Assistant Professor of Physics; Quantum Physics

Job Description Summary

The Department of Chemistry, Physics and Engineering Studies is seeking candidates for a full‑time, tenure‑track position at the Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level in Physics with a specialization in Quantum Experimental Physics. The department is particularly interested in receiving applications from individuals with backgrounds in the fields of biophysics, chemical biology, biosensing, and biopharmaceuticals.

Responsibilities for this position include teaching undergraduate physics courses, participating in research, contributing to course and curriculum development in the Physics, Biophysics, and Engineering Physics Options, participating in the departmental learning assessment effort, participating in departmental governance, and contributing to departmental community service and outreach. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a vigorous undergraduate research program and pursue external support for their research efforts.

All faculty positions are governed by the tenets of a collective bargaining agreement. Faculty are hired, evaluated, retained, promoted, and tenured based on conditions covered in the union contract. Primary duties include teaching and related activities assigned during a 9‑ or 12‑month year. It is expected that each faculty member engages in all three activities of teaching, research/creative activities, and service.

Teaching: During the first year of this appointment the faculty member is expected to teach 1 course per semester (Fa/Sp). In subsequent years, faculty members are expected to teach 4 to 8 credit courses per year; develop syllabi, teaching materials, and collaborate with other faculty in the development of new courses and/or programs. Some disciplines require discipline‑specific certifications and/or licensure in the field for practice or functioning within the State of Illinois;

degree‑specific coursework and/or graduate degrees in the discipline may also be required.

Research: Faculty members are expected to engage in research and/or creative activity germane to an academic discipline, which results in submissions and material as works in refereed, professional, and/or general readership publications; submit and receive externally awarded grants; and submit proposals for presentations at academic and professional conferences. Creative pursuits are also encouraged if the discipline involves the performing or theatrical arts.

Service: Faculty members are expected to serve on committees, programs, and/or special task forces at the department, college, university, professional, and community levels; assume leadership roles over time and as they increase in rank. These activities are not for compensation and have a relationship to the employee’s assigned responsibilities and to the university.

• Earned terminal degree from an accredited university.
• Meets tenure and/or rank requirements from a discipline within the unit as defined by the collective bargaining unit.
• Previous academic experience at a four‑year college or university, including additional teaching experience as determined by rank criteria.
• Previous professional experience related to the discipline, with additional years as determined by discipline and rank criteria.
• Record of scholarly research, creative activity in a discipline, and receipt of competitive grants or externally awarded funding.

• Experience in using modern teaching approaches that incorporate active learning.
• Experience in mentoring undergraduate research students, teaching undergraduates, and working with students from under resourced communities.

None specified.