The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 496 research/teaching positions and 88 teaching positions

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 496 research/teaching positions and 88 teaching positions. 

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions.

To see trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list.

On March 3, 2024, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 534 research/teaching positions and 80 teaching positions.

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? This is the link to the second open thread. This is the link to the first open thread.

Don't forget to click on "load more" below the comment box for the full thread. 

Are you having problems accessing the Google Sheet because of a Google Documents error? Email me at chemjobber@gmail.com and I will send you an Excel download of the latest sheet. 

Postdoctoral opening: new organic ligand towards lanthanide metal complexes, Daly Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

From the inbox: 

The laboratory of Dr. Scott R. Daly in the University of Iowa Department of Chemistry is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Scholar to join an exciting project aimed at developing new organic ligands for the synthesis and separation of lanthanide metal complexes.

The Postdoctoral Research Scholar will be tasked with leading efforts to prepare, purify, and design organic chemicals and ligand targets for the proposed applications.

Qualified applicants must have experience and expertise in multistep organic synthesis, purification of organic chemicals and intermediates, and chemical analysis and characterization techniques such as NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Experience in synthetic coordination chemistry (especially with lanthanide elements) is viewed as desirable, though not required. Applicants with an expressed interest in developing these skills will be viewed positively...

Application Information

Candidates must submit a cover letter, CV (including publication history), research statement, and contact information for up to three professional references. Evaluation of candidates will begin on April 1, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. The earliest start date is June 1, 2025.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List: 119 research/teaching positions and 17 teaching positions

The Chemical Engineering Faculty Jobs List (by Heather LeClerc and Daniyal Kiani) has 119 research/teaching positions and 17 teaching positions. 

Here is a link to the open thread for the year. 

Will the ACS address the Trump Administration's attack on academic funding?

I made a series of comments on Bluesky (more or less off the cuff), but I guess I'll make them here as well. I was thoroughly unimpressed with ACS' recent statement "in support of science": 

...Each year, the American Chemical Society develops a U.S. public policy agenda that outlines how the organization will work with Congress and the administration throughout the course of the year. The agenda is shared at the start of the year when both bodies are traditionally preparing for the year ahead. But the start of this year has been different with federal actions coming immediately. The resulting changes in the federal landscape have been swift, leaving many unsure about what lies ahead. 

We are seeing changes occurring that have potential impacts on the areas of research eligible for federal funding, the types of scientific data being reported, and the level of indirect costs associated with federal biomedical research grants. These are just some of the potential impacts facing the scientific enterprise, with new actions emerging each day...

We're in this moment that we don't really understand, with a real "fog of war" aspect, because the government simply is not actually talking about what they are doing. The Trump White House* appears to be attacking American scientific academia by cutting off funding from NSF and NIH, and slowing the process of grants and cutting indirect costs to the point that universities are beginning to slow PhD admissions (although things seem to be unfreezing now.) 

I've observed ACS leadership long enough to know that political courage or speed are simply not in the cards, and I recognize that they are probably trying to avoid attracting attention, and that the Trump Administration seems very likely to attack non-profits through the tax system for punishment. Nevertheless, simple acknowledgement of what is happening and the level of seeming existential alarm that is taking place in American academia does not seem forthcoming. I desperately hope to be proven wrong, but I'm not holding my breath. 

As I said, surely ACS leadership is working on a plan to petition the government for a redress of American academic chemistry grievances. I hope to see that plan, and very soon. 

*(seeing as how a lot of the ructions started well before, say, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was confirmed.) 

Have a great weekend

Well, this was a long week, but it's almost done. I hope that you had a great week. Have a great weekend. See you on Monday. 

Job posting: research chemist, ExxonMobil, Baytown, TX

Via Indeed: 

ExxonMobil Technology & Engineering Company has an opening for a chemist in the Organometallic Catalysis department located at our research facilities in the Houston, Texas area. This is our industry leading polymerization catalysis group. The successful candidate will join an enthusiastic group of scientists responsible for the discovery, development, and commercialization of new catalyst technology applied to the chemical industry.

What will you do

• Discover, develop, and commercialize catalyst technology applied to the chemical industry
• Develop creative independent research efforts in catalysis broadly defined

Skills and Qualifications

• PhD in Chemistry
• Deep expertise in organometallic, organic, or inorganic chemistry
• Demonstrated track record in creative research

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

C&EN: "Impacts of NSF firings come into focus as scientists weigh next steps"

Via C&EN's Krystal Vasquez: 

US scientists are figuring out their next steps and expressing mounting concerns in the aftermath of the National Science Foundation’s move on Feb. 18 to fire about 10% of its permanent workforce...

...The NSF was already understaffed, says one former program officer affected by the firings, who would speak to C&EN only under the condition of anonymity because they plan to appeal their termination from the agency.

Now those whom the firings spared are strategizing to determine how to distribute all the work that their former colleagues would have shared, says a current program coordinator, who insisted on anonymity out of fear of retaliation.

One fired NSF employee on an expert appointment and two fired program directors, all of whom would speak to C&EN only under the condition of anonymity to avoid backlash or retaliation, say the termination notice came while many were in the middle of setting up review panels, finding reviewers, or working on solicitations—all key aspects of reviewing and awarding grants.

“It’s taking an enormous amount of effort to reassign everything that these brilliant people did,” the current program coordinator says over Signal, a secure messaging service. “We are working through deep, deep grief.”

Read the whole thing. This is quite horrible. Sorry I don't have more words. Best wishes to all those affected. 

Job posting: visiting assistant professor of chemistry, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

From the inbox: 

The Department of Chemistry at St. Olaf College invites applications for a full-time, one- or two-year position at the level of Visiting Instructor or Assistant Professor, to begin August 2025. 

Teaching responsibilities will include courses in biochemistry and general chemistry. 

Salary: $59,000 - $64,000

Qualifications: Applicants should have a Ph.D. in chemistry or a relevant field or expect completion of such prior to employment.

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 492 research/teaching positions and 85 teaching positions

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 492 research/teaching positions and 85 teaching positions. 

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions.

To see trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list.

On February 20, 2024, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 526 research/teaching positions and 80 teaching positions.

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? This is the link to the second open thread. This is the link to the first open thread.

Don't forget to click on "load more" below the comment box for the full thread. 

Are you having problems accessing the Google Sheet because of a Google Documents error? Email me at chemjobber@gmail.com and I will send you an Excel download of the latest sheet. 

Job posting: visiting assistant professor of chemistry, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY

From the inbox: 

The Department of Chemistry at Colgate University invites applications for one or more one-year Visiting Assistant Professor positions beginning in the fall semester of 2025. 

The successful candidate will teach an annual five-course load with contributions to the introductory-level chemistry curriculum and the possibility of upper-level courses in the candidate’s area of expertise. Visitors will have the opportunity, if desired, to conduct research and aid in the supervision of undergraduate research students. They will also gain professional development through mentoring in teaching and conducting research at an undergraduate institution. 

A faculty member notes "We're looking for at least one, probably two, visiting professors in Chemistry or Biochemistry and we're pretty flexible with respect to subfield expertise." 

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested. 

Graduate schools, including the University of Pittsburgh, are freezing PhD admissions

Via WESA: 

Amid uncertainty about frozen research aid from the National Institutes of Health, the University of Pittsburgh has put its Ph.D. admissions on ice. The school confirmed Friday that there would be no new Ph.D. offers of admission while Pitt works to understand how reduced federal aid could impact the institution.

The move comes as research universities across the country battle against the National Institutes of Health over a policy to reduce the funding cap for ancillary research expenses like building construction and maintenance as well as support staff.

The policy would reduce the cap for those indirect research costs to 15%. Pitt’s current rate is 59%. A federal judge extended a temporary pause on implementation of that policy Friday. But Pitt’s decision to halt admissions was made earlier in the week.

On Bluesky, Professor Geoff Hutchison noted that the Piit Department of Chemistry has already issued admissions and were in the midst of a visit weekend. 

[Here's a running list of schools that have confirmed that they're pausing PhD admissions, with various levels of confirmations.]

It's really hard to make predictions because we simply do not know what is going to happen from day to day with this Administration. If we have a pause in entering classes of graduate students, the effects on science will be both unpredictable (what science will not have been done?) and long-lasting (imagine if it is only this year that's affected - what would that do to the faculty job market 7 years from now?) 

It's more than a bit concerning that Derek Lowe's latest post is titled "The Continuing Crisis, Part V." Here's hoping we won't be on part XXIV by May. Best wishes to academic readers, and to all of us.

