San Francisco State University, Department of Biology offers an exciting opportunity for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Physiology beginning August 2027. The Department of Biology at San Francisco State University offers a dynamic learning environment, access to world-class research labs to train undergraduate and Master’s students, and mentorship and instruction by faculty who are leaders in their fields. Research can address any area of physiology, including animal or human physiology. We are especially interested in qualified candidates whose teaching, mentoring, research, and service will contribute to the excellence of our department in successfully engaging students from a variety of backgrounds.
Required qualifications
- Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree and post-doctoral experience in Biology or a biology-related field.
- Evidence of scientific and mentorship accomplishments in physiological sciences
- Record of working and communicating effectively with colleagues and students
Preferred qualifications
The Biology Department is committed to broadening access to STEM careers, a goal that aligns with the mission of the college and university in promoting student success and educational excellence. Therefore, we seek candidates demonstrating the following qualifications:
- Demonstrated ability to teach undergraduate biology courses and/or Master’s courses related to the candidate’s specialty.
- Demonstrated record of research productivity as evidenced by publication in peer-reviewed discipline specific journals.
- Evidence of external funding support or the potential for external funding support.
- Evidence of commitment to student success through teaching, research and/or service.
About San Francisco State University
SFSU is a major public urban university, situated in one of the world’s great cities. Building on a century-long history of commitment to quality teaching and broad access to undergraduate and graduate education, the university offers comprehensive, rigorous, and integrated academic programs that require students to engage in open-minded inquiry and reflection. SFSU prepares its students to become productive, ethical, active citizens with a global perspective. Learn more about working at the California State University and the impact of the university’s mission.
Mission Statement
SFSU educates and equips students to thrive in a global society. We deliver academic excellence by pursuing knowledge, inspiring creativity, supporting our diverse community and advancing social justice and positive change in the world. Visit the Strategic Planning website to learn more.
About the Department
The Department of Biology at San Francisco State University is home to over 1500 undergraduates, 200 master’s students, and 27 tenure/tenure-track faculty. The department places strong emphasis on actively engaging students from diverse backgrounds in the process of scientific discovery. For more information about our department, please visit https://biology.sfsu.edu. Applicants must be committed to undergraduate and Master’s-level training through teaching, mentorship of student research, and student advising.
San Francisco State University has numerous facilities and resources that are available to all faculty and students to support their teaching and research programs. The university has multiple core facilities in support of research and training in genomics and microscopy: a Genomics Transcriptomics Analysis Core (GTAC), a Cell and Molecular Imaging Center (CMIC), and an Electron Microscopy facility. The animal care facility and seawater facility supports vertebrate and marine invertebrate research. In support of improving our educational success, we have a resource center that supports development and training in novel approaches to teaching (SEPAL), an Anatomy lab that features both cadaver and virtual dissections, and our Health & Equity Research laboratory supports community-engaged, transdisciplinary research. Many of our undergraduate and graduate students are supported by externally-funded training grants through our Student Enrichment Opportunities (SEO) office and the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) COMPASS and Bridges Science Master’s Program. Students in our department benefit from data science and coding training through the PINC (Promoting Inclusivity in Computing), GOLD (Graduate Opportunities for Learning Data Science), and SCIP (Science Coding Immersion Program) programs. The Sierra Nevada Field Station is a full-service field station located in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains that is available for education and research involving biological diversity. Additionally, San Francisco State University is partnered the University of California, San Francisco through the SF BUILD program and with the California Academy of Sciences, a premier natural history collection and research institute located in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.
Responsibilities
The position requires graduate and undergraduate teaching in biology. Curricular contributions may include Systems Physiology, Human Anatomy, and undergraduate and/or graduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise. The position also requires mentoring and advising undergraduate and Master’s students, developing an active, externally-funded research program in one’s area of specialty, and ongoing committee and service assignments.
Compensation
The Assistant Professor (Academic Year) classification salary range is:
$97,000 to $100,000 annually (12 monthly payments per academic year).
Salary offered is commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition, the California Equal Pay Act prohibits employers from paying its employees less than those of the opposite sex and/or another race or ethnicity for substantially similar work (https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/california_equal_pay_act.htm).
Professional development funds, moving expenses, start‐up funds, and a reduced teaching load may be available.
The California State University (CSU) provides generous health, retirement, and other benefits.
Application Procedure
A complete online application must be submitted to receive consideration. Application review begins October 16, 2026 and continues until the position is filled. To apply, please upload the following materials:
1. Cover letter relating your experience to the required qualifications and your preparation to teach SFSU’s student population
2. Curriculum vitae
3. A statement of teaching experience and philosophy (1 – 3 pages)
4. A statement of current research and future research plans (up to 4 pages)
5. Names and contact information of three references who will provide letters of recommendation upon request.
Please direct all questions about the position to Derrick Groom, Associate Professor, at dgroom@sfsu.edu.
SFSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered veteran status, or any other protected status.
We warmly welcome applications from individuals with disabilities, veterans, and others from historically underrepresented groups, who bring diverse experiences and perspectives that strengthen our academic community. We believe that such diversity enhance our curriculum, research, and student support. Our campus actively supports reasonable accommodations and works collaboratively with disabled faculty to remove barriers and foster success.
The California State University is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California. Because of this, CSU prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside of California with very limited exceptions. While this position may be eligible for occasional telework, all work is expected to be performed in the state of California, and this position is assigned to on-campus operations.
Pursuant to Education Code Section 89521, the CSU is required to contact the current and/or former employer(s) of an applicant in the final stages of the recruitment process and make a reasonable attempt to obtain information regarding any prior misconduct by the applicant within the last seven years.
San Francisco State University is not currently sponsoring staff, management or faculty positions for H-1B employment visas.