Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy (2 positions)

We invite applications for two full-time tenure-track Assistant Professors, one in condensed matter physics (broadly construed), the other in any field of physics or astronomy which can complement our existing strengths. A Ph.D. in physics or astronomy or a closely related field is required and postdoctoral experience is preferred. We expect applicants to have strong research credentials, evidence of teaching or mentoring a diverse student body, and a strong commitment to undergraduate education including research with undergraduate students.

Union is a highly selective liberal arts college with an engineering program, which includes degrees in mechanical, electrical, biomedical, and computer engineering, and which is in the process of expanding to include civil and environmental engineering. It is located in the
Capital District of New York State, a region heavily engaged in science and R&D. We have eleven full-time faculty in the Department of Physics and Astronomy (www.physics.union.edu) working in a variety of research fields including astrophysics, atomic physics, computational biophysics, environmental physics, geophysics, and nuclear and particle physics. All our faculty are expected to teach introductory physics classes and labs to engineering students as well as upper-level classes for the major as listed on our curriculum, and maintain an active research program with opportunities for involving undergraduate students. We strive to maintain an inviting department with a strong sense of community: We offer generous office hours, student lounges near our offices for group or independent study, regular public outreach programs such as our monthly observatory open houses, and both weekly lunch-time colloquium and regular astronomy discussion group series to help keep students and faculty in touch with exciting developments elsewhere. Union College recognizes the rich possibilities of interdisciplinary studies by offering many opportunities for both faculty and students to engage with multiple disciplines - and each other - in collaborative classroom settings and research initiatives.

We strongly encourage applicants from the traditionally underrepresented groups. Union College is an equal opportunity employer and strongly committed to student and workforce diversity. Increasing diversity on campus is a critical priority for Union, one that is integral to our mission of preparing students for a globally interconnected world. Union provides a blend of intellectual, social and cultural opportunities to facilitate the integrated academic, social and personal development of a diverse community. We value and are committed to a host of diverse populations and cultures including, but not limited to, those based on race, religion, disability, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national origin and veteran status. We expect all faculty members to contribute to a thriving, diverse, and inclusive learning community, while promoting a sense of belonging among students, other faculty, and staff colleagues.

Applicants should submit:

1. a cover letter introducing themselves and the qualities that make them a strong candidate for the job, a detailed curriculum vitae, a statement on teaching with an emphasis on educating and mentoring undergraduates, a statement of research interests and plans including an outline of the resources that would be required and a
   discussion about integrating undergraduate students into their research, and a statement on goals and ability to contribute to forming and sustaining a diverse community, names and contact information for at least three references.

All materials should be submitted through our online application available at http://jobs.union.edu (search on “physics” in the Search Jobs box). An email will be sent automatically to references requesting a letter of Recommendation.

The position will be offered with a starting salary in the range of $80,000-82,000. Except for roles with a set rate of pay, the wage/salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The stated hiring rate/range represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the rate/range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Note that all new hires of Union College are subject to a thorough education, work experience, and criminal history background check.

Questions about the position may be addressed to physics-search@union.edu. We will begin the review of applications on October 1, 2023, and continue until the positions are filled.