Description
The Reed College Chemistry Department, located in Portland, Oregon, USA, invites applications for a tenure-track position in physical chemistry beginning in August 2026. Reed is a teaching-focused, primarily undergraduate research college committed to providing a high-quality liberal arts education. The successful candidate will develop and maintain a substantive research program in experimental physical chemistry that will effectively engage undergraduate students from all backgrounds. The successful candidate will teach three units in one semester and two units in the other semester, including physical and general chemistry lecture and laboratory courses, and potentially additional elective courses based on their interests. They will also advise year-long senior thesis research projects.
Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Chemistry or a related field by the time of appointment. Professional experiences in addition to the Ph.D. that further develop the candidate’s ability to conduct independent research are preferred, but not required.
Excellent resources for teaching and research are available. The Reed Library, Instructional Technology Services, and the Office of Academic Support provide considerable support for courses. Support for continuously refining one’s teaching is available through faculty communities, the Reed Center for Teaching and Learning, and institutional partnerships such as the Northwest Five Consortium. Instrumentation available for use in research and teaching includes a new 400 MHz multinuclear NMR spectrometer (installed in 2024), a nitrogen-pumped dye laser, pulsed Nd:YAG tag laser, a new GC-MS and GC-FID, triple quadrupole LC/MS, and more (https://www.reed.edu/chemistry/instrumentation.html), supported by a full-time instrumentation chemist. Reed College values faculty research, providing generous start-up funds, dedicated lab space, annual internal funding for professional travel, and a generous leave and sabbatical program. The Dean of Faculty offers small annual funds to support faculty research, and the Advancement office assists with external funding applications. Additional funding support is available for student research stipends and conference travel (https://www.reed.edu/academics/student-funding-and-fellowships/reed-sponsored-opportunities/).
To apply: Submit the following application materials to Interfolio (https://apply.interfolio.com/168956):
Cover letter describing your interest in the position and how your teaching and scholarship align with Reed’s mission as a liberal arts college.
Curriculum Vitae
Teaching Statement (suggested: 1-2 pages) that describes your priorities for students and how you have approached and/or will approach your role as an inclusive instructor and mentor.
Research Statement (suggested: 3-4 pages with references) that describes your short-term and long-term research goals, and how projects will involve undergraduate students.
Names and contact information for three references who can provide a recommendation upon request. Letters of recommendation will be requested after the initial review of applications.
Throughout your application materials, we encourage you to convey how your interests, work, and/or experience align with the mission of Reed College, which values supporting the development of all students' intellectual independence and inquiry skills in classes and research. Reed College is a community that believes that cultural diversity and inclusive educational practices are essential to the excellence of our academic program, and we are committed to diversity and inclusion as articulated in Reed’s diversity statement (http://www.reed.edu/diversity/). An equal opportunity employer, Reed values diversity and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.
For full consideration, applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on September 2, 2025. If you have any further questions about this position, please do not hesitate to contact the search committee chair, Dr. Shivani Ahuja (ahujas@reed.edu), at any time.
