Open Faculty Positions
Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, McCormick School of Engineering, and Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences invite applications from early-career scientists to tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant Professor level. We are seeking exceptional candidates from all disciplines with expertise in any of the following research areas: Cancer, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, and Brain, Mind, and Behavior.
The NURTURE application closed as of October 31, 2023.
We are currently in the initial screening stage of all applications, with the primary review of applications ending in mid-January. By the end of January, all candidates will be updated with their application status. We appreciate your patience as we work to be thorough and intentional with our review of each candidate. For questions about withdrawing or to inform the NURTURE Program about updates to your application, please email nurture@northwestern.edu.
Eligibility
Applicants must have a doctoral degree and should not have held a prior position at the tenure-track Assistant Professor (or equivalent) level. Applicants should have a strong record demonstrating ability or potential for conducting high-level research as well as a demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence. We especially encourage applications by members of groups underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, engineering, physical, and social sciences.
Apply
To apply, submit a brief cover letter; curriculum vitae; statement of research interests and plans; statement of contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and the names of three individuals who can provide references. All materials must be submitted on the myHR Faculty Recruiting portal. We anticipate hiring new faculty members over three years commencing in 2023.
For more information, please see Frequently Asked Questions below or contact nurture@northwestern.edu .
About Northwestern's NIH FIRST Program
These positions are supported by an NIH award to Northwestern University supported through the Office of Strategic Coordination/Office of the NIH Director as part of the NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program. This NIH award is augmented by support from Northwestern University. The NIH FIRST Program aims to transform academic culture to build a self-reinforcing community of scientists committed to diversity and inclusive excellence. As part of this national initiative, NURTURE: Northwestern University Recruitment to Transform Under-Representation and achieve Equity, seeks to recruit 15 new faculty into three Scientific Neighborhoods (clusters) – cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic health, and brain, mind, and behavior – unified by a cross-cutting theme of “Cells to Community.” The Cardiovascular domain encompasses heart, lung, sleep, and kidney disorders, as well as vascular pathobiology and metabolic disorders including diabetes and obesity. The Brain, Mind, and Behavior neighborhood includes, but is not limited to, the fields of neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral health research. Cross-cutting research themes applicable to one or more Neighborhoods can include epidemiology, data science, health outcomes, health disparities, or dissemination and implementation sciences, among others.
Successful candidates will join a vibrant and collaborative community of faculty within a comprehensive support ecosystem of sponsors, mentors, career coaches, community networks, peers, and career development opportunities. Leaders across Northwestern will support the new faculty with inclusive and equitable mentorship and a broad range of programs intended to build a community of scholars skilled in establishing independent research careers. Appointments will have 75% protected research time for the first 7 years.
About Northwestern
Northwestern is a premier research university, with a vibrant and growing community of scientists that is passionately committed to improving human health. Northwestern is deeply interdisciplinary across multiple schools and units. Our rigorous yet empathetic academic environment provides a robust mixture of theory and practice, with an emphasis on top-tier research, new knowledge, creative expression, and practical application. Northwestern University is strongly committed to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In 2021, Northwestern was awarded the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Northwestern’s adult and pediatric clinical affiliates have each received perfect scores on the HRC Healthcare Equality Index. Northwestern University and its adult clinical affiliate, Northwestern Medicine, jointly received a Human First Award from Chicago’s Center on Halsted.
Northwestern’s primary campuses are in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois (12 miles north of Chicago) and are bordered by a Great Lake. The Chicago metropolitan area is home to diverse and vibrant communities. The area offers an ideal living environment, with world-class cultural offerings.
The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami, and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands and the Native people who remain on this land today.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Q: How do I apply?
- Applicants must submit an online application. Application materials include :
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- An application form
- Cover Letter
- CV
- Research Statement
- Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- List of 3 individuals who can provide references
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Q: How many positions are available?
- 15 tenure-track assistant professor positions are available through August 2025. Positions will be open until filled.
Q: What is the timeline for decisions?
- The current round of applications will be reviewed beginning November 1, 2023. For this round, we expect to extend invitations for virtual interviews in January 2023, followed by in-person interviews in late Winter/early Spring 2024. The earliest start date for this first round is expected to be Summer/Fall 2024.
Eligibility Questions
Q: Who is eligible to apply?
- Any individual who has not held a prior position at the tenure-track Assistant Professor (or equivalent) level, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence, is eligible to be hired for Northwestern’s NIH FIRST faculty positions.
- Applicants must have a doctoral degree (e.g., PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent)
- Northwestern is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, disability unrelated to job requirements, genetic information, military service, or other protected status. We especially encourage applications by members of groups underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, engineering, physical, and social sciences as defined by the Notice of NIH’s Interest in Diversity (NOT-OD-20-031).
Q: What disciplines are eligible?
- Northwestern’s NIH Faculty Institutional Recruitment for Sustainable Transformation (FIRST) Program is focused on cluster hiring of scientists in fields related to Cancer, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, or Brain, Mind, and Behavior. Thus, scientists with expertise in Cancer, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, or Brain, Mind, and Behavior are eligible. The Cardiovascular domain encompasses heart, lung, sleep, and kidney disorders, as well as vascular pathobiology and metabolic disorders including diabetes and obesity. The Brain, Mind, and Behavior domain includes, but is not limited to, the fields of neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry, and behavioral health research. We especially encourage scientists interested in health equity research to apply.
Q: I have already applied or am applying to other faculty searches at Northwestern – am I still eligible to apply to Northwestern’s NIH FIRST Program?
- The Northwestern NIH FIRST Program (NURTURE) faculty search is separate and unrelated to existing faculty searches at Northwestern. To be considered for tenure-track Assistant Professor appointments within Northwestern’s NIH FIRST Program, one must apply directly by submitting materials to NURTURE’s Faculty Recruiting Portal.
Q: Do you accept applications from foreign nationals?
- Yes, however, any appointment at Northwestern is contingent upon obtaining appropriate visa status, and the US government is the final arbiter of all immigration-related cases. The Northwestern Office of International Student and Scholar Services may be available to help individuals obtain visa status to work at Northwestern.
Q: If my application was not selected in the first round, can I apply again?
- Yes, you can apply again. Positions will be open through August 2025, or until filled. However, we also encourage you to consider applying to the NURTURE Postdoctoral Scholars Program. This postdoctoral training program is intended to develop scientists committed to inclusive excellence who will be competitive in applying to faculty positions at Northwestern, including potentially for Northwestern’s NIH FIRST Program appointments.
Q: If I submitted my application already for this round, can I update my application?
- If you submitted your application prior to July 31, 2023, you can withdraw your application and apply again by submitting a new application. If you submitted your application between August 1 - October 31, 2023 and have an update, please email nurture@northwestern.edu with your updated application material(s).
Application Questions
Q: Can I meet with a representative of the search committee to discuss strategies for developing a competitive application package?
- No; due to the volume of applicants, faculty cannot meet with anyone during the application process. Competitive applicants should have a strong record demonstrating ability or potential for conducting high-level research as well as a demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence.
Q: I am being considered in another faculty search at Northwestern but have also applied to Northwestern’s NIH FIRST Program. Should I inform the search committee of either search regarding my other application(s)?
- The Northwestern NIH FIRST Program (NURTURE) faculty search is separate and unrelated to existing faculty searches at Northwestern. For applicants who have applied to other searches, to be considered for NURTURE, you would need to apply to the NURTURE search directly. You are not expected to disclose your candidacy to other Northwestern searches.
Q: Who should I contact if I have questions about my application?
- Please email nurture@northwestern.edu.