Ucf
Direct Workday career site

Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor of Optics and Photonics

Location
Orlando, FL (Main Campus)
Listed
3 days ago

The Opportunity

CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for multiple full-time, 9-month faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure-earning), Associate Professor or Professor (tenured) in the area of optics and photonics. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: Space Photonics, Quantum Photonics, Lasers, Directed Energy, Advanced Imaging and Optical Materials. This search is tied to a major strategic investment by the University of Central Florida in Science, Engineering, and Technology.

Successful candidates will be expected to establish a top-quality, vigorous, highly visible research program, teach and mentor graduate and undergraduate students, and contribute to service in the institution and profession. CREOL is one the world's foremost institutions for research and education in optics and photonic science and engineering.

The college offers Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in optics and photonics, and a B.S. degree in photonic science and engineering. The faculty engage in fundamental and applied research and education in lasers, optical fibers, semiconductor and integrated photonic devices, nonlinear and quantum optics, imaging, sensing and displays.

In addition, the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Sciences provide rich opportunities for collaboration.

UCF has been consistently ranked highly among Best Global Universities for Optics by various agencies such as U.S. News & World Report. Located in Orlando, Florida, UCF is classified as a Very High Research Activity (R1) university by the Carnegie Foundation. With a diverse student body of more than 70,000 students, UCF is one of the largest universities in the country. The university offers more than 240 degree programs.

UCF is committed to diversity and was designated a Hispanic Serving Institution in 2019. For the fifth consecutive year, UCF has been recognized among the nation's most innovative universities according to U.S. News & World Report while Kiplinger's and The Princeton Review have ranked UCF as one of the nation's best values for a college education.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Ph.D. from an accredited institution in optics or a closely related discipline at the time of appointment.
  • Applicants must demonstrate strong research experience with a high record of scholarly publications.

Additional information

To obtain tenure upon hire, the selected candidate(s) must have a demonstrated record of teaching, research, and service commensurate with a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of associate professor or professor.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrated experience in photonics research and education.
  • A successful record of submitting proposals for research funding.

Additional Application Materials Required

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents to be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, In addition to the online application, interested candidates should upload the following:

  • A curriculum vitae.
  • A letter of interest describing qualifications for the position, such as research agenda and teaching experience/interest.
  • Statement of research and teaching plans

Note

  • Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.
  • The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Special Instructions to the Applicants

  • Sponsorship for employment-based visas will only be considered under exceptional circumstances and is not guaranteed. Preference will be given to candidates who are currently authorized to work for any employer in the United States.
  • Job Close Date: Open until filled.

Note to applicants: Please keep in mind that a job posted as ' Open until filled ' may close at any time without notice. As such, we encourage you to submit your application and all required documentation as quickly as possible to ensure consideration for the posted position.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country.

You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference.

Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Benefits

Working at Ucf has its perks! UCF offers:

  • Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program.
  • Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.
  • Retirement savings options.
  • Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions.
  • Education assistance.
  • Flexible work environment.
  • And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional information

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.

Read the original posting

From Ucf's careers page, first listed on Rolev.ai on November 6, 2026. Rolev.ai is not the employer.

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Common questions

Where is the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor of Optics and Photonics job at Ucf located?

This Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor of Optics and Photonics position at Ucf is located in Orlando, FL (Main Campus). Always check Ucf's application page for specific state eligibility or relocation policies.

How do I apply for the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor of Optics and Photonics position at Ucf?

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