Gruebele was head of chemistry (2017–2020) and currently James R. Eiszner Endowed Chair (2008–present) in Chemistry, professor of physics, professor of biophysics and quantitative biology, professor in the Center for Advanced Study, and professor in the Carle-Illinois College of Medicine. He also is a faculty member of the Beckman Institute at the University of Illinois, and was an adjunct professor of physics at Michigan State University to support biological physics faculty mentoring.