Position in Computational Neurobiology

Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology

School of Molecular and Cellular Biology

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology (MIP) in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology (SMCB) (https://mcb.illinois.edu/departments/molecular-integrative-physiology) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Computational Neurobiology. The anticipated start date is August 16, 2024. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

The Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) 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 by hiring faculty candidates who can contribute through their research, teaching, and/or service to the diversity and excellence of the Illinois community.

Research integrating electrophysiological, imaging, and/or biophysical modalities at multiple computational levels of examination, from single neurons to complex neural networks, is of particular interest for this search. The successful candidate will have a productive record of research bridging experimental neuroscience approaches and computational modeling and analysis. Experimental research emphases include (but are not limited to) in vivo and/or in vitro electrophysiology, calcium/voltage imaging, and neurochemical measurements using fluorescent biosensors. The candidate’s record should demonstrate the potential to establish an externally funded, independent program of research in experimental neurophysiology with a strong computational component. Candidates with strong collaborative research potential in one or more core neurobiology research areas of the Department, which include epilepsy, neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, auditory function, feeding circuits, glial-neuronal interactions, and neuroendocrinology will be of particular interest. Other research strengths of the MIP department include cancer and metabolism, and application of computational neuroscience principles to these domains is welcomed by the department.

This position is part of a university-wide Strategic Hiring Initiative in the area of Neuroinformatics (https://publish.illinois.edu/neuro-cluster). This major institutional investment, which spans across the Grainger College of Engineering and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, seeks to expand and complement existing strengths on campus and serve as a catalyst to establish UIUC as a center of excellence in understanding of nervous system function. See https://publish.illinois.edu/neuro-cluster for more information about the Neuroinformatics Initiative and coordinated hiring program.

Qualifications: Required: Candidates must hold a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent, in neuroscience, physiology, or related life science field.

The successful candidate will be expected to teach effectively at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Specific teaching responsibilities in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology will be determined based on the successful candidate’s background and expertise. The position offers excellent laboratory facilities, relocation and start-up funds, and opportunities to work with outstanding graduate students.

Environment and Responsibilities: The MCB major is the largest on campus, with 2000 undergraduates, and the SMCB is home to a world-class multi-disciplinary graduate program, within which MIP has its own rigorous Ph.D. program. The SMCB is also the home of a new Neuroscience undergraduate major that has already enrolled 80 students in its first two years. UIUC is home to a vibrant and collaborative neuroscience community spanning numerous Colleges, Institutes, and Departments that hosts the interdisciplinary Neuroscience Ph.D. Program (https://neuroscience.illinois.edu), which boasts over 100 affiliated faculty from across campus. The successful candidate will benefit from the strengths of MIP, SMCB, and the Neuroscience Program, and contribute to their growing partnership. Candidates will have the opportunity to forge innovative and collaborative research and education programs.

In addition to the participating Colleges, Schools, and Departments that host numerous top-ranking undergraduate and graduate programs, support for this interdisciplinary hiring initiative spans all corners of the campus including multiple interdisciplinary research institutes: the Coordinated Science Laboratory (https://csl.illinois.edu), the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (https://ncsa.illinois.edu), the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology (https://beckman.illinois.edu), the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (https://igb.illinois.edu), and the Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (https://healthinstitute.illinois.edu). These campus entities provide vast computational and logistical resources and collaborative opportunities.

Urbana-Champaign offers the residential advantages of a medium-sized university city, excellent cultural opportunities, and a high quality of life paired with a low cost of living. To find out more about the resources available at the university and Urbana-Champaign community please visit these sites:

Dual Career Program 

Benefits 

Living in Champaign-Urbana

Application Instructions: To ensure full consideration, create a candidate profile through https://jobs.illinois.edu and upload your application cover letter that states your interest in being considered for the position in Computational Neurobiology. 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 1, 2023. Applicants are also highly encouraged to include a statement detailing how their teaching, service and/or scholarship have contributed to the success of students from racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds that are underrepresented in their academic field. Applicants who have not yet had the opportunity for such experience should note how their work will promote the University of Illinois' and the College of LAS' commitment to Inclusive Excellence and the success of all students. We ask that all documents be uploaded in a single .pdf file as an upload in the “Resume/CV” section.

References 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 School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, 217-244-8116 or email: hr@mcb.illinois.edu.

The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.