A full-time, probationary tenure-track assistant professor position is available in the Department of Physics & Astronomy in the College of Arts & Sciences for the 2024?2025 academic year beginning August 22, 2024.  The department seeks a dynamic candidate with expertise in physics and/or astronomy who is committed to teaching excellence and establishing a collaborative undergraduate research program.  The official title is Assistant Professor, and this tenure-track appointment carries an initial two-year probationary appointment.  Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

QUALIFICATIONS: Requirement:  A PhD in physics, astronomy, or a related field from a regionally accredited higher education institution.  Assets:  Previous teaching experience and a demonstrated ability to teach all levels of undergraduate physics and/or astronomy; previous research experience and a demonstrated ability to lead a collaborative undergraduate research program; and the ability to enhance the diversity of the department, to demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness, and to serve as a role model and mentor for women and/or minorities.

DUTIES: The selected candidate will be expected to teach all levels of undergraduate physics and/or astronomy courses as assigned in the Department of Physics & Astronomy based on program needs and in accordance with their area of specialization.  The selected applicant will teach approximately 9 credit hours (approximately 12 contact hours) each semester, which includes both lecture and laboratory sections.  They will participate in collaborative research and scholarly activities involving undergraduate students.  They will also provide academic advising to students as assigned and engage in service to the department, University, and profession.

THE UNIT: The Department of Physics & Astronomy is composed of 9 faculty and instructional staff, an instrumentation specialist, and a department assistant.  The department graduates approximately 20 majors per year and strives to provide quality undergraduate programs to students with a variety of educational goals, including Physics, Applied Physics, Astrophysics, Pre-Engineering, and Dual Degree Engineering.  We actively promote collegiality among faculty and work to provide a supportive environment for all students.  We are committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion as we seek to increase the numbers of women and underrepresented groups among our students and staff.  Current areas of active research with strong emphasis on undergraduate collaboration include surface science, atomic physics, computational physics, astronomy/astrophysics, optics, and physics education.  The department has research equipment including an optics laboratory, a 24-inch reflecting telescope, a 1-Tesla electromagnet, wood and metal shops, and a digital fabrication lab.  In addition, the department has access to a campus high-performance supercomputer center with two clusters comprising over 4,000 CPU cores spread across 85 nodes.  The department participates in a wide variety of outreach endeavors, including a planetarium and Science Theatre demos.  The department is closely linked to the interdisciplinary Materials Science & Engineering Center with a large array of materials characterization instrumentation (thermal deposition equipment, XRD, FTIR, SEM/EDS, TEM/EDS, AFM, XPS, XRF, ICP-MS, etc.).  Additional information about the department can be found on our website:  uwec.ly/physics.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Applications are submitted electronically.  Please follow instructions found on the UW-Eau Claire website:  https://www.uwec.edu/job-postings/.  Scroll down to find this position listed, then click on the “Apply Now” button and follow the instructions.  You must create an account and login before you can apply.  If you have not yet registered, click on the "Click here to Register" link to begin the registration process. If you are already a registered user, input your "User Name" and "Password" and select "Login."  Click the link to the Physics and Astronomy: Assistant Professor position (Job ID #20110) and then click the "Apply Now" button to submit your application electronically.  Your application will not be considered complete until all required documents are attached, and all required fields are completed.  Please be sure you have included the following in PDF format:

• Letter of application.
• Curriculum vita.
• Statement of teaching interests and experience.
• Statement of research interests and experience, including proposed undergraduate research projects.
• Graduate and undergraduate transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable for the application but official copies will be required when the position is offered).
• Applicants will also arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent directly from the recommender to PhysicsHire@uwec.edu. Applications will not be considered complete until all three reference letters have arrived.

Please direct requests for additional information to Dr. Erik Hendrickson:  hendrije@uwec.edu.

Priority will be given to completed applications received by November 1, 2023, with applications accepted until position is filled.  The university reserves the right to contact additional references with notice given to the candidates at an appropriate time in the process.  Employment will require a background check.  Employment will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding past conduct related to sexual violence and sexual harassment.

UW-Eau Claire is an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disability employer dedicated to enhancing equity, diversity, and inclusion.