Chemistry Professor Jobs in California
Chemistry Professor jobs in California are concentrated across the University of California and California State University systems, community colleges, and private research institutions, with demand at every level from adjunct instructor to tenured full professor. The largest hiring markets are Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego, where institutions like UCLA, UC San Diego, and Stanford University maintain active chemistry and biochemistry departments. The most sought-after specialties include organic chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science, reflecting California's strength in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and semiconductor research. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 18+ Chemistry Professor jobs
Posting Number: F01381
Location: Contra Costa College
Salary:
Description of Position:
The Chemistry Department at Contra Costa Community College is accepting applications for a Tenure-Track Faculty (full time). This assignment begins in August 2027.The successful applicant will be well qualified to teach all transfer-level chemistry courses in a variety of teaching modalities. The applicant's teaching approach will provide an inclusive learning environment that promotes the success of all students and will be dedicated to the functioning and improvement of the department and college. The ideal candidate will be passionate about teaching, actively engaged in adapting teaching style to enhancing student learning, and committed to working collaboratively within the department and across the college to shape the future direction of education in our community.The student population of Contra Costa College (CCC) reflects its surrounding diverse communities. CCC is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and serves predominantly historically disadvantaged and under-represented student groups including African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Latinx students. CCC is situated in a socioeconomically diverse, resilient, and culturally vibrant community. We seek candidates who embrace our community, our student population, and our central work: strengthening West County by meeting our students where they are and helping them get to where they want to be.We seek candidates who operate with a growth mindset, a strength-based approach centered on students, and a commitment to equity, especially concerning the elimination of barriers to college access, success, and completion. The ideal candidate will be eager to help construct and maintain a culture of continuous improvement in instructional effectiveness.
Inquiries:
Amber Tu, Sr. Administrative Assistant, to VP of Equity and Instruction
atu@contracosta.edu
Position Status: Tenure- Track
EEO Job Category: Faculty & Other Instructional Staff
Employee Group: Full-Time Faculty
Department: C7004-Chemistry
Duties and Responsibilities:
In addition to contractual duties, all full-time faculty are expected to participate actively in their disciplines, department activities, and the general intellectual life and governance of the college. Part of the teaching assignment may be in the evening and/or online. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
1. advancing equitable student learning through dedicated, exemplary instruction in accordance with established course outlines;
2. participating in the assessment of student learning outcomes for courses and programs; developing and implementing student learning outcomes assessment processes for courses and programs;
3. collaborating in the development and revision of curriculum and in program review;
4. engaging in department program improvement initiatives;
5. participating in department, division, and college committees;
6. participating in professional development activities, both departmental and college-wide;
7. maintaining current knowledge in the subject matter area and effective teaching/ learning strategies;
8. maintaining appropriate standards of professional conduct and ethics;
9. informing students of course requirements, evaluation procedures and attendance requirements;
10. preparing and grading class assignments and examinations and informing students of their academic progress;
11. maintaining attendance, scholastic, and personnel records and submitting them according to published deadlines;
12. posting and holding sufficient and regular office hours in accordance with prevailing policy;
13. participating in College's shared governance processes.
Minimum Qualification-Education/Experience:
Understanding of and sensitivity to the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, sexual orientation and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff and faculty.EDUCATIONNote: Degrees must be from an accredited college/university. Transcripts must show degree(s) conferred.
Master's in chemistryORBachelor's in chemistry or biochemistry AND Master's in biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical physics, physics, molecular biology or geochemistry OR the equivalentORThe equivalent
EQUIVALENCY If you are applying for equivalency, please attach the Master's Degree Discipline Equivalency form contained in the application packet and explain how your background is the equivalent.
Desirable Qualifications:
Ideal candidates will possess extraordinary interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, a passion for teaching, and the ability to effectively communicate with students to help them achieve their educational goals.
- Commitment to the development and practice of equity-minded pedagogy to promote the learning, retention, and success of students in a diverse community college learning environment
- Experience and willingness to teach chemistry courses offered in all formats: in-person, hybrid, and/or online.
- Demonstrated commitment to professional growth and development, to innovation and improvement of teaching, as evidenced by activities in curriculum development, chemical education or chemistry, and/or recent scholarly publications
- Interest in and commitment to being a collaborative member of the chemistry department, participating on faculty committees, and engaging in campus activities
- Ability to teach all lower division courses in chemistry with a focus on introductory chemistry
- Effective written and oral communication skills
Job Open Date: 10/30/2026
Job Close Date: 02/01/2027
Open Until Filled: No
Employment Begins: August 2027
# of Months: 10
Posting Number: F01381
Location: Contra Costa College
Salary:
Description of Position:
The Chemistry Department at Contra Costa Community College is accepting applications for a Tenure-Track Faculty (full time). This assignment begins in August 2027.The successful applicant will be well qualified to teach all transfer-level chemistry courses in a variety of teaching modalities. The applicant's teaching approach will provide an inclusive learning environment that promotes the success of all students and will be dedicated to the functioning and improvement of the department and college. The ideal candidate will be passionate about teaching, actively engaged in adapting teaching style to enhancing student learning, and committed to working collaboratively within the department and across the college to shape the future direction of education in our community.The student population of Contra Costa College (CCC) reflects its surrounding diverse communities. CCC is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and serves predominantly historically disadvantaged and under-represented student groups including African American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and Latinx students. CCC is situated in a socioeconomically diverse, resilient, and culturally vibrant community. We seek candidates who embrace our community, our student population, and our central work: strengthening West County by meeting our students where they are and helping them get to where they want to be.We seek candidates who operate with a growth mindset, a strength-based approach centered on students, and a commitment to equity, especially concerning the elimination of barriers to college access, success, and completion. The ideal candidate will be eager to help construct and maintain a culture of continuous improvement in instructional effectiveness.