Have a good weekend

Well, this was a fun week. Didn't expect a bit of snow (that didn't impact my travel) but I'm sure might have hit a reader or two. Hope that you had a great week (always fun to meet a reader in real life, even at a trade show!) and that you have a wonderful weekend. See you on Monday. 

University of Iowa pauses graduate TA hiring

Via the Cedar Rapids Gazette: 

...Separate from that paused funding freeze, the NIH announced a change Friday in how and to what degree it will cover indirect costs associated with the research projects it funds — capping indirect coverage at 15 percent for new and existing grants, down from an average of 27 percent.

Indirect research funding, according to [UI Interim Vice President for Research Lois] Geist, supports state-of-the-art labs; high-speed data processing; patient safety protocols; national security protection; hazardous waste disposal; support personnel; and maintenance staff for cleaning and supplies.

“Simply put, the federal government provides reimbursement for real costs that are incurred in the process of safely and securely conducting high-impact research,” according to Geist. “This research has tangible benefits for the lives of Iowans.”

In response to the indirect cost cap, UI’s Geist on Monday imposed three directives:

• A pause on any new NIH grant applications;
• A freeze on graduate research assistant hiring, “unless they are already budgeted as a direct cost on a funded project”;
• And a slowing of general spending.

“Researchers and departments should exert extra caution and defer starting new activities until we have more clarity,” Geist wrote.

This obviously bears watching (and not that there are a lot of graduate TAs hired in February) but the war over the NIH is not ending any time soon... 

Job posting: Senior Scientist – Oligonucleotide Synthesis Chemist, Abbott Laboratories, San Diego, CA

Via Indeed: 

The Oligonucleotide Synthesis Chemist will work on site out of our San Diego, California office Infectious Disease division. The person hired will help lead a team of scientists responsible for oligonucleotide synthesis to help drive product development efforts, ultimately enabling commercialization of diagnostic tests as well as driving future improvements and applications. 

What You’ll Work On

• Support R&D and product development efforts by providing expertise in nucleic acid chemistry and oligonucleotide synthesis, analysis and purification 
• Identify, implement and optimize novel/new synthesis processes 
• Develop and implement analytical and biophysical methodologies to help analyze, characterize and evaluate raw materials and finished products 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in biological or physical sciences, or mathematics; with 6 + years of progressively responsible positions in a research development environment. Or M.S. with minimum of 4 years' experience or Ph.D. in chemistry, analytical chemistry, or a closely related field.
• Minimum six years of experience working in the IVD field in an industrial setting, or in a clinical, central or core laboratory performing oligonucleotide synthesis and post-synthesis modifications as well as analytical characterization of oligos.   

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested.

Interesting factlet in the letters to the editor

In this week's C&EN, this interesting letter to the editor: 

Joel Tickner’s opinion piece in January hit the nail on the head about the December 2024 Office of Science and Technology Policy Federal Sustainable Chemistry Strategic Plan. The report fails to address the barriers posed by incumbency and doesn’t inspire desperately needed “moon shot” thinking around how we should manufacture chemicals in the future. 

Part of the problem is that most of the time when sustainable chemistry is on the table for discussion, the process is too often an afterthought. When I use a tabletop air fryer instead of a wall oven, I consume far less energy. Similarly, when soft-serve ice cream is made on demand, there’s no need to store large quantities in freezers hoping to sell them. These are process innovations enabled by equipment matched to the use case­—that is, soft-serve ice cream versus hard-scooped ice cream, and a few pieces of chicken versus a 20 lb (9 kg) turkey, which would not fit in an air fryer. When the use case is correct, the cost of ownership is lower than with older technology, and the investment pays off over time. For chemical factories, we will always have many dump-and-run reactions in large, fully depreciated tanks, but we can be kinder to the planet and make many chemicals and drugs more economically with flow chemistry that reduces solvent use, cuts energy consumption and waste, improves yield, and significantly boosts safety. 

 To make real progress, we need to accelerate the adoption of new technologies that have already been proved at scale. Just one of the rapidly growing number of factories around the world using advanced continuous-flow reactors has reported publicly that it is now operating a unit taking up a mere 1 m3 of space with 10,000 metric tons of throughput per year on just this single line. Today, China is the only country to have embraced flow chemistry on a big scale, while in the US and Europe, we generate studies and reports that are not having much impact. 

