The Department of Microbiology in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology and the Department of Statistics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invite applications for a full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Microbial Data Science. The appointment will be shared between the Departments of Microbiology and Statistics. Specifics of the appointment will be determined based on the candidate’s research program. The anticipated start date is August 16, 2020. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.
We seek interdisciplinary research scientists to interrogate large-scale microbial datasets, in programs ranging from statistical methods development to systems-level experimental studies of microbial biology. Statistical research emphases include (but are not limited to) high-dimensional statistics for compositional data, multi-scale microbial network inference, quantitative ecology, bioinformatics for processing and analyzing large datasets, and quantitative analysis of single cell and single molecule dynamics. Biological research programs that integrate genomic and other multi-omics datasets to study the interplay of microbial, viral, host and environmental factors in the shaping of community structure and function or large-scale longitudinal studies of multi-species coevolution are also of interest. Successful candidates will have a strong collaborative research potential.
This position is part of a strategic hiring plan coordinated by the Microbial Systems Initiative (https://msi.research.illinois.edu) that will expand interdisciplinary microbial research and education across campus. Microbial research at the University of Illinois has contributed foundational insights in microbial physiology, ecology and evolution that are now essential for the microbiome research revolution. We aim to build on our history and the diverse research in microbial systems taking place across campus to integrate fundamental studies of microbes with application to human, animal, plant, and environmental microbiomes. See https://go.illinois.edu/MSIHires for more information about the Microbial Systems Initiative and coordinated hiring program.
The Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a world leader in research, teaching, and public engagement. Faculty in the College create knowledge, address critical societal needs through the transfer and application of knowledge and prepare students for lives of impact in the state, nation, and globally. To meet these objectives, the College embraces and values diversity and difference through hiring faculty candidates who can contribute through their research, teaching, and/or service to the diversity and excellence of the Illinois community.
The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals, with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For more information, please visit http://go.illinois.edu/EEO
Qualifications: Required: A PhD in a field relevant to microbial data science such as statistics, biostatistics, computer science, microbiology, molecular and cellular biology or biochemistry, a commitment to interdisciplinary research, and teaching experience at the college level. Preferred: A productive period of post-doctoral research training.
Environment and Responsibilities: The Department of Statistics is a vibrant, growing department with over 900 undergraduate majors, over 200 graduate students, and a rich history of research in statistical theory and methods as well as interdisciplinary applications. The SMCB is home to the Department of Microbiology (https://mcb.illinois.edu/departments/microbiology), which is leading the campus-wide Microbial Systems Initiative. The MCB major is the largest on campus, with 2000 undergraduates, and SMCB is home to a world-class multi-disciplinary graduate program. The successful candidate will benefit from the strengths of both departments and contribute to their growing partnership. Candidates will have the opportunity to forge innovative and collaborative research and education programs.
Candidates will also benefit from the resources available in the broader campus community. The Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (https://www.igb.illinois.edu/research-areas) is home to multidisciplinary research teams studying microbiomes, infectious disease genomics, and discovery of novel antimicrobials. There are additional opportunities for collaboration with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (https://beckman.illinois.edu), the Cancer Center at Illinois (https://cancer.illinois.edu), the Center for Advanced Bioenergy & Bioproducts Innovation (https://cabbi.bio), the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (https://ncsa.illinois.edu), and many others.
The successful candidate will be expected to teach effectively at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Specific teaching responsibilities will be determined based on the successful candidate’s background and expertise.
The University of Illinois has an active and successful dual-career partner placement program and a strong commitment to work-life balance and family-friendly programs for faculty and staff (https://provost.illinois.edu/faculty-affairs/work-life-balance/).
Application Instructions: To ensure full consideration, create a candidate profile below and upload your application cover letter that states your interest in being considered for the position in Microbial Data Science. Also upload a curriculum vitae, a research summary describing past accomplishments and future plans (4 pages or less) and contact information for three professional references by November 15, 2019. Referees will only be contacted for finalists. Although early applications are appreciated and interviews may be conducted before the closing date, hiring decisions will not be made until after the closing date. Questions can be addressed to the search committee at mcb-stat@illinois.edu.
The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a