and leader to substantially advance scholarship in health disparities research and help develop and deliver an omics- and computational-based curriculum using innovative teaching models that connect science to practice. Appointment will be based on the applicant’s record of excellence in scholarship, teaching, and leadership. The start-up package is negotiable, with an anticipated appointment date in Fall 2026.

ABOUT UTEP AND EL PASO: UTEP is a Carnegie R1 and community-engaged research university located in the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border region, working to increase access to quality higher education. UTEP enrolls over 25,000 students, with 85% of them being Hispanic, and half of these students are first-generation college attendees. UTEP is a major economic driver in the area, contributing approximately $1.4 billion annually to the local economy. Its border location makes it an ideal site for academic programs and research on issues like bilingual education and language acquisition, border environment and immigration, environmental sustainability and infrastructure, health disparities, and international trade and commerce.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: All candidates must hold a Doctorate in a specialized field that emphasizes the high-throughput omics study of biological molecules, such as lipids, RNAs, proteins, metabolites, or computational biology from an accredited institution. For the Associate and Full Professor levels, candidates must provide documented evidence of:

• Experience in leading, directing, and mentoring large biomedical grant programs at a center or at an equivalent level;
• Success in collaborative scholarship and publications.
• A successful research program and ongoing extramural funding from major funding agencies or institutions.
• Effective teaching in biomedical sciences or related fields at a higher education institution.
• Ability to work effectively as a team with faculty, staff, and students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Students’ involvement in research and publication opportunities

BENEFITS: The starting salary is competitive, determined by qualifications and experience, and includes excellent fringe benefits.

APPLICATION INFORMATION: Review of applications will begin immediately, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Candidates must submit: 1) a cover letter, 2) a curriculum vitae, 3) a statement of research goals, 4) a statement of teaching philosophy, 5) experience in service or director leadership positions, and 6) contact information for at least three professional references.

 

Questions can be directed to Hugues Ouellet, Ph.D., Chair of the Search Committee at houellet@utep.edu.

To apply, please visit https://www.utep.edu/employment.

 

In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment. 

The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or sexual orientation and gender in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee’s or prospective employee’s right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972.