Assistant Professor - Chemistry

Appointment:
The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at the University of Puget Sound invites applications for a tenure-line faculty position at the Assistant Professor level to begin Fall Term 2027.

Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will contribute to the foundational chemistry curriculum as well as to advanced courses in Inorganic or Physical chemistry and maintain an active research program involving undergraduates. The candidate is expected to teach both lecture and laboratory-based classes.

The University of Puget Sound is an undergraduate liberal arts college with class sizes between 10-40 students and a standard teaching load of 3 units each semester.  In addition to supervision of undergraduate research, other duties include student advising, and participation in departmental and university governance.
 

Qualifications:
Candidates must have a PhD in chemistry (or closely related field) and a strong commitment to undergraduate teaching, liberal arts education, and research with undergraduates.

Application Deadline: 
Review of applications begins September 14, 2026. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit application materials no later than this date to ensure full consideration. 

Compensation and Benefits:
Rank: Assistant Professor

Salary is commensurate with education and experience. 

Faculty salaries at the University of Puget Sound are based on a common salary scale based on experience. Assistant Professor salaries in 2026-2027 begin at $75,820 for an assistant professor with a terminal degree in their field in their first year of full-time post-doctorate teaching through $86,652 annualized based on experience.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package. For more information, visit: Summary of 2026 Benefits for Faculty Members.pdf - Google Drive

Puget Sound has a well-established Shared Faculty Appointments Policy, https://www.pugetsound.edu/policies/faculty-policies/shared-faculty-appointments

About Puget Sound: 
The University of Puget Sound is located in Tacoma, Washington, a vibrant, diverse mid-sized urban port city. Within, and near, Tacoma there is ready access to urban, rural, and natural areas as well as opportunities to participate in a wide variety of cultural activities.

About the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department:
The chemistry and biochemistry department offers foundational courses in the five core chemical sub-disciplines: organic, physical, analytical, inorganic, and biochemistry. Additional elective courses explore a variety of topics, including computational chemistry, materials chemistry, food chemistry, environmental chemistry, and organic synthesis.
More information about may be found on the department's website: https://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/chemistry-biochemistry
 

University Diversity Statement:

• We acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; that education is enhanced by the investigation of and the reflection upon multiple perspectives.
• We aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.
• We act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/diversity-at-puget-sound/

Required Documents:
Applicants submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of Interest
• Teaching statement. This statement should also include a description of a potential elective class (or two) that you would be interested in adding to our curriculum 
• Research statement
• Diversity Statement (see prompt below)
• Unofficial transcripts (an official transcript will be required by the successful candidate)
• Contact Information for 3 References. You will be prompted to enter the contact information for three (3) reference providers. The system will automatically email these reference providers to request a letter.

Note: In the online application system, please submit curriculum vitae when prompted to submit resume. Additional documents can be attached within the application.

Applicant's Diversity Statement:
As a department and university, we are strongly committed to creating an inclusive and effective teaching, learning, and working environment for all. In their diversity statement, applicants should reflect on how they will advance the values articulated in the University Diversity Statement in all aspects of their future work as faculty and members of the university community.

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a background inquiry.

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

Given the current Executive Order and the $100,000 petition fee for new H-1b visas, at the moment sponsoring a new H-1b is cost-prohibitive to us. Therefore, unless the executive order is rescinded or blocked by the courts, we are unable to commit to new H visa sponsorship at this time. Applicants with questions about visa sponsorship are encouraged to reach out to Human Resources.