Department: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Salary range begins at $74,000

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm, may vary based on schedule; work is performed on-site and in person.

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Wichita State University invites applications for a benefit-eligible, tenure-track faculty position in Organic Chemistry at the rank of Assistant Professor beginning on August 2, 2027.

We seek an innovative scholar and dedicated educator who will contribute to the department's strengths in teaching, research, mentoring, and service. Wichita State values collaboration, community engagement, student success, and applied learning, and we welcome candidates whose experiences and interests will advance these goals.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers ACS-certified undergraduate degree programs in Chemistry and Biochemistry and graduate programs leading to the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Chemistry. The department is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and student mentoring.

Faculty enjoy extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration both within the department and across Wichita State University. The department maintains a strong culture of undergraduate and graduate research and supports student access to a broad range of modern research instrumentation. Shared facilities include a recently installed Bruker 500 MHz NMR spectrometer and advanced analytical instrumentation. Faculty and students also have access to Wichita State's high-performance computing resources to support computational and data-intensive research.

Faculty also benefit from opportunities for collaboration with researchers and clinicians across Wichita State's growing health sciences enterprise and the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC). Wichita State is a founding partner in the new Wichita Biomedical Campus, a transformative downtown development that will bring together Wichita State, WSU Tech, KU School of Medicine-Wichita, and the KU School of Pharmacy in a shared environment designed to strengthen interdisciplinary education, research, and innovation in the health sciences. The campus will provide new opportunities for collaborations spanning chemistry, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery, health sciences, and biomedical research.

Additional opportunities for collaboration exist through Wichita State's nationally recognized Innovation Campus, which brings together faculty, students, industry partners, entrepreneurs, and community organizations in a unique environment that promotes innovation, workforce development, and applied research.

Job Summary

Teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels using various instructional deliveries (e.g., traditional (face-to-face), hybrid, and fully online). To foster applied learning into the course design and engage with industry and local business community applied projects. To advance knowledge through scholarly activities (e.g., active involvement in committees, student mentorship, recruitment and retention initiative, outreach activities, etc.)

Essential Functions

Meet expectations for research, teaching, and service as set forth by the department and college.

Job Duties

Core Responsibilities
• Teaching: Develop and teach courses at the undergraduate and/or graduate level in Organic Chemistry. This includes designing curriculum and instructional materials, delivering high-quality instruction in various modalities (in-person, online, or hybrid), and assessing student learning. The faculty member will mentor and advise undergraduate and graduate (MS and PhD) students, including supervising research projects or theses as appropriate, and incorporate applied learning opportunities into the coursework whenever possible.
• Research/Scholarly Activity: Establish and maintain an active research program in Organic or Medicinal Chemistry. This includes publishing peer-reviewed scholarly work and disseminating results in academic venues. The faculty member is expected to seek external funding (grants or industry collaboration) to support research activities and, where applicable, engage in interdisciplinary projects or partnerships with industry. Excellence in scholarship should be demonstrated by a record of research accomplishments or clear potential for high-quality research output.
• Service: Participate in service activities within the department, college, and university, as well as in professional organizations. Service duties include committee work, curriculum development, program assessment, student recruitment, and community outreach. The faculty member will contribute to the governance and strategic initiatives of the department and may also engage in service to the broader profession (e.g. reviewing for journals, involvement in academic societies).
• Other, if applicable: Fulfill other duties as assigned, in accordance with the faculty member’s talents and departmental needs. All Wichita State faculty are expected to uphold professional and ethical standards in teaching, research, and service.

Required Education and Experience:

• Terminal degree in direct field
• Teaching experience

Faculty Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a closely related field by the start date of employment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.
• Demonstrated potential to establish an independent and productive research program.
• Demonstrated ability or potential to work effectively in collaborative environments and engage constructively with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Postdoctoral or equivalent research experience.
• A record of scholarly productivity appropriate to career stage.
• Experience mentoring student researchers.
• Experience obtaining or contributing to externally funded research projects.
• Interest in developing interdisciplinary collaborations across academic, government, healthcare, or industry sectors

Additional Information:

Priority will be given to completed applications received by November 1, 2026. Review will continue until the position is filled.

Application Materials
In addition to a curriculum vitae, applicants should submit the following materials:

1. Cover Letter - A cover letter describing your interest in the position and how your qualifications, experiences, and career goals align with the responsibilities and expectations of this faculty appointment.
2. Teaching Statement (1-2 pages) - A statement describing your teaching philosophy, formal and informal teaching experiences, and plans for effective instruction and mentoring. Applicants should also identify undergraduate and graduate courses they are prepared to teach and/or develop.
3. Research Statement (maximum 5 pages) - 
   A statement outlining your research accomplishments, current interests, and future research directions. The statement should describe plans for establishing an independent, externally funded research program and highlight opportunities for involving undergraduate and graduate students. Applicants are encouraged to discuss potential interdisciplinary collaborations and connections with industry relevant to Wichita State University.
   
   WSU is not able to provide immigration sponsorship for this position.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to remain in a stationary position – Frequent 60-90%; Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators – Frequent 60-90%

Additional Physical Requirement:

Sedentary: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves remaining stationary most of the time.