The Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences at American University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor beginning August 1, 2024. Applicants should have a PhD or an anticipated PhD completion by August 2024 in physics or a space-science related field. Depending on qualifications, the appointee to this position may be recommended for tenure at the time of hiring.

Candidates should be effective teachers and must be strongly committed to excellence in scholarly research and student mentorship. We encourage applications from candidates engaged in high-quality scholarship in space science, broadly defined to include astronomy, astrophysics, heliophysics, gravitational waves, planetary science, solar physics, space technology, science policy, and related fields. The Physics Department currently offers undergraduate degrees in physics and minors in space studies, applied physics, and physics. Successful candidates are expected to teach across the undergraduate curriculum to both physics majors and non-majors and to help the department grow its programs and activities in the space sciences. In addition to scholarship and teaching, responsibilities will include participation in department, school and university activities and service.

American University is a private institution with an increasingly diverse student population in a dynamic metropolitan area. Our campus is within easy reach of the many centers of physics and space science located in and around the nation’s capital, including NASA, NOAA, Space Telescope Science Institute, NIST, DOE, and many other federally funded labs and research centers. The Physics Department prides itself on its student-centered approach to mentorship and teaching and is committed to building an inclusive and welcoming community for all students interested in physics and space science. We have ongoing research partnerships through the American University Integrated Space Science and Technology Institute (ISSTI), a cohort of externally funded research faculty in the space sciences. American University is also the lead institution for the NASA DC Space Grant Consortium (DCSGC), which is housed in the Physics Department and supports student research, workforce development, and broadening participation across DC. We welcome applications that demonstrate interest in collaboration with existing faculty and local institutions, including interdisciplinary collaborations in adjacent fields like policy, education, and communication. Learn more about ISSTI, DCSGC, and the Physics Department at https://www.american.edu/cas/physics/.

Salary and benefits are competitive. Review of applications will begin November 15 and will continue until the position is filled, subject to on-going budgetary approval. Please submit applications via: http://apply.interfolio.com/129628. Include a letter of application which explains your career trajectory, a curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, a research statement that includes plans for undergraduate participation, and a teaching statement that includes strategies for teaching a diverse student body. Please contact Gregory Harry, Search Committee Chair, harry@american.edu if you have any questions. 

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively “Protected Bases”) in its programs and activities.

American University is a tobacco and smoke free campus.

Hiring offers for this position are contingent on the successful completion of a background check. 

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