Description
Assistant Professor
Translational Neuropharmacologist in Metabolic Engineering
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
Position Summary
The University of Georgia invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-track faculty position in the interdisciplinary area of Translational Neuropharmacologist in Metabolic Engineering, as part of the 2025–2026 Presidential Strategic Faculty Hiring Initiative (PHI). This position represents a collaborative recruitment effort between the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering (CMBE) in the College of Engineering and the Isakson Center for Neurological Disease Research (ICNDR).
We seek candidates whose work bridges neuropharmacology, metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, gut-brain physiology, and translational neuroscience to advance therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and related disorders. Areas of interest include (but are not limited to):
- Translational neuropharmacology and biotherapeutic discovery including use of computational and experimental approaches to identify and engineer genetic elements encoding, for example, metabolic pathways and enzymes leading to development of new cell- and microbial-biotherapeutic agents for preclinical evaluation in cell-based and animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, among other related neurological disorders.
- Neurobiological mechanisms of gut microbiome-brain axis in pathogenesis neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions, and identification of novel biotherapeutic targets for neuroprotection, neurorestoration, and neuromodulation.
- Precision medicine approaches integrating metabolomic, genomic and phenomics datasets to understand and predict pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicity of cell-based biotherapeutics
- Designing, manufacturing and scaling bioengineered biotherapeutics to optimize stability, delivery, efficacy and safety across various model systems, as required for IND enabling studies.
The successful candidate will be expected to accelerate the development of metabolite-producing cell systems and advance preclinical and clinical testing for neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s), and specifically:
1. Establish an outstanding, internationally recognized translational drug discovery research program at intersection of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
2. Foster and establish interdisciplinary collaborations between the Isakson Center for Neurological Disease Research and the School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering.
3. Demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching excellence at both undergraduate and graduate levels, with particular focus on biomedical physiology and translational pharmacology.
4. Compete successfully for extramural funding including NIH, DOD, NSF and pharmaceutical partners to sustain cutting-edge research and to support an integrated graduate and postdoctoral training program.
Requirements
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- A Ph.D. in biomedical sciences including pharmacology, physiology, neuroscience, pathology and other related fields.
- Translational research experience related to neurodegenerative diseases.
- Evidence of research productivity in translational research.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Demonstrated excellence—or strong potential—in areas relevant to biotherapeutic preclinical evaluation of bioengineered neural therapeutics.
- Knowledge in advancing biotherapeutics from preclinical to clinical commercialization.
- A record of interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Commitment to teaching excellence and student mentoring.
- Display a strong integration of engineering methods with biological or biomedical applications.
- Competitive applicants will have a strong record of innovative research bridging neuropharmacology, neuroscience and metabolic engineering with relevance to translational applications.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must also have a documented research background appropriate for the appointment rank, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, extramural funding, and mentorship of undergraduate and doctoral students. For information about the requirements for each faculty rank, please see the UGA Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion and Tenure.
Application Procedure
To apply, please submit applications at: https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/464789
Applicants are asked to submit the following information along with their application:
- A cover letter (not to exceed two pages) addressing the candidate’s experience relative to the responsibilities of the position.
- A detailed curriculum vita.
- A teaching statement not to exceed 2 pages.
- A research plan not to exceed three pages.
- The names, titles, and contact information for three professional references.
Questions related to the position may be directed to the Search Committee members Dr. Anumantha Kanthasamy (anumantha.kanthasamy@uga.edu) and Dr. Mark Eiteman (nametie@uga.edu). Applications will be reviewed upon receipt. Full consideration will be given to applications received before 15 February; however, the position will remain open until filled.
About the University of Georgia
The University of Georgia (UGA), a land-grant and sea-grant university with statewide commitments and responsibilities, is the state’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 15 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA was founded in 1785 by the Georgia General Assembly as the first state-chartered University in the country. UGA employs approximately 1,800 full-time instructional faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 42,000 students, including over 32,000 undergraduates and over 9,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 18 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens. UGA recently approved a School of Medicine, which is expected to begin admitting students in 2026.
About the Isakson Center for Neurological Disease Research (ICNDR)
ICNDR is an NIH-funded translational neuroscience center within the College of Veterinary Medicine, distinguished by expertise in metabolic engineering, microbiome-based therapeutics, neurodegeneration, neuropharmacology, neurobiology, precision metabolomics and environmental toxicology. ICNDR integrates basic and translational research with undergraduate and graduate teaching in biomedical physiology. The Department of Physiology and Pharmacology has experienced rapid growth, encompassing more than 1100 undergraduate and graduate students and 25 faculty members.
About the School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering
The School of Chemical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering is building a vibrant academic environment that fosters engineering education in a liberal arts environment and research that addresses critical societal needs. The School offers undergraduate and graduate engineering degree programs in biochemical engineering and biological engineering and has grown rapidly to over 500 undergraduate and graduate students and 21 faculty members.
Additional information is available at https://engineering.uga.edu/schools/school-of-chemicalmaterials-biomedical-engineering/
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).