Job Description

Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry

POSITION SUMMARY:
Bluffton University seeks candidates for a one-year visiting position of Assistant Professor of Chemistry with primary expertise in organic chemistry.  A Ph.D. in organic chemistry is preferred; a master’s degree with teaching experience may be considered. The position will require teaching undergraduate courses and associated labs in organic chemistry and advanced organic chemistry for science majors, as well as teaching a lab-based experiential chemistry course to undergraduate non-science majors. Other teaching assignments may include courses in the general education curriculum of the university, or other major science courses commensurate with the candidate’s expertise. Additionally, the candidate will attend department meetings and faculty meetings and may be required to assist with student advising, faculty governance, and campus and community service.

This Bluffton University faculty position will be appointed by the Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs in consultation with the Chair of the Health Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics department.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Teach 23-25 credit hours of courses per year.  Faculty members are generally on nine-month work agreements that run from two weeks before classes begin in August through the day grades are due in May.  Occasional meetings may be needed during the summer.

Courses likely to be taught (in addition to others when needed or that match the candidate’s interests and expertise):

CEM 221 Organic Chemistry 1 (3 hours lecture, 3-6 hours lab)

CEM 222 Organic Chemistry 2 (3 hours lecture, 3 hours lab)

CEM 311 Advanced Organic Chemistry (2 hours lecture)*

CEM 105 Experiential Chemistry (2 hours lecture, 6 hours lab)

*Asterisk denotes alternate-year classes.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum

A master’s degree in organic chemistry would be considered; a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in organic chemistry is preferred.  Teaching experience is preferred.

SKILLS/ABILITIES:  
Proficient with Microsoft Office; proficiency in or ability to learn our learning management system software (Moodle). Facilities at Bluffton University include 90-MHz FT-NMR, FTIR, and UV-VIS spectrometers as well as fluorimetry and computational chemistry. Experience with maintaining such instrumentation is a plus.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:  
The position includes approximately twelve hours of in-person classes and labs per week plus attendance at meetings and other events on campus each week. Lab work includes some physical labor demands.  Some occasional travel off campus may be needed for conferences and/or off campus meetings. 

APPOINTMENT: 
Beginning August 2026

APPLICATION MATERIALS: 
Applications are considered complete when the following materials have been received at the office below:

• Letter of interest
• Resume or vita
• Three letters of reference submitted directly from referee
• Copies of transcripts
• Completed supplementary application

CONTACT: 
hr@bluffton.edu

Employment decisions are based on merit and university needs, and not on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status protected by law. As a religious institution, Bluffton University expressly reserves its rights to appoint faculty and staff who share a commitment to the Christian faith which is consistent with the Mennonite/Anabaptist beliefs of the university’s founding and supporting church. EOE.

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