Assistant/Associate Professor - AI-Driven Biomolecular Design, Biotechnology, and Computational Biology

Purdue University

Purdue University invites applications for multiple tenured or tenure-track faculty positions as part of a multi-department strategic faculty recruitment initiative in AI-Driven Biomolecular Design, Biotechnology, and Computational Biology. This strategic initiative will help advance Purdue's One Health initiative (https://www.purdue.edu/onehealth/) which seeks to tackle complex challenges with real-world impact at the intersection of human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Through academic programs, research, facility infrastructure and industry partnerships, Purdue is making giant leaps in improving health outcomes for all living things and driving economic growth regionally and globally.

Participating colleges (and departments) include:

• College of Agriculture (Agricultural and Biological Engineering, https://engineering.purdue.edu/ABE)
• College of Science (Biological Sciences, https://www.bio.purdue.edu/ ; Chemistry, https://www.chem.purdue.edu/ ; Computer Science, https://www.cs.purdue.edu/ ; Statistics, https://www.stat.purdue.edu/)
• College of Engineering (Biomedical Engineering, https://engineering.purdue.edu/BME ; Chemical Engineering, https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE ; Materials Engineering, https://engineering.purdue.edu/MSE ; or Mechanical Engineering, https://engineering.purdue.edu/ME)
• College of Pharmacy (Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology; https://www.mcmp.purdue.edu/)
• College of Veterinary Medicine (Comparative Pathobiology; https://vet.purdue.edu/cpb/)
• College of Health and Human Sciences (Health Sciences, https://hhs.purdue.edu/hsci/ ; Public Health, https://hhs.purdue.edu/public-health/ ; Nutrition Science, https://hhs.purdue.edu/nutr/)

Areas of Research Focus
Successful candidates will blend advanced AI/ML computational approaches, complemented with innovative experimental approaches where possible to develop cutting-edge solutions in drug discovery, synthetic biology, cell engineering, drug or biomaterial design, diagnostics, drug safety, precision health, infectious disease control, cell and gene therapy, and sustainable biomanufacturing. We invite applications from scholars working in the following areas, as well as related or emerging fields that complement the cluster's interdisciplinary goals:

• Structural biology and computational biomolecular modeling.
• AI-driven drug discovery, drug delivery (i.e., blood brain barrier), drug safety, and biomolecular engineering.
• Computational biophysics and multi-omics for discovery and health-related innovations.
• Synthetic biology and biomolecular and biosystem design for biomanufacturing.
• Novel computational and experimental approaches to biosurveillance, epidemiology, diagnostics, imaging, and risk assessment for One Health applications

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Faculty Responsibilities

• Establish a vigorous, externally funded research program
• Contribute to the education and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students
• Collaborate across disciplines to solve complex global health challenges
• Committed to continuous improvement and teaching

Strategic Advantages at Purdue
Faculty hired under this initiative will join a vibrant ecosystem of interdisciplinary centers and institutes, including:

• Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery
• William D. and Sherry L. Young Institute for the Advanced Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals
• Dane O. Kildsig Center for Pharmaceutical Processing Research (KCPPR)
• Dauch Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises (DCMME)
• Purdue Institute for Plant Sciences
• Purdue MRI Facility
• Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering
• Rosen Center for Advanced Computing
• Purdue Institute for Cancer Research
• Bindley Bioscience Center

Purdue has existing research capabilities in biomolecular sciences, AI, computational biology, and structural biology, with key strengths in:

• Structural Biology - Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), X-ray crystallography, and NMR spectroscopy for characterizing purified biomolecules and in situ structural biology. Expertise in viruses and infectious disease, advanced instrumentation for precise and high-throughput measurements.
• Computational Biophysics and AI-Driven Drug Discovery - Molecular dynamics simulations, quantum chemistry, and machine learning for drug-target optimization.
• Advanced Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals and Biomanufacturing - Engineering bioactive compounds, vaccine platforms, and biomaterials to address infectious diseases and environmental health.
• Computational Biology - Multi-omics integration, AI-driven biosurveillance, and predictive modeling for One Health solutions.
• Biomedical Engineering, Imaging, and Pharmacy - AI-powered drug delivery platforms and processes, biosensors, molecular and functional imaging, and pharmacology solutions.
• Computational Epidemiology, Toxicology, and Public Health - AI-driven models for disease prediction, risk assessment, and public health intervention.
• Microbiome Sciences in One Health - predicting and controlling microbiomes for improving plant, animal, human, and environmental health.

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, toxicology, computer science, engineering, biomedical science, or a related discipline by the start of the appointment
• A record of research excellence and productivity commensurate with rank
• Demonstrated potential or record of interdisciplinary collaboration and impactful scholarship
• Commitment to teaching and student mentorship

Application Process
To apply, please submit a cover letter, CV, research statement, teaching statement, and contact information for at least three references. During the application process, the candidate will be given an opportunity to identify which academic department(s) align with their scholarly interests. Review of applications will begin on November 14, 2025, and continue until positions are filled.

A background check is required for employment in this position.

Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access university.

To apply, please visit: https://careers.purdue.edu/job/AssistantAssociate-Professor-AI-Driven-Biomolecular-Design%2C-Biotechnology%2C-and-Computational-Biol/39197-en_US/

About Purdue University

About the Department Following five years of growth, Purdue’s Public Health program was elevated to become the Department of Public Health, which is now expanding its enrollment, faculty and training options. The Department is committed to conducting outstanding research, educating students in a diverse and inclusive environment, and promoting health through engagement with the public. The Department is home to 21 tenured/tenure-track and clinical faculty and limited term lecturers, 174 residential and online graduate students, and over 170 undergraduate students. The new faculty hires are designed to support planned growth in the areas of epidemiology, women’s health and health disparities. Degrees offered include the BS, MS, and PhD in Public Health and a CEPH-accredited MPH (residential, hybrid, online). A fully online Master of Health Administration degree will soon be launched. Faculty in Public Health have access to a wide range of cross-campus research initiatives, including the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute; the Center for Health Equity and Innovation; the Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunol...ogy and Infectious Disease; the Purdue Center for Cancer Research, the Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, the Center on Aging and the Life Course, the Women’s Global Health Institute, and others among the 135 university-approved centers and institutes. About the College and the University The Department of Public Health is one of nine academic units comprising the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS). HHS is the third largest college at Purdue and holds national and international recognition for fundamental scientific and programmatic contributions that improve the health of individuals, families, and communities. The College strives to elevate Purdue's reputation in the health and human sciences field by positioning the University to meet the mental, physical, social and economic health challenges facing the population locally and globally. Its multidisciplinary learning environment uniquely prepares students to contribute to improved human health and behavior and to one day serve as leaders in their disciplines. Purdue University is consistently ranked among the leading research institutions in the country. There are over 46,000 students enrolled on its flagship campus in West Lafayette, Indiana. Purdue is located in Tippecanoe County and is one hour from Indianapolis and two hours from Chicago.

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