The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.
If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or [email protected] . For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778.
Job Description
The Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine (UNR Med) seeks applicants for Assistant or Associate professor position(s) at a full-time, 12-month, tenure-track rank. As we look to expand the research landscape at UNR Med, researchers with a focus of various study areas are encouraged to apply. Areas of interest include cancer research, biosafety, infectious disease and pathogenesis, immune response, TB immunology, and microbiome research as well as cytometry. The department is situated in the recently constructed Center for Molecular Medicine that includes a state-of-the-art BSL3 facility that can support select agent research and potentially ABSL3 studies.
Individuals with a strong record in cancer research are of particular interest for this position. Successful candidates will be considered for the Gloria Zhang, Ph.D., and Gordon Yan, Ph.D. endowed Professorship in Immunology. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to collaborate with clinicians and scientists at the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute of Renown Health and will be expected to lead a thriving, cutting-edge, externally funded research program that provides supportive environments for training the next generation of scientists and physicians.
Incoming faculty in these roles will have a majority research focus alongside moderate teaching expectations. Responsibilities include teaching and mentoring a wide array of trainees at the graduate and professional levels, as well as and engaging in university, community, and professional service.
The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated record of mentorship and a thorough understanding of the processes involved in academic biomedical research, as well as an interest in and enthusiasm for collaboration with clinician-scientists. Qualities of the ideal candidate include collegiality, resilience, adaptability, and innovativeness.
Required Qualifications
- Ph.D., M.D., D.V.M., or M.D./Ph.D. or equivalent degree from an accredited institution and at least 2 years of postdoctoral experience in basic or clinical immunology, infectious disease, or cancer research.
- Ability to develop and maintain a cutting-edge, independent research program, including securing external research support.
- Demonstrated ability or potential to provide first-rate teaching to graduate and medical students.
Compensation Grade
Assistant Professor – II
Associate Professor - III
To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules and select School of Medicine - Medical Academic Assistant Professor, reading along the Basic Science line. Associate Professor salary can be found on subsequent drop down menu. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.
Total Compensation
The total compensation package includes a negotiable competitive salary, moving allowance (if applicable), a generous retirement plan, health insurance options that include dental and vision, life insurance, long-term disability, annual and sick leave, along with many other benefits. Additionally, there is a grant-in-aid educational benefit for faculty and dependents. For more information, please visit: https://www.unr.edu/hr/benefits
Perks of Working at UNR
- Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance
- Generous annual and sick leave and life insurance – Faculty Benefits
- No state income tax!
- E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options. E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center
- Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders
- Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.
- Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate
Remarkable Retirement!
Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University. With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow! All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada.
Grants-in-aid for Faculty Employees
The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits, but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee’s spouse or domestic partner. Faculty Grants-in-Aid
Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program
The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program
College and Department Information
For more information on the University and the School of Medicine, please visit https://med.unr.edu/about .
For more information about the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, please visit https://med.unr.edu/microbiology
Reno/Tahoe Area:
Located just a three-and-a-half-hour drive from San Francisco, the Reno/Tahoe area is one of the country’s premier outdoor destinations. Within less than an hour's drive, you will find several renowned winter sports resorts, such as Palisades Tahoe, the host of the 1960 Winter Olympic Games, along with hundreds of mountain biking and hiking trails, including the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail, for year-round enjoyment. The region offers an array of festivals and cultural activities, including museums and performing arts centers, and attracts world-class entertainers.
The 15 Happiest Places to Live in the U.S. – Outdoor magazine .
For more information on Reno/Tahoe, please visit:
Department Contacts
Michelle Whitaker
Search Coordinator
[email protected]
Exempt
Yes
Full-Time Equivalent
100.0%
Required Attachment(s)
1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter
3. References – Please include the names of three references along with their e-mail addresses and phone numbers in your application.
University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med)
For over 50 years the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (UNR Med) has trained physicians who are leading the way to 'A Healthy Nevada', nation, and world. Community-based and research-intensive, UNR Med is committed to our mission. We show this commitment through our demonstrated core values: people are our strength, we innovate and improve, we serve with integrity, and we success with trust and respect.
The University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine seek s applications from candidates with all backgrounds and experiences who will contribute to our mission and uphold our core values.
Our mission has guided our growth in graduating the next generation of primary and specialty care physicians and medical researchers while maintaining personalized instruction. The School of Medicine has statewide outreach with a local touch providing patient care, health services, and training physicians in Reno, Nevada and in the state’s rural communities. We are expanding provider education to train medical specialists as Medical Doctors as well as Speech Pathologists and Physician Assistants. We are actively expanding technologically-advanced infrastructure to keep pace with our world-class research to meet the needs of students, patients, and researchers. We seek to create an environment that serves all who enter our doors, from the physicians who teach our learners to our employees, patients, and students.
Molecular Biosciences Interdisciplinary Graduate Program
The Microbiology and Immunology department is a key component of the interdisciplinary Molecular Biosciences graduate program , which brings together faculty and resources from across the university to foster collaborative research and training. This umbrella structure provides faculty in Microbiology and Immunology with access to a diverse and highly qualified pool of Ph.D. students pursuing research in areas spanning molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, microbiology, and immunology. The integrated nature of the Molecular Biosciences program enhances opportunities for mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and participation in innovative graduate training initiatives, thereby supporting the development of robust, externally funded research programs.
Renown Health & Pennington Cancer Institute
Renown Health, established in 1862 as Washoe Health System, is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated healthcare network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of more than 7,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the region’s largest, locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health. Clinical institutes include Cancer, Heart and Vascular Heath, and Neurosciences and Robotic Surgery. Renown is currently enrolling participants in the world’s largest community-based genetic population health study, the Healthy Nevada Project®.
In July 2022, The William N. Pennington Foundation announced a $15.5 million gift to the Renown Health Foundation to establish the William N. Pennington Cancer Institute at Renown. This gift has bolstered Renown’s capabilities to recruit top notch cancer providers and attract additional clinical expertise to improve the lives of people and families fighting cancer across northern Nevada. At present, over 15 new cancer providers have been added. We currently have 5 medical oncologists, 4 radiation oncologists, 2 full time breast surgeons, 2 colorectal surgeons, 2 complex GI cancer surgeons, 2 general oncologic surgeons, 2 cancer focused urologists, 1 orthopedic oncologic surgeon, 1 endocrine surgeon specializing in thyroid tumors, 1 wellness physician, and 1 palliative care physician.
The plan is to use this gift to transform cancer care in Northern Nevada and to ultimately establish an NCI designated cancer center which incorporates superb care, clinical and translational research, laboratory research, effective screening and prevention and education. The recent affiliation with the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine forms the perfect foundation for this goal.
At present, we have over 60 interventional trials open at our center, 40% of them involving immunotherapy (11 in lung cancer, 8 in GI cancer, and 5 in breast cancer).
Posting Close Date
07/1/2026
Note to Applicant
A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.
HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.
References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.
Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.
As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.
For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.
Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.
