Assistant Professor of Mathematics

About the role

Appointment Type: Faculty

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities

The Department of Mathematics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the areas of discrete mathematics and optimization inclusive of operations research, starting August 16, 2027.

The successful candidate will have a strong research portfolio and demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching. Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate and graduate mathematics courses; developing and maintaining an excellent, internationally recognized research program; advising and mentoring students; contributing service to the department and the broader mathematical community; and pursuing external research funding.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent degree in mathematics or a related discipline by the appointment start date
• Research background in discrete mathematics, optimization or operations research

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated potential for superior achievements in research in the areas of discrete mathematics and optimization inclusive of operations research.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with other researchers and work with students.
• Excellent teaching record as evidenced by at least one recommendation letter specifically addressing teaching.
• Accomplishment in research in addition to the Ph.D., typically achieved through a postdoctoral position.

Department/Program & College Description

The Department of Mathematics resides in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offering B.S., B.A., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. The Department is also active in interdepartmental programs in Data Science at the undergraduate level as well as Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Human-Computer Interaction, and Information Assurance at the graduate level.

The department participates in many interdisciplinary research collaborations, including partnerships with faculty in bio-sciences, computer science, and several engineering programs. The Department of Mathematics has 45 faculty professionals, 70 Ph.D. students, 5 postbaccalaureate and M.S. students, and 240 undergraduate mathematics majors and minors.

We have strong research and educational programs in discrete mathematics, algebra, logic, analysis and probability, numerical analysis, mathematical biology, geometric analysis and PDE's. In addition to our faculty, we have a robust postdoctoral program with 10 associates.

The Department has over $2 million in active awards, and we contribute to active interdisciplinary research and training grants totaling approximately $5 million. Our tenure eligible faculty regularly teach graduate courses; annually the Department offers 35 graduate courses. The faculty also engage in weekly research seminars-currently the department offers 10 active seminars.

The teaching load for untenured faculty is 3 courses per year. The standard teaching load for tenured faculty is 4 courses per year. Highly productive research active faculty have opportunities for course releases.

Iowa State University is located in Ames, Iowa, a vibrant mid-sized community offering an exceptional quality of life, a stable economy, and a welcoming environment for new professionals.

Department Unit/Website

• Proposed Start Date: August 16, 2027
• Number of Months Employed Per Year: 09 Month Work Period
• Time Type: Full time

Application Instructions

To apply for this position, please click "Apply" and complete the Employment Application.

Application materials will be collected through both the ISU Application portal and mathjobs.org. A complete application will consist of the following documents:

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of Application/Cover Letter
• Contact Information for Three Professional References
• Statement of Research Interests
• Statement of Teaching Interests
• Four recommendation letters (one of which should address the candidate's teaching), submitted to mathjobs.org.

Please attach the documents in items 1-5 through the ISU Application portal as individual PDF files. Please attach all documents in the required documents section.

The documents in items 1, 2, 4-6 will also be submitted through mathjobs.org. Please find the job posting under the heading of Iowa State University. Complete the AMS cover sheet and ensure that your references have submitted their recommendation letters to mathjobs.org.

For guaranteed consideration, please apply before October 31, 2026. Position is open until filled.

If you have questions regarding this application process, please email or call or Toll Free:.

Why Choose Isu?

Iowa State Faculty enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:

• Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program

Original Posting Date: September 21, 2026

Job Requisition Number: R19959

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.