The Chemistry Department (sciences.ucf.edu/chemistry) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a 9-month, tenure track position at the assistant professor level in chemistry education research (CER), anticipated to begin August 2019. The successful candidate will establish a vigorous, externally funded, collaborative research program in CER; excel at undergraduate and graduate teaching; and provide service to UCF, the profession, and the broader community. Applicants investigating novel aspects of CER such as how knowledge gains are affected by interest and attitude, environmental issues, engagement, student inquiry, technological skills, and informal learning environments are particularly encouraged to apply.

UCF is a rapidly growing, research-intensive metropolitan university in Orlando, Florida, with a diverse student body of over 68,000 students, and an ideal environment for high-impact, quantitative research in CER. The Chemistry Department has over 40 faculty members with nationally recognized strength in materials chemistry, biochemistry, environmental chemistry, forensic chemistry, and a growing new program in CER. We offer a M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemistry, M.S. in Forensic Science, and ACS-approved B.S. degrees in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Biochemistry. Our faculty have active collaborations across the Colleges of Science, Optics and Photonics, Engineering and Computer Science, Medicine, and Community Innovation and Education, as well as the Florida Solar Energy Center, the NanoScience Technology Center, and the National Center for Forensic Science. At UCF we value interdisciplinary and collaborative excellence and are committed to enhancing international opportunities, services, and experiences for students, scholars, partners, and the UCF community. To promote these values, UCF established the Faculty Cluster Initiative in 2015. Fifty faculty members have been hired thus far to work in interdisciplinary teams across colleges (called “clusters”) addressing today’s most complex challenges. Several Chemistry faculty have joint appointments in clusters, including the Rational Design of Catalysts for Energy Applications and Propulsion Cluster and the Sustainable Coastal Systems Cluster.

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents to be submitted electronically through the Human Resources website, www.jobswithucf.com.  In addition to the online application, interested candidates should upload: 1) a cover letter; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) a statement of research plans; 4) teaching philosophy; and 5) reprints of three key publications. The research statement must explain how the proposed work is novel within CER and how it will be competitive for extramural funding. Additionally, three letters of reference must be submitted (by applicant or reference) to chemstaff@ucf.edu.

Review of complete applications will begin January 30, 2019 and continue until the position is filled.  Questions regarding the position may be directed to Dr. Stephen Kuebler, chair of the search committee, at kuebler@ucf.edu.