Chemistry Professor Jobs in Illinois
Chemistry professor jobs in Illinois concentrate in higher education, pharmaceutical research, and materials science, with demand at every level from visiting instructor to tenured full professor. Chicago, Urbana-Champaign, and Evanston anchor the largest share of openings, where institutions like the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois system maintain large chemistry departments with consistent hiring. Analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, and materials chemistry are the sub-areas drawing the most sustained interest from Illinois employers. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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FULL-TIME TENURE TRACK FACULTY – CHEMISTRY
WILBUR WRIGHT COLLEGE
City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), the largest community college system in Illinois, is made up of seven colleges and five satellite sites, providing more than 65,000 students each year access to a quality, affordable education. The vision of CCC is to be recognized as the city’s most accessible higher education engine of socioeconomic mobility and racial equity – empowering all Chicagoans to take part in building a stronger and more just city.
The Physical Sciences Department of Wilbur Wright College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, seeks an innovative, collaborative, tenure-track instructor to teach Chemistry courses effective Spring 2027.
Reporting to the Vice President of Academic Affairs, the full-time faculty position conducts formal classes and meets all lab objectives, when applicable, for assigned courses. Full-time faculty teach and evaluate students and prepare and revise course syllabi and other educational materials. Full-time faculty will have demonstrated success in the classroom by developing and using effective teaching strategies that meet students’ diverse needs and engage students in critical thinking and problem-solving. Additionally, full-time faculty contribute to the overall operation of the College, support the mission of the institution, and employ the philosophical commitment of the community college environment.
City Colleges is committed to building a culture of excellence that inspires everyone to become the best in class for students and the community. City Colleges has a set of Academic Excellence Pillars that set the attributes and qualities that embody what it is to be an excellent member of the faculty at CCC. These pillars emphasize City Colleges’ focus on student learning and success, equity, and the importance of instructional technologies in becoming highly effective educators. Additionally, each pillar serves as a guide for supporting faculty through their life cycle at CCC.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Designs courses and prepares syllabi that have clearly articulated student learning objectives and learning outcomes that promote students’ active participation in their own learning.
- Teaches on-campus in a manner consistent with the philosophy, policies, and guidelines of the college.
- Creates an effective learning environment that fosters students’ intellectual curiosity and helps students to problem solve using discipline-specific thinking strategies.
- Demonstrates excellence in teaching and a commitment to integrating new technologies in the learning process.
- Helps students reach their academic, personal, and career goals and fosters a safe environment that respects the diversity of individuals and ideas by modeling respect for all students and conveying confidence in every student’s ability to learn.
- Develops reciprocity and cooperation among students. Encourages active learning.
- Employs a variety of teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, demonstrations, projects, and field trips in efforts to meet students’ varying learning needs, abilities, and interests and to optimize student outcomes.
- Works individually with students who may need specific assistance in reaching their academic, personal, and career goals.
- Models respect for all students and conveys confidence in every student’s ability to learn.
- Provides regular and useful feedback to students in an objective, consistent, and timely manner; evaluates and documents student performance using established methods and criteria and records course grades promptly.
- Employs a variety of formative and summative assessments to ensure that classroom instruction leads to student learning and the attainment of student learning outcomes for the course.
- Develops and designs an assessment program that ensures students’ application and use of concepts, techniques, and innovations learned both in the classroom and through external course work.
- Stays abreast of innovations and current trends in one’s specific academic discipline as they pertain to pedagogy and technology and continuously reflect on and refine their craft.
- Participates in professional development activities aimed at enhancing the Talents of Teaching.
- Attends regularly scheduled departmental meetings and contributes to campus and District committees.
- Contributes to and provides leadership in academic and professional communities and promotes collaboration and teamwork among members of these communities.
- Adheres to City Colleges of Chicago’s student-centered philosophy. Fosters student involvement and commitment.
QUALIFICATIONS
- M.S. in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering – OR – Master’s degree and 18 graduate semester hours in chemistry
- Two to three years of teaching experience at the college level preferred.
