Assistant Professor of Bioengineering 2025-26

The University of California, Santa Barbara (UC Santa Barbara) seeks to appoint a new faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering. The candidate will join a highly successful public research university committed to the principles of research and teaching excellence, interdisciplinary education, and collaborative science. This is an exciting and pivotal time in the Department of Bioengineering, which is the newest department in the highly ranked College of Engineering, with a forward-looking vision of Innovating for Life. The College counts among its faculty 4 Nobel laureates, 17 members of the National Academy of Engineering, 5 members of the National Academy of Science, and 16 Fellows of the National Academy of Inventors.

Engineering for and from biology provides new solutions to improve human, environmental, and global health. The questions of who designs these solutions, who we engineer for, and how these solutions impact society are important to our faculty. UC Santa Barbara understands that this is too important to the future of our society to be left to a single discipline or limited population -- and the Department of Bioengineering and our faculty are ready to address these questions head-on in authentic partnership with thought leaders across our campus and the world.

We especially encourage candidates who will benefit from interaction with several established and growing initiatives on campus, including our strength in shared use facilities. UC Santa Barbara Engineering is home to the NSF Biofoundry for Extreme and Exceptional Fungi, Archaea, and Bacteria (ExFAB), the BioPACIFIC NSF Materials Innovation Platform for BioPolymers, the CIRM funded Stem Cell Institute, NSF Quantum Foundry, and the Materials Research Laboratory supported by 7 consecutive NSF Materials Research Science & Engineering Center Awards. New to our campus is a $32 million investment from DoD and NSF to establish two major biofoundry facilities for automated life science experimentation and prototyping, and an $8 million investment from NIH and the Beckman Foundation to support a cryo-electron microscopy core facility - both initiatives led by Bioengineering faculty. Our department seeks to also build upon existing strengths with the Army's Institute for Collaborative Biotechnology (ICB), the California NanoSystems Institute (CNSI), the Center for Engineering and Science Partnerships (CSEP), the Neuroscience Research Institute (NRI), the Center for Stem Cell Biology and Engineering, the Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE), the NSF Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) and beyond.

The Department of Bioengineering comprises 9 core faculty, 6 who are jointly appointed across departments. Multiple faculty have received recognition as Fellows of major professional organizations including the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Biomedical Engineering Society. Our faculty includes multiple winners of major awards such as the NSF CAREER Award, the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, ACS Young Investigator Awards, DOE Early Career Award, DARPA Young Faculty Award, the Breast Cancer Alliance Young Investigator Award, Scialog Fellow, NIH R35 MIRA, DoD Discovery Award, a Beckman Foundation Award, and others. Bioengineering also houses an NSF NRT in Data Driven Biology and an NIH T32 in Quantitative Mechanobiology which support pre-doctoral research training and professional development in these themes.

Bioengineering at UC Santa Barbara understands that bioengineering and biotechnology intersect society in many complex ways but that by striving striving to be a place where every student, faculty, and staff can grow and thrive we will position ourselves to best be able to take on these challenges together.

Applicants should have completed all requirements for a PhD (or equivalent) in Bioengineering or a related field, except the dissertation (or equivalent) at the time of application.

PhD degree must be conferred by the time of appointment.

Applicants who show outstanding research potential and have a strong commitment to teaching.

The ideal candidate will be a talented emerging leader and scholar with a keen understanding of current issues, challenges, and opportunities in higher education and research, and demonstrate proficiency in cross disciplinary collaboration, leveraging expertise across various departments within the College and exemplifying the collaborative spirit for which UC Santa Barbara is known. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated and eager to work with our community to address issues of societal importance through surprising and creative applications of Bioengineering and one who sees the unique opportunity the Department presents.

• 3-5 letters of reference required

Applicants are required to provide the names and contact information for a minimum of 3 references and may submit up to 2 additional optional references. Applicants must request letters of reference within the system in order to complete application requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, students and third parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

UC Santa Barbara is unable to sponsor employment visas of any kind for this position.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.