Assistant Professor (Microbial Drivers of Chronic Disease), Department of Microbiology, Fall 2026

The Department of Microbiology at the University of Tennessee is seeking candidates for a tenure-track faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor level studying microbial drivers of inflammation and chronic disease.  Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to microbial drivers of cancer, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders. Research programs can be focused on either the microbial or host-response in the context of inflammatory disease.

Our faculty (http://micro.utk.edu/) have broad interests in microbial pathogenesis and microbial ecology. Candidates with experimental approaches that complement or strengthen any of these areas will be given full consideration. The Department of Microbiology is an active participant and leader in the Community of Scholars on Immunology and Inflammation (CoSI2), Community of Scholars on Microbial Consortia (CoSMiC), and Biomembranes Community of Scholars at UTK, which brings together engineering, chemistry, veterinary, and material sciences, UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL), and the University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) in Knoxville. Faculty have access to multiple core facilities on campus including animal facility, genomics core, imaging core, mass-spectrometry core, flow cytometers and cell sorters (https://research.utk.edu/oried/core-facilities/). UTK is the flagship university of the University of Tennessee System and is designated as a Carnegie ‘Very High Research Activity’ University. A competitive 9-month salary and generous start-up package, as well as laboratory space in a state-of-the-art building are available.

The Department of Microbiology values the quality of life of all its members and is committed to promoting an atmosphere where all members of the university community feel welcome and can thrive.  Located in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, The University of Tennessee Knoxville was founded in 1794 and is one of the oldest public universities in the nation. There are over 40,000 students enrolled at the Knoxville campus, who train and study in a city where excellence in academia meets the natural beauty of the southern Appalachian region and in the company of the artists, makers, and entrepreneurs that call Knoxville their home.

The University is beginning a next-level initiative aimed both at substantially elevating the University's national reputation for impactful research, scholarship, and creative activity and at assembling a roster of faculty committed to delivering one of the nation's best educational experiences for undergraduate and graduate students.

The minimum requirement is a PhD in a related field and at least two years of postdoctoral experience, including academic, research, government, and industry settings. The successful candidate is expected to establish an innovative, externally funded research program and to contribute to the departmental teaching mission at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

The successful candidate is anticipated to start this position August 1, 2026. Interested applicants should submit a (i) a cover letter; (ii) CV; (iii) contact information for at least three references; (iv) research statement describing accomplishments and future plans (not to exceed 3 pages total, excluding references); (v) teaching philosophy (not to exceed 1 page); and (vi) two papers that best represents the applicant’s contribution to science/society along with a brief statement (1 paragraph/paper) of why these publications were chosen. Application materials must be submitted to Interfolio at: https://apply.interfolio.com/173153

Review of applications will begin on November 21, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. For questions, contact MicrobeInflammationSearch@utk.edu

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.

Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.