Job Description

Through a multi-year NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Cohort program grant, The University of Maryland FIRST Program was established to create an environment conducive to supporting highly effective biomedical researchers. In close partnership, both University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) are committed to establishing a home for inclusive excellence. A diverse group of faculty interested in the advancement of biomedical research will be hired in cohorts of 2-3 until the positions are filled. Faculty hires will be provided with competitive salary, generous startup packages, and ample laboratory space. UM FIRST faculty will also receive both individual and group-based inter-institutional support including mentoring, career advocacy, and guidance within the research enterprise.

Through this joint program, UMSOM and UMBC are hiring a diverse cohort of faculty working in areas of cancer biology, neuroscience, and microbiology/ immunology which are areas of significant strength at both institutions. UM FIRST will recruit candidates whose research interests align with various departments, institutes, and centers that have demonstrated validated organizational readiness to promote the advancement of early-career faculty. We anticipate hiring the next cohort in 2024-2025.

In this next recruitment phase we are particularly interested in hiring individuals to work at UMSOM in the areas of cancer biology and/or neuroscience.

The UM FIRST Program aims to foster inclusive excellence and provide a supportive environment to establish and grow a community and promote individuals who:

• successfully compete for federal research funding
• develop a vibrant and independent research program
• have not held or currently hold a tenure track position
• preferably meet the criteria for NIH-defined Early Stage Investigators
• have a strong commitment to diversity 

UM FIRST will provide hired faculty a comprehensive support infrastructure including sponsors, mentors, career coaches, institutional research navigators, targeted instruction for grant-writing, and professional development opportunities to help them mitigate the difficulties often experienced by early career faculty and accelerate the development of their research careers. 

All qualified individuals with a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion are welcome to apply. Because evidence suggests that participation in the field of biomedical research by individuals with a wide variety of lived experiences can help to alleviate existing healthcare disparities, we encourage applications from a broad range of applicants with diverse backgrounds and life experiences that may bring new perspectives to biomedical research, including but not limited to perspectives on race, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, or socio-economic background, among others.

Please plan to provide a cover letter, your current CV, research statement, and a personal statement describing how your background or life experiences will help to advance new perspectives in biomedical research or teaching and learning.  

Please submit inquiries about this position here. Please submit your application here.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, marital status, or protected veteran's status to recruit, hire, compensate, train, and promote employees and applicants for employment in all job levels with regard to their qualifications and without consideration to the aforementioned categories. Exceptions to this policy will be made only as allowed by law; for example, due to bona fide occupational qualifications or lack of reasonable accommodations for disabilities. See more...

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (“University” or “UMBC”) values safety, cultural and ethnic diversity, social responsibility, lifelong learning, equity, and civic engagement. Consistent with these principles, the University does not discriminate and prohibits harassment with respect to access to its educational programs and activities or with respect to employment terms and conditions on the basis of a UMBC community member’s race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender, pregnancy, ancestry, age, gender identity or expression, national origin, veterans status, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or genetic information. See more...