Assistant Professor Biochemistry

Central Washington University is recruiting an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry to join our Chemistry team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-basedposition, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a competitive salary plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find robust academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the academic year. In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.

Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here.

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave and Total Rewards Calculator.

The Role:

This position in the Department of Chemistry is expected to teach introductory and advanced chemistry and biochemistry courses for science majors as well as non-science majors. Faculty are expected to mentor students; contribute to the department/program; engage in scholarship appropriate to their field; and provide service to the University, the community and their profession. Faculty will integrate CWU's vision, mission, and values and create a learning environment that fosters student success and institutional excellence.

Minimum Qualifications

Please address in your cover letter:

• Must have earned a PhD in biochemistry or chemistry or related field by the position start date
• Must show evidence of ability to be an excellent teacher at all levels.
• Willingness to teach a wide range of courses at all levels and modalities.
• Must show evidence of ability to conduct independent research involving undergraduate and MS graduate students.
• Teaching, research, service or other experience that has prepared the candidate to contribute to CWU's commitment to the engagement of students from a variety of backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications

Please address in your cover letter:

• University-level teaching experience
• Postdoctoral research or employment in a field of biochemistry
• Experience in curriculum development and improvement
• Potential to obtain external funding
• Experience working in a collaborative environment designed for broad student success.
• Demonstrated interest in promoting institutional excellence in classrooms and academic work environments.
• Experience or interest in mentoring students from a variety of backgrounds.
• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines, and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Belonging: Values the uniqueness of every individual and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to thrive.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU, we're committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity you're looking for!

Annual Salary : $65,136 - $78,000, based on a full-time nine-month appointment.

In accordance with RCW , the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Appointment

Full-Time, Tenure-Track, 9-month Appointment. Additional Summer teaching may be available. Central Washington University is on the quarter system with appointments from mid-September through mid-June.

Benefits

CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance. CWU Benefits, Perks & Discounts Overview.

Additional Information

For additional information about the University, visit:

For additional information about Ellensburg, visit:

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NOTE: Sponsorship is not available for this position at this time.

CWU is an EEO/AA/Title IX/Veteran/Disability Employer.