Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM) seeks a research-intensive faculty member with expertise in microbiology and infectious diseases to join its founding biomedical sciences faculty. This position is a tenure or tenure-track appointment, contingent upon the availability of extramural research funding, and carries a distribution of effort of approximately 60% research, 30% teaching, and 10% service.

The successful candidate will lead an established infectious disease translational research laboratory, develop and sustain a productive, externally funded research program, and contribute to microbiology education within the undergraduate medical curriculum. The position offers a unique opportunity to conduct clinically relevant, translational microbiology research within a mission-driven academic medical environment.

About XOCOM

Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine represents a historic partnership between Xavier University of Louisiana, a national leader in educating underrepresented students in the sciences and medicine, and Ochsner Health, Louisiana’s largest academic health system. XOCOM is committed to excellence in research, education, and service and to advancing health equity through scholarship, innovation, and inclusive medical education.

• Doctoral degree (PhD, MD/PhD) in microbiology or infectious diseases;
• Postdoctoral training or equivalent research experience;
• Demonstrated record of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications;
• Evidence of ability or strong potential to obtain extramural research funding;
• Experience or demonstrated potential for mentoring students and research personnel;
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Established or emerging research program in translational or clinical microbiology;
• Experience directing or codirecting a research laboratory;
• History of successful extramural funding as principal investigator or coinvestigator;
• Experience collaborating with clinical or translational research partners;
• Prior teaching experience in medical or health professions education.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide scientific leadership and oversight of an established infectious disease translational research laboratory, including strategic planning, personnel supervision, and program development;
• Maintain an existing bank of 37,000 clinical bacterial and yeast isolates collected from 1999 to present, including 21,000 sourced from positive blood cultures, including some multi-drug resistant strains;
• Develop, maintain, and expand an independent, externally funded research program in microbiology or infectious diseases;
• Write and submit competitive extramural grant applications (e.g., NIH, NSF, CDC, foundations) sufficient to support a significant portion of the PI’s salary and research program expenses;
• Conduct original, high-quality translational research and disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications and national/international scientific meetings;
• Oversee research involving clinical bacterial and fungal isolates and related translational microbiology methodologies;
• Ensure compliance with all applicable research regulations, biosafety standards, and institutional policies including maintenance of College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation and CLIA certification;
• Supervise and mentor laboratory personnel, including research staff and trainees.

• Serve as contributing faculty in microbiology and related biomedical sciences teaching sessions within the medical curriculum;
• Deliver lectures, small-group facilitation, and other instructional activities aligned with institutional teaching needs;
• Participate in assessment development and evaluation related to microbiology content;
• Mentor medical students and trainees with interests in microbiology, infectious diseases, or research careers.

• Participate in departmental, college, or university service activities as appropriate to rank;
• Contribute to committees, working groups, or governance bodies in support of XOCOM’s academic mission;
• Engage in professional service consistent with a research-intensive tenure or tenure-track appointment.