Technology-Driven Integrative Physiology AI-Enabled Cell, Molecular and Genomic Biology Assistant/Associate Professor

Technology-Driven Integrative Physiology | AI-Enabled Cell, Molecular and Genomic Biology Assistant/Associate Professor

Candidates must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, relevant experience consistent with academic policy for faculty rank, and have the potential to support their research programs through external funding sources.

The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience is the premier marine research institute at the University of Florida. We are in an exciting phase of growth and invite applications for a tenure-track faculty appointment at the Assistant or Associate Professor level in one of two broad areas: Technology-Driven Integrative Physiology — connecting molecular, cellular, neural, biomechanical or developmental mechanisms to organismal function, behavior, and environmental response; OR AI-Enabled Cell, Molecular, or Genomic Biology — building advanced AI, machine learning, and other computational approaches to address basic biological questions. The Whitney Lab is a research-focused institute committed to technology-driven marine bioscience. Our investigators leverage a broad diversity of organisms to address fundamental questions in biology, with potential applications to issue in human health, natural resources, and the environment. We seek an exemplary, creative, and collaborative scientist who will take advantage of Whitney’s unique marine setting and contribute to our interdisciplinary research mission.

This position is part of a multi-year investment in faculty hiring, infrastructure, and research innovation at the UF Whitney Lab. Our new $40 million research building (38,000 ft²) opened in Spring 2026 with state-of-the-art wet and dry labs, large temperature-controlled seawater mesocosms and aquaculture tank systems, and world-leading imaging capabilities within the Whitney Laboratory Center for Biological Imaging and Discovery.

The University of Florida offers competitive salaries, startup packages, and relocation support. An appointment may be made jointly with any UF department aligned with the candidate’s background (e.g., Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Soil and Water Science, College of Medicine). The successful candidate will join a diverse UF research community with connections across the UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation and Technology, the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, the Florida Museum of Natural History, the UF Genetics Institute, and the McKnight Brain Institute. UF is home to the fastest university-owned supercomputer (HiPerGator 4^th Gen) and the NVIDIA AI Technology Center.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program
• Contribute to Whitney’s interdisciplinary research environment by collaborating across departments, colleges, and external partners
• Participate in recruiting, teaching, and mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees
• Engage in service activities that support the Whitney Laboratory’s research mission.

About the Whitney Laboratory

The Whitney Laboratory is an off-campus cutting-edge research community located on the northeast coast of Florida, 75 miles from the UF main campus and 17 miles south of beautiful historic St. Augustine. The Whitney Lab is unique in combining high-tech research labs with direct access to field sites in both the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River intercoastal waterway. Whitney research faculty direct pioneering research programs that use marine organisms and sophisticated experimental and theoretical approaches to address fundamental scientific questions. On seven acres, the UF Whitney campus features a research village consisting of six cottages that can house up to 24 visiting scientists and students, a two-story education and outreach Center for Marine Studies building with a 280-seat auditorium, atrium, K-12 classrooms, and meeting spaces.

About the University of Florida

The University of Florida is a public institution and member of the Association of American Universities enrolling 55,000 students, including more than 36,000 residential undergraduates. UF is among the nation’s most academically diverse universities, with 16 colleges offering 100 undergraduate degree programs, 200 graduate programs, and various professional degrees. The University of Florida ranked 7^th among top public schools in the most recent ranking by U.S. News and World Report, and in the recent Forbes 2025-2026 America’s Top Colleges, UF was ranked 5^th among public universities and 30^th overall.

Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Candidates must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree, relevant experience consistent with academic policy for faculty rank, and have the potential to support their research programs through external funding sources

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program
• Contribute to Whitney’s interdisciplinary research environment by collaborating across departments, colleges, and external partners
• Participate in recruiting, teaching, and mentoring undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral trainees
• Engage in service activities that support the Whitney Laboratory’s research mission.

Application Materials

To be considered for this position, you should submit the following:

• Cover letter

• Curriculum vitae

• Research statement (up to 3 pages single-spaced)

• Contact information for three references

For additional information, to submit nominations, or express interest, please contact Dr. James Liao and James Strother, search committee chairs, at [email protected].

The anticipated start date is Fall 2027. Application review will begin December 1, 2026. Applications will be accepted after this date until the position is filled.

The final candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered "official" if a designation of "Issued to Student" is visible. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

The University of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The “government in the sunshine” laws of Florida require that all documents relating to the search process, including letters of application/nomination and reference, be available for public inspection upon request.