Assistant/Associate Professor in Physics Education Research

University of Mississippi • Notre Dame, IN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Mississippi (UM) invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in physics education research (PER) at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. This position is supported in part by an endowment to honor F. Douglas and Cora Beal Shields and represents a significant institutional investment in establishing PER as a strategic area of excellence. The purpose of the endowment is to recruit and retain outstanding faculty for the Department of Physics and Astronomy; to advance the understanding of physics pedagogy and contribute to the field of PER; to raise the quality of instruction across the department; and to seed a new research area with meaningful doctoral production. This position offers a unique opportunity to establish a nationally visible PER group at a flagship R1 university with strong undergraduate and graduate physics programs and to help define the future direction of PER at the University of Mississippi. The position includes a competitive salary and a startup package. Income from the endowment will be used to provide funds for research and creative activity, including but not limited to support for personnel (graduate teaching and research assistants, undergraduate learning assistants), operational support for scientific studies, travel to conferences, and hosting visitors and workshops. There are also opportunities for collaboration and support in connection with UM’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Center for Math and Science Education, Center for STEM Learning, and Institute for Data Science. The Physics and Astronomy faculty are eager to attract a driven, energetic colleague who can help to craft a long-term vision for growing out PER in the department. Ideally, the new faculty member will be a proselytizer for active learning and a catalyst for extending modern, evidence-based practices. Like all our tenure-track faculty, this person must also excel at mentoring graduate students and providing them with research opportunities that lead to the Ph.D. degree. The search committee’s aperture for evaluating the candidates is quite wide. Applications are encouraged from researchers working in all areas of PER and at all career stages. The department is open to recruiting an emerging scholar or an established researcher who could be hired with an accelerated tenure clock.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Physics or a closely related field is required.
• Relevant experience beyond the doctoral degree.
• A strong record of publication or impact in the field.
• Demonstrated potential for establishing and sustaining a nationally recognized research program.
• Well-conceived plans to pursue external funding opportunities.

Nice To Haves

• Be a proselytizer for active learning and a catalyst for extending modern, evidence-based practices.

Responsibilities

• Teach a standard load of undergraduate and graduate physics courses.
• Build and sustain an active, high-impact research program in Physics Education Research that publishes regularly in relevant scientific journals, involves undergraduate and graduate students, and leads to significant graduate degree production.
• Contribute to departmental and university committees, engage in public outreach activities, and/or provide service to the profession.
• Supervise students, especially in projects leading to master’s and doctoral degrees.
• Establish an active and independent research program.
• Teach effectively at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Contribute to the service missions of the department and university.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Startup package
• Support for personnel (graduate teaching and research assistants, undergraduate learning assistants)
• Operational support for scientific studies
• Travel to conferences
• Hosting visitors and workshops
• Opportunities for collaboration and support in connection with UM’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Center for Math and Science Education, Center for STEM Learning, and Institute for Data Science.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree