The Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology Research (IBBR) and the University of Maryland, College Park Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry invite applications for an open-rank, tenure-line faculty position in structural biology, with an emphasis in the area of biomolecular cryo-electron microscopy, starting August 2020. The faculty member will base their research program on the IBBR campus in Rockville, Maryland, and hold joint appointments with IBBR and the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry at College Park. The criteria for selection will be proven excellence and potential for impact through original research, scholarship, and teaching. Successful candidates will be expected to develop a vigorous externally funded research program and have a demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentorship at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

IBBR is a joint research institute of the University of Maryland and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), centrally located in Maryland’s biotechnology corridor. The Institute’s mission is to conduct groundbreaking research in the field of biotechnology that generates innovative solutions to major scientific and engineering challenges. The Institute has a long history of excellence in biomolecular structure-function relationships. Current research programs center on the biomolecular engineering of vaccines, biotherapeutics, and diagnostics; biomolecular measurement science; and disease pathways and biomolecular targets. IBBR is equipped with a 200 kV Talos Arctica cryo-electron microscope, and a 200 kV Glacios instrument with a Gatan K3 detector, and a Volta phase plate will be operational early in 2020. The University of Maryland College Park has a Zeiss EM 10 CA TEM equipped with a tilt stage and a JEOL 100CX II TEM. IBBR has a new Vitrobot, and a Gatan Cp3 cryo-plunger will be installed in early 2020. IBBR maintains a high-performance computing cluster with a dedicated 750 TB parallel file system, and two dedicated 8-GPU nodes. These cryo-EM facilities complement other state-of-the-art instrumentation and expertise at IBBR, including NMR, x-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, and small-angle X-ray scattering.

The Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry is a key unit in the College of Computer, Mathematical & Natural Sciences at UMCP. The Department’s mission is to conduct transformative research and educate and train the next generation of leaders in the molecular sciences. Research at the chemistry-biology interface is a strategic department priority that builds upon existing strengths in biophysical chemistry, bioanalytical chemistry, bio-organic chemistry, and computational modeling. Department faculty train students from five complementary PhD programs at UMCP: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Biophysics, and Chemical Physics. Many of our faculty hold joint appointments with other research and academic units, including IBBR, IPST, UMIACS, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atmospheric & Oceanic Science, and Physics, nurturing an environment that is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and highly innovative.

IBBR and the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry are committed to contributing to a climate of inclusivity at the University and within the fields of science; candidates who have experience working with a diverse range of faculty, staff, and students are encouraged to identify their experiences in these areas.

Qualifications: Scholars who will build highly acclaimed research programs and achieve excellence in education. Candidates must have a PhD in chemistry, biochemistry or closely related discipline, demonstrated research accomplishments, and experience in teaching/mentoring in the chemical sciences, broadly defined.

Deadline: Review of applications will begin November 15, 2019.  We will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.

Direct inquiries and/or nominations to the chair of the search committee, at: cryoemsearch@ibbr.umd.edu

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.