Teaching Assistant Professor - Department of Physics & Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at West Virginia University (WVU) invites applications for a Teaching Assistant Professor position starting August 1st, 2022. This is a full-time, nine-month, non-tenure track position with full benefits. Teaching Assistant Professor appointments have renewable terms of up to three years, with no limit on the number of terms. This position will be accompanied by an annual summer appointment for instructional laboratory management (required) and additional summer teaching (if desired). Teaching Assistant Professors are eligible for promotion, e.g., to Teaching Associate Professor and Teaching Full Professor; however, promotion to senior ranks is not a requirement for institutional commitment and career stability.

The successful candidate will contribute to our teaching mission by providing exemplary instruction of physics and astronomy classes at all levels, overseeing the management and curation of the introductory laboratories and demonstration collection, and overseeing the training and oversight of all graduate teaching assistants. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: organization and management of all introductory physics and astronomy teaching laboratories; management of the graduate teaching assistants; management, instruction, and development of a teaching assistant training program; teaching primarily introductory physics courses in a large lecture format as well as opportunities to teach other astronomy and physics courses; development of laboratory experiments for introductory physics and astronomy classes; development of lecture demonstrations and management of the lecture demonstration collection; collaboration with Physics Education Research faculty at WVU; and engagement with the regional and national physics education communities.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy consists of 25 tenured and tenure-track faculty, one teaching associate professor, one teaching full professor, 16 research faculty and postdoctoral researchers, 90 Ph.D. graduate students, and 70 undergraduate physics majors. The main research areas are astrophysics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, physics education, and plasma physics.

WVU is an R1 research land grant university located within 90 minutes of Pittsburgh and 3.5 hours from the Washington/Baltimore area. Morgantown has been recognized as one of the most livable small cities in the U.S. There are extensive recreational opportunities, excellent public schools, and a supportive University environment in which to develop a visible and productive career. The WVU Dual Career Program is available to assist candidates with suitable employment opportunities for spouses or partners.

Qualifications :

The successful applicant must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in astronomy, physics, physics education research, or a closely related field by time of appointment; excellent written and oral communication/teaching skills; the ability to teach effectively in a large lecture format; and the ability to maintain laboratory and demonstration equipment. The teaching load is 2 courses per semester.

Applicants should upload a cover letter, statement of teaching philosophy, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references as part of the application process. The cover letter should address the applicant's qualifications for each aspect of the responsibilities listed above. The screening process will begin January 14, 2022 and continue until the position is filled. For more information, please visit our website ( http://physics.wvu.edu ), or contact the chair of the search committee, Prof. John Stewart by email at jcstewart1@mail.wvu.edu .

WVU is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The university values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified individuals, including minorities, females, individuals with disabilities, and veterans.