The Department of Biology at Penn State, University Park campus, invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor.

Areas of particular interest include cellular, molecular, systems, computational, or other emerging areas of neuroscience. The successful applicant is expected to develop an independent, interdisciplinary, and externally funded research program that leads to novel insights into the function of the nervous system at the molecular, cellular, and/or circuit levels. We encourage excellent candidates in all areas of neurobiology to apply.

The anticipated starting date for this appointment is Summer or Fall of 2026. Duties include research, teaching, supervision of student research at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and service to the university and the greater professional community. Candidates are expected to demonstrate interest in and capacity for developing a strong, independent research program, and teaching and mentorship excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Applications submitted electronically by November 1, 2025, will receive full consideration, and should include the following:

• A brief cover letter that highlights the applicant’s most relevant qualifications for a faculty position at Penn State.
• Curriculum vitae including a list of publications.
• Two statements addressing:
• Research accomplishments, plans, and vision (up to 3 pages, including figures and references). This should include graduate/postdoctoral/faculty scientific mentoring accomplishments, goals or vision for your research program at Penn State, and qualifications that make you well-suited to achieve these goals
• Teaching experience, philosophy, and/or interests (up to 3 pages). This should include any potential research and teaching synergies.

Application materials may comprise no more than 4 documents, each with a size limit of 5MB. Applicants may need to combine materials to meet the 5-document limit and should ensure all documents are uploaded and correct prior to final submission.

All competitive applicants will possess a PhD in Neurobiology, Biology, Physiology, or a related field before beginning employment; will demonstrate potential for developing an externally funded and collaborative research program; and will demonstrate the potential to contribute to the department’s teaching and service missions. Additionally, candidates seeking the rank of Associate Professor should have a strong track record of scholarly achievement, external funding, and demonstrated success in teaching and service.

The Biology Department is ranked in the top 10% of all programs globally. We are a community of curiosity-driven researchers and educators, with leadership in the fields of Plant Biology, Ecology, Neuroscience, Evolutionary Genetics, Symbiosis/Microbiomes, and Infectious Disease Dynamics. The Biology Department sits at the nexus of the life sciences at Penn State, where our highly collegial and interdisciplinary culture removes barriers to collaboration, improves the value of our discoveries, and enriches our daily experiences. The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences at Penn State serves as a partner in our mission, offering outstanding core facilities and access to interdisciplinary graduate programs.

Questions about the position and the Department of Biology at Penn State may be directed at the Chair of the Faculty Search Committee, Professor Crowley, by e-mail at nzc27@psu.edu.

Application Link: psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Academic/job/Penn-State-University-Park/Neurobiology-Tenure-Track-Faculty-Position