Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy

About the role

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Position Details

The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Natural and Health Sciences at The University of Tampa (UTampa) invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level starting in August 2027.

Responsibilities

We are seeking an energetic individual with an enthusiasm for teaching physics and astronomy at the undergraduate level, including both science and non-science majors. The teaching load is 12 contact hours, typically corresponding to three lecture courses, per semester during the academic year.

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate excellence in undergraduate education, mentor and support majors/minors, contribute to the curricular development of the Physics and Astronomy program, maintain an active research program that can involve undergraduate students in research as part of the experiential learning mission of the University, and provide service to the Department, the College, and the University community.

Current physics faculty lead active research programs in computational/observational physics and astronomy, and they hold active NASA- and NSF-funded programs. We welcome applications from individuals specializing in astronomy, computational physics, or any non-laboratory based physics who will strengthen and expand the research expertise in the Department.

The University encourages the attendance of its faculty at professional meetings by providing funds for travel; institutional grants are additionally available within the College of Natural and Health Sciences to provide support for teaching innovation, research, research travel, and publication costs.

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Physics, Astronomy, or other closely related field is required. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.
• Review of applications will begin on January 05, 2027.
• All required documents listed below should be uploaded to the attachment box at the bottom of the "My Experience" page of the application before continuing through the application.

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy
• Statement of research interests including a description of how undergraduate students can be involved in your program
• Name and contact information of three (3) references
• Copy of Terminal Transcript

Additional information

Applicants should include a short statement describing the use of AI in the preparation of application materials. The Department values the applicants' authentic scholarly and pedagogical voice. While we recognize that applicants may use digital tools for basic proofreading, we expect the cover letter, research statement, and teaching philosophy to be written by the applicant. Generic, AI-generated statements fail to capture the specific nuances of how the applicants' work and teaching style will integrate with our department and facilities.

Additional Information

The University of Tampa is a medium-sized, comprehensive, residentially-based private institution of more than 11,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The University is ideally situated on a beautiful 110-acre campus next to the Hillsborough River, adjacent to Tampa's dynamic central business district, which is a growing, vibrant, diverse metropolitan area. UTampa reflects this vibrancy; with 30 consecutive years of enrollment growth UTampa boasts 260 student organizations, a multicultural student body from 50 states and more than 100 countries, and "Top Tier" ranking in U.S. News and World Report.

The University delivers challenging and high-quality educational experiences to a diverse group of learners. The University has a strong core curriculum rooted in the liberal arts, an enduring commitment to internationalization that has garnered the Senator Paul Simon Award, and a practical, experiential approach to learning. The University offers more than 200 areas of study, including majors in our colleges of Arts and Letters, Business, Natural and Health Sciences and Social Sciences, Math and Education, 18 master's programs, and 3 professional doctoral programs.

The College of Natural and Health Sciences offers rigorous, high quality curricula in biology, marine science, environmental science, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, forensic science, exercise science, public health, allied health, sport management and nursing; all designed to prepare students for challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Our faculty are excellent teachers, both in the classroom and working with students on an individual basis. UT has invested heavily in the development of our college's teaching and research facilities and laboratories.

Our college continually fosters relationships with organizations in the greater Tampa Bay area and elsewhere to provide students with the opportunity to pursue an internship, volunteer, or interact with professionals working in their chosen field. Each department also offers study abroad courses that students can take for credit toward their degree.

The University of Tampa recognizes the importance of a multicultural community of students, faculty, and staff who seek to advance our commitment to diversity. The University invites applications from underrepresented groups and those who have academic experiences with diverse populations.

Submission Guidelines

To receive full consideration for a faculty appointment with The University of Tampa, please be sure to upload documents as required for this position at time of application submission. Once your application has been submitted, no changes may be made. Required documents should be submitted in the attachment box at the bottom of the "My Experience" page of the application before continuing through the application.

Note: A maximum of five (5) documents may be attached to your application. If more than five (5) documents are required, please combine the additional documents into a single attachment so that you may continue through the application process.

Background Check Requirements

Finalists may be required to submit to a criminal background check.