Inquiries:
Amber Tu, Sr. Administrative Assistant, to VP of Equity and Instruction
atu@contracosta.edu
Position Status: Tenure- Track
EEO Job Category: Faculty & Other Instructional Staff
Employee Group: Full-Time Faculty
Department: C7004-Chemistry
Duties and Responsibilities:
In addition to contractual duties, all full-time faculty are expected to participate actively in their disciplines, department activities, and the general intellectual life and governance of the college. Part of the teaching assignment may be in the evening and/or online. Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
1. advancing equitable student learning through dedicated, exemplary instruction in accordance with established course outlines;
2. participating in the assessment of student learning outcomes for courses and programs; developing and implementing student learning outcomes assessment processes for courses and programs;
3. collaborating in the development and revision of curriculum and in program review;
4. engaging in department program improvement initiatives;
5. participating in department, division, and college committees;
6. participating in professional development activities, both departmental and college-wide;
7. maintaining current knowledge in the subject matter area and effective teaching/ learning strategies;
8. maintaining appropriate standards of professional conduct and ethics;
9. informing students of course requirements, evaluation procedures and attendance requirements;
10. preparing and grading class assignments and examinations and informing students of their academic progress;
11. maintaining attendance, scholastic, and personnel records and submitting them according to published deadlines;
12. posting and holding sufficient and regular office hours in accordance with prevailing policy;
13. participating in College's shared governance processes.
Minimum Qualification-Education/Experience:
Understanding of and sensitivity to the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, sexual orientation and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff and faculty.EDUCATIONNote: Degrees must be from an accredited college/university. Transcripts must show degree(s) conferred.
Master's in chemistryORBachelor's in chemistry or biochemistry AND Master's in biochemistry, chemical engineering, chemical physics, physics, molecular biology or geochemistry OR the equivalentORThe equivalent
EQUIVALENCY If you are applying for equivalency, please attach the Master's Degree Discipline Equivalency form contained in the application packet and explain how your background is the equivalent.
Desirable Qualifications:
Ideal candidates will possess extraordinary interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, a passion for teaching, and the ability to effectively communicate with students to help them achieve their educational goals.
- Commitment to the development and practice of equity-minded pedagogy to promote the learning, retention, and success of students in a diverse community college learning environment
- Experience and willingness to teach chemistry courses offered in all formats: in-person, hybrid, and/or online.
- Demonstrated commitment to professional growth and development, to innovation and improvement of teaching, as evidenced by activities in curriculum development, chemical education or chemistry, and/or recent scholarly publications
- Interest in and commitment to being a collaborative member of the chemistry department, participating on faculty committees, and engaging in campus activities
- Ability to teach all lower division courses in chemistry with a focus on introductory chemistry
- Effective written and oral communication skills
Job Open Date: 10/30/2026
Job Close Date: 02/01/2027
Open Until Filled: No
Employment Begins: August 2027
# of Months: 10
See All 18 Chemistry Professor Jobs in California
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Find Chemistry Professor JobsChemistry Professor Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Chemistry Professor Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
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What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chemistry professor jobs across California.
- PhD in chemistry or a closely related field required for tenure-track positions
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed research and scholarly publications in chemistry
- Prior teaching experience at the undergraduate or graduate college level preferred
- Ability to develop and lead laboratory courses with safe chemical handling practices
- Active engagement in grant writing and external research funding strongly preferred
- Strong communication skills for advising students and collaborating with faculty teams
Chemistry Professor Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a chemistry professor in California?
Becoming a chemistry professor in California typically requires a PhD in chemistry or a directly related discipline from an accredited institution. California does not issue a state license specifically for college-level chemistry professors, but community college instructors must meet minimum qualifications set by the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, which require a master's degree in chemistry or a closely related field. Teaching experience, a research portfolio, and strong letters of recommendation strengthen applications at both four-year universities and two-year colleges.
Which companies hire chemistry professors in California?
Employers hiring chemistry professors in California right now include University of California Berkeley, University of California, Santa Barbara, and UC Davis, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. California's large public university systems and its dense network of community college districts make it one of the most active hiring markets for chemistry faculty in the country.
Which California cities have the most chemistry professor jobs?
Berkeley, San Diego, and Los Angeles have the most chemistry professor openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of the density of UC and Cal State campuses alongside private institutions, the Bay Area follows due to Stanford, UC Berkeley, and a cluster of research-driven universities, and San Diego draws faculty demand from UC San Diego and a strong pharmaceutical and biotech corridor that supports both academic and industry-affiliated teaching roles.
Are there remote chemistry professor jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 20% of chemistry professor openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on laboratory component central to most chemistry instruction. The portions of the role most suited to remote delivery include lecture-based courses, thesis advising, curriculum development, and grant writing, while laboratory instruction and student mentorship remain on-site.
How can I get hired as a chemistry professor in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a postdoctoral research appointment at a UC or Cal State campus, which builds both the publication record and teaching portfolio that hiring committees require. Community college districts across California, including the Los Angeles Community College District and the San Diego Community College District, regularly hire part-time and adjunct instructors who hold a master's degree in chemistry, making adjunct positions a common first step. Teaching assistant roles during graduate study and lecturer appointments count as qualifying experience, and completing the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office minimum qualifications documentation strengthens applications to the state's two-year colleges.
Where can I find and apply to chemistry professor jobs in California?
You can find and apply to chemistry professor jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from California employers updated regularly. Search the listings to find roles that match your specialization and experience level, then apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 18 Chemistry Professor Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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