Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs in California
Assistant Or Associate Professor jobs in California are concentrated in higher education, research universities, and community colleges, with openings at every level from tenure-track assistant positions to associate appointments nearing full tenure. The Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego metros drive the most consistent hiring, anchored by institutions like the University of California system, California State University, and Stanford University. Demand is strongest in STEM fields, health sciences, and business, reflecting California's research economy and graduate enrollment growth. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong interest in medical education and training and have experience teaching dissection-based human gross anatomy. Teaching responsibilities will be centered on team-taught gross anatomy for the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and for the Master of Science in Medical Health Science (MSMHS) program in the COM, as well as helping to advance the educational mission of the Department and interdisciplinary educational initiatives in the COM and mentoring students in research including master's and DO students. The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain a productive research program and actively seek intramural and extramural funding to support their research activities. The successful applicant is also expected to engage in service and leadership to the Department of Foundational Biomedical Sciences, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro University, and the broader scientific and professional community.
- Create and deliver engaging instructional content in human gross anatomy for the COM curriculum.
- Develop effective instructional tools, demonstrations and/or guided presentations.
- Incorporate evidence-based and innovative instructional methods to teaching and learning.
- Facilitate small and large group discussion.
- Design formative and summative assessments to evaluate student performance using a variety of methods.
- Serve as a module or course director as appropriate.
- Mentor and advise students to support their academic and professional development.
- Guide and supervise medical and master's students in research and scholarship.
- Participate in course development and planning of the curriculum.
- Promote an appropriate atmosphere for student education and be responsive to student needs.
- Engage in scholarly activity and research in the basic sciences, clinical sciences, or medical education.
- Participate in and contribute to essential service functions at the level of the department, college, and university.
Qualifications:
- Ph.D in anatomy or a related discipline is required. The successful applicant must have defended their Ph.D. prior to the start date of the position.
- Preference may be given to candidates with substantial experience teaching cadaver dissection anatomy to medical students or to students in other health professions and/or research experience that complements the strengths of the anatomy team or Department of Foundational Biomedical Sciences.
- Additional experience in teaching clinically relevant embryology, imaging, and/or incorporating technology to augment learning is preferred but not required.
Core Competencies
- Strong knowledge base in specialty area(s)
- A demonstrated ability and desire to teach
- Evidence of research productivity/promise
- Ability to work collaboratively
- Strong interpersonal skills and the enthusiasm and motivation to contribute to the growth and development of the Foundational Biomedical Sciences Department.
The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong interest in medical education and training and have experience teaching dissection-based human gross anatomy. Teaching responsibilities will be centered on team-taught gross anatomy for the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and for the Master of Science in Medical Health Science (MSMHS) program in the COM, as well as helping to advance the educational mission of the Department and interdisciplinary educational initiatives in the COM and mentoring students in research including master's and DO students. The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain a productive research program and actively seek intramural and extramural funding to support their research activities. The successful applicant is also expected to engage in service and leadership to the Department of Foundational Biomedical Sciences, the College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro University, and the broader scientific and professional community.
- Create and deliver engaging instructional content in human gross anatomy for the COM curriculum.
- Develop effective instructional tools, demonstrations and/or guided presentations.
- Incorporate evidence-based and innovative instructional methods to teaching and learning.
- Facilitate small and large group discussion.
- Design formative and summative assessments to evaluate student performance using a variety of methods.
- Serve as a module or course director as appropriate.
- Mentor and advise students to support their academic and professional development.
- Guide and supervise medical and master's students in research and scholarship.
- Participate in course development and planning of the curriculum.
- Promote an appropriate atmosphere for student education and be responsive to student needs.
- Engage in scholarly activity and research in the basic sciences, clinical sciences, or medical education.
- Participate in and contribute to essential service functions at the level of the department, college, and university.
Qualifications:
- Ph.D in anatomy or a related discipline is required. The successful applicant must have defended their Ph.D. prior to the start date of the position.
- Preference may be given to candidates with substantial experience teaching cadaver dissection anatomy to medical students or to students in other health professions and/or research experience that complements the strengths of the anatomy team or Department of Foundational Biomedical Sciences.
- Additional experience in teaching clinically relevant embryology, imaging, and/or incorporating technology to augment learning is preferred but not required.
Core Competencies
- Strong knowledge base in specialty area(s)
- A demonstrated ability and desire to teach
- Evidence of research productivity/promise
- Ability to work collaboratively
- Strong interpersonal skills and the enthusiasm and motivation to contribute to the growth and development of the Foundational Biomedical Sciences Department.
See All 152+ Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs in California
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Find JobsAssistant Or Associate Professor Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Assistant Or Associate Professor Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- UC San Diego90
- University of Southern California18
- UC Davis9
- UC San Francisco Academic9
- University of California Los Angeles8
Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Technology & Software
- Healthcare & Medical Services
- Investment & Asset Management
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in assistant or associate professor jobs across California.
- Earned doctoral degree or terminal degree in the relevant academic discipline required
- Active research agenda with a record of peer-reviewed publications or creative work
- Prior university teaching experience, including course design and student assessment
- Demonstrated ability to secure or contribute to extramural grant funding
- Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in teaching and departmental service
- Evidence of collegiality and readiness to contribute to faculty governance
Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a assistant or associate professor in California?
Becoming an assistant or associate professor in California typically requires completing a doctoral or terminal degree from an accredited institution in your discipline. California's public university systems, including the University of California and California State University, require candidates to apply through official faculty recruitment postings, often reviewed by search committees. Demonstrated teaching effectiveness, an active research or creative agenda, and readiness to fulfill service obligations are the core criteria evaluated during hiring.
Which companies hire assistant or associate professors in California?
Companies currently hiring assistant or associate professors in California include UC San Diego, University of Southern California, and UC Davis, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's high concentration of research universities, private colleges, and community college districts means faculty openings appear statewide year-round across disciplines.
Which California cities have the most assistant or associate professor jobs?
San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco consistently post the most assistant or associate professor openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its density of research universities, private colleges, and community colleges, while the San Francisco Bay Area reflects demand tied to STEM and professional programs at institutions anchored there, and San Diego's openings track closely with its research university and health sciences presence.
Are there remote assistant or associate professor jobs in California?
Yes, but they are relatively uncommon. About 71% of assistant or associate professor openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most faculty roles require in-person instruction, lab supervision, and committee participation. The portions of the role most likely to be conducted remotely are online course sections, research writing, and committee work where institutions have adopted hybrid models.
How can I get hired as a assistant or associate professor in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a postdoctoral fellowship or visiting assistant professor appointment, both of which are widely available at University of California and California State University campuses and serve as primary pipelines into tenure-track positions. Lecturers and adjunct instructors at California community colleges often transition into full-time associate faculty roles after demonstrating teaching effectiveness. Completing a discipline-specific certificate or building a portfolio of peer-reviewed publications strengthens applications considerably for candidates without a full-time faculty record.
Where can I find and apply to assistant or associate professor jobs in California?
You can find and apply to assistant or associate professor jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings across institutions and disciplines. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the postings that match.
See All 152+ Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs in California
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