Assistant​/Associate Professor

Assistant/Associate Professor

Virginia State University (VSU), in collaboration with Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), invites applications from highly qualified and innovative independent cancer researchers for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. This joint faculty appointment is part of a strategic initiative to expand VSU's cancer research portfolio and to build a collaborative cohort of investigators that will strengthen externally funded cancer research and inter-institutional partnerships with VCU.

The successful candidate will hold a primary appointment at VSU and a secondary appointment at VCU in an appropriate school or department aligned with the individual's research focus. Appointees will be eligible for research membership in the National Cancer Institute–designated Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center  is anticipated that up to three faculty members will be hired as part of a small cluster cohort charged with advancing cancer research capacity at VSU and fostering collaborative initiatives with VCU and Massey.

Applicants from all relevant areas of cancer research are encouraged to apply, including but not limited to health behavioral sciences, population sciences, and biological sciences. Initial responsibilities will emphasize the establishment of an independent, externally funded research program. Teaching and service responsibilities will be integrated gradually, and faculty who secure independent research funding will have teaching and other non-research duties limited to no more than 50 percent effort.

The successful candidate will be expected to mentor undergraduate and graduate students in cancer research, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and actively engage in the broader scientific community through interdisciplinary research collaborations.

The Assistant Professor in cancer research is expected to:

• Develop an independently funded cancer research program within five years, including the submission of a minimum of three external grant applications per year and the pursuit of competitive extramural funding.
• Publish peer-reviewed scholarship with an expectation of at least two publications per year beginning in the second year. By the third year, the faculty member is expected to serve as lead author on at least one publication annually, with additional publications potentially involving collaborative work with VSU and VCU faculty.
• Actively participate in the Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, including collaboration with VSU and VCU investigators in cancer research, with an emphasis on cancer disparities research, and attendance and presentations at Massey-sponsored retreats, symposia, and other scientific meetings.
• Mentor and train undergraduate and graduate students at VSU by providing hands-on research experiences and supporting the development of research skills in the context of cancer research.
• Teach undergraduate and/or graduate courses aligned with departmental and institutional needs.
• Participate in service activities appropriate to faculty rank and consistent with departmental, university, and professional expectations.

VSU seeks candidates whose research programs are well suited to computational, community-engaged, behavioral, or population-oriented approaches to cancer research. Projects that emphasize cancer disparities, health equity, data-driven methods, or community-based research are especially encouraged. Priority will be given to research programs that: focus on computational, statistical, behavioral, population, or community-engaged cancer research; can be conducted in non-laboratory-intensive environments; align with VSU's current infrastructure and strategic priorities.

The position is best suited for research programs that do not require animal facilities or cell culture‑based wet‑lab biomedical infrastructure. Applicants should ensure that their proposed research agenda is feasible within these parameters.

Minimum Qualifications:

An earned Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a cancer-related basic, translational, clinical, or population science discipline (including but not limited to oncology, cancer biology, cancer prevention, health…