Assistant Professor

About the Department

The Department of Molecular Pharmaceutics at the University of Utah College of Pharmacy is home to three internationally recognized centers: the Center for Controlled Chemical Delivery, the Center for Cell Sheet Tissue Engineering, and the Utah Center for Nanomedicine. The department maintains strong ties with the Department of Biomedical Engineering, featuring joint and adjunct faculty whose research spans both disciplines.

The College of Pharmacy consistently ranks in the top ten for receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding among pharmacy colleges in the US. As part of the University of Utah, a research-intensive institution with nearly $800 million in annual research funding, the department offers a vibrant and collaborative atmosphere with state-of-the-art healthcare and research facilities. The university is highly supportive of student and faculty entrepreneurial activities.

About the Role

We seek an excellent applicant for a tenure-track assistant professor faculty position. The successful candidate will be expected to teach in the professional PharmD program of the College of Pharmacy and the PhD graduate program of Molecular Pharmaceutics. The role involves developing and sustaining an independent, extramurally funded research program that promotes basic and translational research in therapeutics design, engineering, and the mechanistic understanding of biological barriers for successful therapy delivery.

Potential research areas include gene and drug delivery, gene therapy, viral vector engineering, microbiome engineering, therapeutic protein engineering, tumor-based infection, immunotherapy, neurotherapeutics, cell therapy, theranostics, pharmaceutical robotics, material sciences, and the interfaces of molecular pharmaceutics with data science. We prefer candidates whose research vision aligns with the University's pillars of excellence, including initiatives in neuroscience, cancer, diabetes, immunology, inflammation, infectious diseases, bioengineering, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence. Translational alliances with the Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, and the Health Sciences Bioinformatics cluster are also encouraged.

Location and Community

Nestled in the Wasatch foothills, the University of Utah offers a unique lifestyle close to world-class biking and hiking trails, rock climbing, and ski and snowboard terrain. The campus is within driving distance to several magnificent national parks.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are complete. For fullest consideration, materials should be received by December 1, 2025. Applicants must submit the following via the online portal:

1. Cover letter
2. List of names and contact information for at least three references
3. Complete curriculum vitae
4. Statement of research goals
5. Statement of teaching philosophy

Submit applications at: utah.peopleadmin.com

Inquiries may be directed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Kuo-Ching (KC) Mei, at kc.mei@pharm.utah.edu.

Our Culture

The University of Utah Health is a patient-focused center distinguished by collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. We value candidates committed to fostering a culture of compassion, collaboration, innovation, accountability, acceptance, integrity, quality, and trust.