Asst/Assoc Professor, BS Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry

# Advertising Summary

The Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) Degree Program in VCU School of Pharmacy (SOP) invites you to apply to our non-Tenure Track Term Faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry.

This full-time position will provide primarily teaching (70-80% effort) in the new BSPS Degree Program, ensuring that the undergraduate students receive a high-quality education that prepares them for their chosen career track in pharmaceutical sciences or healthcare fields. The preferred start date for this position is July 2026.

## Unit

• School Of Pharmacy
• MBU
• Department: Medicinal Chemistry

## About Virginia Commonwealth University At Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), we are UNCOMMON and UNLIKE any other university. A premier urban public research university, nationally recognized as one of the best employers for diversity and classified by Carnegie as R1 and Community Engaged. VCU is a great place to work. Its a place of opportunity where your success is supported and your career can thrive.

## About the School of Pharmacy The School of Pharmacy (SOP) has a 127-year tradition, beginning with the Medical College of Virginia and continuing to the present. Ranked in the Top 20 of Schools of Pharmacy nationwide, the SOP is dedicated to graduating outstanding future scientists and pharmacists who will:

• Develop new medicines and therapies.
• Improve human health.
• Foster exemplary research.
• Provide sustaining contributions to interprofessional patient care.

## About the Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmaceutical Sciences Degree Program Our Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) Degree Program is a new multi-disciplinary applied sciences program that welcomed the first student cohort in the Fall 2024 semester. As the only public BSPS program in the Commonwealth of Virginia, our mission is to educate and train students for:

• Entry-level pharmaceutical sciences positions in the private and public sectors.
• Further education in MS/PhD graduate programs.
• Further training in a professional degree program such as Pharmacy (PharmD), Medicine (MD), Dentistry (DDS), and other healthcare-oriented fields.

Students in the BSPS program will be rigorously trained in:

• Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Medicinal Chemistry
• Drug Discovery
• Biology
• Pharmacology
• Physiology
• Drug Development (ADME/PK, drug dosage forms, and preclinical development)

Graduates from the BSPS program will be competitive for employment in the pharmaceutical, life sciences, biotechnology industries, service laboratories, and government agencies, as well as be ready to pursue advanced graduate (MS/PhD) and professional studies (PharmD, MD, DDS, etc.).

## About the Department of Medicinal Chemistry The Department of Medicinal Chemistry is one of three academic departments within the SOP. The mission of the Department of Medicinal Chemistry is the advancement of science through research, education, and training of undergraduate (BSPS), graduate (MS/PhD) in Pharmaceutical Sciences, and professional (PharmD) degree students in our discipline.

The Department:

• Provides students with courses and research experiences that prepare them for their chosen career path.
• Provides service courses to other programs that require a medicinal chemistry foundation and to other VCU students who wish to become more scientifically knowledgeable.
• Fosters a level of research and professional activity essential to the professional growth of both the students and faculty.

## Position Details The Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) Degree Program in VCU School of Pharmacy (SOP) invites you to apply to our non-Tenure Track Term Faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry.

• Effort: Full-time position providing primarily teaching (70-80% effort).
• Start Date: Preferred start date is July 2026.
• Work Authorization: Applicants must have authorization to work in the United States and must not require current or future visa sponsorship.

## Position Responsibilities This non-tenure track Term Faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry will primarily teach applied sciences content in medicinal chemistry, drug discovery & development, and pharmaceutical sciences in the undergraduate BSPS Degree Program.

The faculty member should have strong training in and also be able to teach basic science content including:

• Organic Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry
• Molecular and Cellular Biology
• Pharmacology

The faculty member will assume teaching responsibilities in the undergraduate BSPS Degree Program with potential occasional teaching opportunities in the graduate (MS/PhD) and/or professional (PharmD) degree programs. A secondary purpose of the position is to contribute to the scholarly work in his/her area of interest.

### Teaching The Faculty Member will have teaching responsibilities in didactic, laboratory, and experiential education courses in the undergraduate BSPS Degree Program. Possible course assignments may include but are not limited to:

• Introduction to Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Molecules to Medicines
• Analytical Methods in Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory
• Molecules to Medicines Laboratory
• Principles of Drug Action
• Molecular and Cellular Therapeutics
• The 2-semester Capstone and Seminar courses

### Scholarship The Faculty Member will conduct scholarship, broadly defined, in the area of Medicinal Chemistry (broadly defined), potentially through collaborations with established faculty members in the Department, SOP, University, or externally. The successful applicant will conduct and publish some scholarship in their chosen field commensurate with the time (10-20% effort) and resources provided.

### Service The Faculty Member will serve on departmental, School, and/or University committees as assigned, as well as in a professional capacity in their field (e.g., reviewer, conference organizer, etc.).

## Minimum Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, or related discipline.
• Post-doctoral or advanced training experience in design, discovery, and development of drugs for the treatment of human diseases or related areas OR 5 years of experience in Pharmaceutical Industry or an Allied Field (Life Sciences, Biotechnology, etc.).
• 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.

## Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.

## Salary Range Commensurate with experience and qualifications.

## Benefits All full-time university employees are eligible for VCUs 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.

## Employment Details

• FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
• Hours per Week: 40
• Restricted Position: No
• ORP Eligible: Yes
• Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite
• Rank: Open
• Tenure: Ineligible
• Months: 12 months

## Contact Information

• Contact Name: Keith Ellis
• Contact Email: kcellis@vcu.edu

The search committee will begin reviewing applications immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

## Required Application Materials Applicants should submit the following materials:

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Summary of Teaching Experience
• Summary of Research Interests and Plans
• Names and Contact Information for three References

Please contact the search committee chair, Keith C. Ellis (kcellis@vcu.edu), Director of the Bachelor of Sciences in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSPS) Degree Program, for questions/clarifications regarding this position.