Research Assistant / Associate / Professor - Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology (OCMB) - School of Dentistry

Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Dentistry is seeking applicants for a full-time faculty position in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology (OCMB). Academic rank, tenure eligibility, and salary commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Unit: School of Dentistry

Department: Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology

Duties & Responsibilities

Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Dentistry is seeking a full-time faculty member in the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology (OCMB). The successful candidate will lead the development and implementation of next-generation translational model systems for cancer and immune biology, including patient-derived organoids, explants, and immune-integrated culture platforms. The faculty member will also work within the group of Dr. Kevin Matthew Byrd and in collaboration with institutional partners to bridge high-dimensional molecular discovery with functional validation in human-relevant systems. The appointed individual will be responsible for establishing scalable and reproducible experimental platforms that support ongoing NIH-funded and translational research efforts, enabling mechanistic studies, therapeutic testing, and integration with emerging spatial multiomics and sequencing datasets. The role requires strong scientific leadership, communication, and organizational skills to operate within a multidisciplinary, fast-paced research environment.

Teaching

Responsibilities of this position:

The faculty member will be required to teach and train students and technicians within the Philips Institute for Oral Health Research. They may also be expected to contribute to PhD and Master’s programs in Oral Health Research. Faculty members will be expected to teach in an integrated curriculum system that includes baccalaureate, graduate, and professional education. Teaching across traditional departmental lines and in multidisciplinary teams is required. Faculty members are expected to foster transformative learning that is informed by interdisciplinary and translational research, scholarship, and creative expression.

Research

The major focus of this role is in research where it is estimated that 90% of the time will be spent. The appointed person will be expected to lead therapeutic and translational research on solid tumors and be proficient in animal experiments. While the candidate will not necessarily apply for independent funding, he/she will be expected to be an integral member of a team working in this area and therefore serve as a co-applicant on grants. The candidate will also be encouraged to apply for their own research funding.

Service

The faculty member will be expected to serve the Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, the School of Dentistry, and Virginia Commonwealth University by serving on committees and task forces as requested.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in a biological discipline or related biomedical field
• A minimum of five years of postdoctoral training
• Strong record of scholarly achievement, including first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals relevant to the mission of the Philips Institute, presentations at national and/or international scientific meetings, and evidence of multidisciplinary research
• Demonstrated experience mentoring PhD and/or Masters students
• Excellent written, oral communication, and organizational skills with adaptability to change and embrace modern technologies
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU
• Demonstrate the ability, or acquire and develop such ability, to incorporate adult learning theory, evidence-based oral health care, innovation in student learning, and critical thinking
• For tenure-eligible positions at the Assistant Professor rank, an established research agenda and a clear potential for external funding, as well as potential for scholarship or creative expression to complement and expand existing expertise in the department is required
• For tenure-eligible positions at the Associate Professor or Professor rank, a well-developed scholarly/research portfolio with evidence of multi-disciplinary applications and external funding appropriate to complement and expand existing expertise in the department is required
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with organoid systems, patient-derived explants, or advanced in vitro modeling of cancer and/or immune systems is strongly preferred
  
  

Salary Range: $100,000 - $110,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Rank: Open

Tenure: Open

Months: 12

Contact Information

Contact Name: Dr. Todd Kitten

Contact Email: tkitten@vcu.edu