The School of Biological Sciences (SBS) in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Oklahoma invites applications for a full-time 9-month tenure-track position at the rank of assistant or associate professor with a start date of August 2027 or January 2028. We seek an innovative, creative, and collaborative Microbial Ecologist or Computational Microbiologist who will lead cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary, and student-involved research and educational programs in Environmental Microbiome, Microbial Ecology, and/or Metagenomics. The research program of the successful candidate is expected to strengthen quantitative, mechanistic and predictive understanding of microbiomes in various engineered and/or nature systems for sustainable development, OneHealth, and/or similar topics relevant to OU’s Lead On Strategic Plan. Some particular examples of research directions could include (1) quantitative assessment of microbial community assembly mechanisms from meta-omics data to improve understanding of microbiome dynamics critical for environment, energy, and/or health; (2) microbial process modeling, relevant to environmental protection, energy, and/or public health; (3) microbiome responses and feedback to environmental disturbances across large spatial and temporal scales; and (4) high-accuracy, AI-enhanced prediction of microbial community dynamics in engineered, natural, or host systems. The research program should include mentoring of postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates in research and professional development. The candidate will also be expected to contribute to formal undergraduate and graduate instruction in the form of one course per semester within the SBS microbiology curriculum or new courses within their specific area of expertise.
The SBS was recently established through the integration of the departments of Biology and Microbiology and Plant Biology to align graduate programs and research with faculty strengths and the OU Norman Research Strategic Verticals and Lead On Strategic Plan.
OU invests in its faculty by providing support and resources through the Center for Faculty Excellence and Vice President for Research and Partnerships Office. The Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences supports faculty development through mentoring, new faculty orientation series, and access to research and educational support. We encourage candidates to apply who are seeking to work in a rapidly growing college with collegial interdisciplinary groups and strong academic units.
Applicants should submit 1) a cover letter describing their interest in the position and their fit in the SBS, 2) a full curriculum vitae, 3) a research portfolio describing their current and future scholarship, consisting of up to a three-page narrative and up to three representative publications, 4) a teaching portfolio detailing their experience and approach to classroom teaching and undergraduate and graduate student mentorship, as well as any courses they are interested in teaching, within a narrative of up to three pages, and 5) names and contact information for three individuals knowledgeable of the candidate and their scholarship who will be contacted automatically by the Interfolio system to provide confidential letters of recommendation. Additional materials may be requested at a later date. Applications must be submitted online via Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/195127.
The search committee will begin reviewing applications on October 30, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.
Inquiries should be directed to Paul Lawson (paul.lawson@ou.edu), Search Committee Chair.
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