Tenure-track Assistant Professor in Astronomy & Astrophysics

The Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary's University invites applications for a tenure track Assistant Professor in Astronomy and Astrophysics. The anticipated start date is July 1st, 2018. The Department is particularly interested in applicants in the area of computational astrophysics but candidates from other areas of astronomy and astrophysics are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will possess a Ph.D. in a related field as well as the ability to develop and maintain an innovative, externally-funded research program, and supervise graduate students. The successful candidate will be committed to excellence in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and will be expected to play an active service role at the University.

Saint Mary’s University identifies astronomy, computational sciences, and subatomic physics collectively as one of its five major research themes. The Department of Astronomy and Physics is the centre for astronomy research in Atlantic Canada, and consists of ten full-time faculty members, all with active research efforts in observational astronomy, theoretical and computational astrophysics, and experimental subatomic physics. Additionally, the University hosts the Institute for Computational Astrophysics (ICA), an institute focused on promoting computational astrophysics in the broadest possible terms, including the tackling of complex astrophysical phenomena through numerical simulation and advancing discoveries utilizing “big data” from large multinational observational facilities. Observational astronomers in the Department are eligible for Canadian time on observatories including Gemini, CFHT, ALMA, Astrosat, and JCMT as well as JWST and TMT while ICA members are active users of Compute Canada HPC facilities. Our subatomic physicists are frequent users of TRIUMF, Jefferson Lab, GSI, and other world facilities. The Department offers B.Sc. Major and Honours programs in Astrophysics and in Physics, and faculty members supervise graduate students in M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in Astronomy and in Applied Science. For a more complete account of Department activities, please see: http://www.ap.smu.ca/.

Saint Mary’s is located in the historic port city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a vibrant, urban community of over 350,000 people that is a major educational and economic centre for Atlantic Canada and is home to five universities. The city is conveniently located close to recreational areas and major urban centres in Canada and the northeastern United States. A public university with over 7,000 students, Saint Mary’s University offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The University has gone through significant renewal in the past decade and has over 250 full-time faculty involved in innovative teaching, research, and service. For more information about the University and the Faculty of Science, please see: http://science.smu.ca/.

Saint Mary’s University hires on the basis of merit and is committed to the principles of employment equity. Saint Mary’s University encourages applications from qualified women, visible minorities, Aboriginal people, and people with disabilities. All applicants will receive a self-identification form for confidential submission to our Equity Office. In keeping with Citizenship and Immigration Canada requirements, all qualified persons are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. The Search Committee encourages applicants to highlight any involvement in enhancing diversity and inclusion.

The search committee will begin reviewing applications on January 1st, 2018. Applications should include a cover letter specifically addressing the applicant’s interest in working at Saint Mary’s University and detailing the applicant’s scholarly research interests; a CV; a research plan; a teaching dossier (including a teaching philosophy statement, and any evidence of teaching effectiveness); as well as the names and contact information of three references. Please arrange for the three recommendation letters to be sent directly to the address below.

Applications should be sent via email, as a single PDF file, to: [email protected].