Who we are

Why Rensselaer? Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. Explore the RPI Forward plan. ↗︎

Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world. 

With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, Rensselaer offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth. 

The Biological Sciences Department at Rensselaer has 23 faculty members, 45 graduate students, and over 350 undergraduate students. Biological Sciences is home to several NSF CAREER and NIH MIRA award winners, 6 Society Fellows, participates in 2 NIH T32 training grants and 1 R25 grant, with annual research expenditures totaling around $7 million per year.

The department also provides a collaborative and supportive mentoring environment to foster the success of its faculty, with the Institute providing additional opportunities for professional development to assist faculty in meeting their teaching, research, and career aspirations. 

Are you ready to change the world? Apply now!

Job Summary

The Department of Biological Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Cellular Neuroscience. We seek a passionate and innovative individual in the field of neuroscience, with a particular focus on quantitative and cell/organismal biology, whose research focuses on the use of model systems to understand the fundamental biology of the nervous system, particularly the role of plasticity in the aging brain and the fundamental biology of neurogenerative disease. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated potential to establish a strong externally funded research program and contribute to the teaching mission of the department.

This position is part of a faculty cluster hire funded by support from the Simons Foundation designed to stimulate research in the basic sciences across New York State. 

Minimum Qualifications

All candidates must hold a Ph.D. degree, or foreign degree equivalent in biology and/or neuroscience or a closely related field. Postdoctoral experience is required. Candidates for the rank of Assistant Professor must exhibit promise of future distinction in research, scholarship, and teaching. Specifically, candidates who have the demonstrated potential to establish a strong externally funded research program, primarily in cellular or organismal neuroscience are desired.

All exceptional candidates will be considered, and we especially encourage applications from individuals who will bring both experimental and computational research approaches and skill sets to address fundamental problems in neuroscience. A candidate who complements existing strengths at Rensselaer and who can leverage existing platforms such as the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, the Center for Modeling, Simulation, and Imaging in Medicine, or the Rensselaer Future of Computing Institute (FOCI) is desired.

We seek candidates who are experienced in the use of sophisticated experimental and quantitative techniques applied towards the study of cellular neuroscience using any relevant model system, with the goal of understanding the fundamental biology of the nervous system, and/or role of plasticity in both healthy and aging brains, and to contribute to the teaching mission of the department.

Applicants must meet stated minimum education and experience requirements.

Starting Salary/Rate

Expected hiring range: $108,000 - $118,000

Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.

Application instructions

Follow the on-screen prompts at https://careers.rpi.edu/en-us/job/495557 to to create a brief online profile with contact information for 3 professional references. Please be ready to upload the following: 

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter
• Statement of research
• Evidence of effective teaching

Total Compensation and Benefits Information

Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources (rpi.edu).