- Excellent verbal and written skills required with the ability to communicate persuasively with tact and diplomacy.
- Ability to work in a culturally diverse work environment.
- Experience with a diverse, multi-lingual student population desired, as is a commitment to the open access mission of the community college.
- Has a disposition towards developing the competencies outlined in the City Colleges Academic Excellence Pillars.
- Knowledge of Brightspace or similar Learning Management System preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
The City Colleges of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Please read our Annual Notification of Non-Discrimination for more information.
We seek a diverse pool of applicants who are committed to building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all students, staff, and faculty. Members of all underrepresented groups, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are invited and encouraged to apply.
The intent of this job description is to provide a general description of the duties and responsibilities of this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive set of the duties and responsibilities, nor all of the necessary qualifications to perform the work.
FOR CONSIDERATION
All interested candidates, including current CCC employees, are required to submit ALL of the following documents together for review:
- Letter of interest
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Statement of teaching philosophy inclusive of commitment to equity in the classroom
- Legible copy of college transcripts (unofficial transcripts initially accepted; official transcripts required at time of interview)
- List of three (3) professional references (including e-mail and telephone number)
Completed applications will be reviewed beginning October 1, 2026.
An in-person teaching demonstration will be required of selected candidates at a future date.
Other information - This position is represented by: Local 1600 CCCTU.
- Salary Information: $58,000 - $65,000 annually (9-month salary range)
- Offered salary will be determined by the respective collective bargaining agreement and applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities
- Benefits information is found at https://www.ccc.edu/departments/Benefits/
Chicago residency is required for all full-time employees within six (6) months of hire. We are an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Thank you for your interest in City Colleges of Chicago!
See All 6 Chemistry Professor Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Chemistry Professor JobsChemistry Professor Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Chemistry Professor Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
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What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chemistry professor jobs across Illinois.
- Earned doctorate in chemistry or a closely related field from an accredited institution
- Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed research with active or completed grant funding
- Experience teaching undergraduate or graduate chemistry courses, including laboratory sections
- Ability to develop and maintain an independent research program aligned with departmental focus
- Proficiency with instrumentation such as NMR, mass spectrometry, or X-ray crystallography relevant to specialty
- Strong written and oral communication skills for publishing, grant writing, and student mentorship
Chemistry Professor Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a chemistry professor in Illinois?
Becoming a chemistry professor in Illinois requires earning a doctoral degree in chemistry or a closely related discipline, as Illinois colleges and universities treat the Ph.D. as the terminal credential for faculty hiring. Illinois does not require a state-issued teaching license for college-level chemistry instructors. Candidates typically complete a postdoctoral fellowship to build a research portfolio before applying to tenure-track or visiting positions at Illinois institutions.
Which companies hire chemistry professors in Illinois?
Illinois chemistry professor roles are posted by Parkland College, North Park University, and University of Illinois and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's dense network of research universities and liberal arts colleges means academic openings appear year-round across the state.
Which Illinois cities have the most chemistry professor jobs?
Chicago, Elgin, and Champaign account for the largest share of chemistry professor openings in Illinois. Chicago's concentration of universities and affiliated research hospitals drives volume in the metro, while Urbana-Champaign reflects the University of Illinois's flagship campus, and Evanston is anchored by Northwestern University's robust chemistry and chemical engineering programs.
Are there remote chemistry professor jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. About 0% of chemistry professor openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of laboratory instruction and bench research that defines most faculty roles. The parts of the position most suited to remote work are course design, dissertation advising, and grant writing rather than teaching or lab supervision.
How can I get hired as a chemistry professor in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is a postdoctoral research appointment at an Illinois institution, which builds the publication record and teaching experience search committees require. Candidates with a newly completed doctorate can target visiting assistant professor or lecturer positions at Illinois community colleges and smaller four-year schools, where teaching load is the priority over research output. A strong teaching portfolio and letters from faculty mentors at University of Illinois, Northwestern, or other Illinois research programs carry significant weight with hiring committees.
Where can I find and apply to chemistry professor jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to chemistry professor jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from institutions across the state. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 6 Chemistry Professor Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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