Gary Calabrese 

Wilmington, North Carolina 

It seems to me that China, being relatively late to the chemical manufacturing world, would have probably gotten in on the ground floor with flow reactors back in the 1990s.

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List: 486 research/teaching positions and 85 teaching positions

The 2025 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List (curated by Andrew Spaeth and myself) has 486 research/teaching positions and 85 teaching positions. 

Want to help out? Here's a Google Form to enter positions.

To see trending, go to Andrew Spaeth's visualization of previous years' list.

On February 13, 2024, the 2024 Chemistry Faculty Jobs List had 524 research/teaching positions and 75 teaching positions.

Want to talk anonymously? Have an update on the status of a job search? This is the link to the second open thread. This is the link to the first open thread.

Don't forget to click on "load more" below the comment box for the full thread. 

Are you having problems accessing the Google Sheet because of a Google Documents error? Email me at chemjobber@gmail.com and I will send you an Excel download of the latest sheet. 

Help the Polymerist find a position

Via The Guardian: 

The Trump administration’s effort to slash the size of the federal workforce reached the Food and Drug Administration this weekend, as recently hired employees who review the safety of food ingredients, medical devices and other products were fired.

Probationary employees across the FDA received notices on Saturday evening that their jobs were being eliminated, according to three FDA staffers who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

The total number of positions eliminated was not clear on Sunday, but the firings appeared to focus on employees in the agency’s centers for food, medical devices and tobacco products – which includes oversight of electronic cigarettes. It was not clear whether FDA employees who review drugs were exempted...

This bad news has impacted friend of the blog Tony Maiorana. If you can help him, please do. 

Cool profile on a medicinal chemistry professor

Via the New York Times:  

...Pebbles was not the patient Dr. Cernak had in mind when he began his career. Until 2018, he had worked at the pharmaceutical giant Merck, developing drugs for people with cancer, H.I.V., diabetes and other conditions. Along the way, he had helped develop cutting-edge approaches, involving robots and artificial intelligence, to speed up the invention of new human drugs.

A few years ago, however, Dr. Cernak decided that he wanted to use those tools to make medicines for ailing plants and animals, forging a new field he called “conservation chemistry.”

Gila monsters weren’t the only species that had inspired human drugs. There were antibiotics derived from fungi, anticancer drugs from plants and painkillers from animal venom. Dr. Cernak thought it was time for pharmaceutical chemists to give back. “To me it’s this full circle thing,” he said. “We’re attempting to solve the ultimate health inequity.”

Pretty interesting article. Here's hoping for the best of success for Professor Cernak.

Have a good weekend

Well, this was another week. I hope that you had a good week, and that you have a great weekend, with or without snow. See you on Monday. 

Job posting: 1-year visiting assistant professor, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI

Via Bluesky: 

If you're a recent (or soon-to-be) analytical chem PhD, or if you know of one...

We're hiring a 1-year VAP as sabbatical replacement. 

Link here. Best wishes to those interested. 

Job posting: Scientist I: Bioconjugation Chemist/Biochemist, Akoya Biosciences, Marlborough, MA

Via Indeed:  

We are seeking a highly motivated scientist to join the Akoya R&D Chemistry Team. You will work in a dynamic, team-oriented environment and take part in the development of multiplex fluorescent immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays and reagents for use in biological research. You will be a key contributor in a multi-disciplinary team executing scientific research and product development. You should be able to work independently and take initiative in planning, conducting, and reporting on the studies for which you are responsible. 

You will have the opportunity to interact with small teams of biologists, chemists, biochemists, image scientists, and engineers in a rapidly moving organization. 

Duties & Responsibilities:   

• Perform high throughput immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) staining and imaging of FFPE tissue sections.  
• Develop workflow procedures for Akoya related platforms.  
• Design analytical experiments to measure and quantify biological material and fluid transfer during workflow steps.  
• Perform fluorescence microscopy analysis and optimize settings for antibody-stained tissue samples. 

Skills & Requirements: 

• Requires a BS degree with 4+ years’ experience, MS degree with 2+ years’ experience, or Ph.D. in conjugation chemistry, analytical/organic chemistry, and peptide/protein chemistry. 
• Minimum of 2 years of practical experience in protein/nucleotide analytical assays, including analytical and preparatory liquid chromatography, gel electrophoresis, and spectroscopy.  

Full ad here. Best wishes to those interested.