Department Head - Department of Physics and Astronomy - 0407767

Submission Information
Publish Date: 
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Archive Date: 
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Job Summary
Job Category: 
Other
Institution Classification/Type: 
Large Academic
Institution/Company: 
James Madison University
City: 
Harrisonburg
State/Province: 
Virginia
Country: 
United States of America
Announcement
Job Announcement Text: 

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at James Madison University invites applications for the position of Department Head to begin July 1, 2017 at the rank of Full Professor to lead a dynamic department that is dedicated to undergraduate teaching and research.

The department has 21 full-time faculty members and approximately 100 students in their multi-track baccalaureate-only program. The department's faculty are research active and have established a strong record of grant-funded research with undergraduates. The department is also a PhysTEC-supported site and dedicated to producing physics teachers. In addition to these core activities, the department hosts a variety of public science outreach activities, including programming through a state-of-the-art 70-seat planetarium that attracts over 25,000 participants annually.

The department maintains state-of-the-art research facilities including a new accelerator laboratory housing a 15 MeV Linac, a 140 KeV X-ray machine and standard particle detection instrumentation. The department has two atomic force microscopes, an SEM outfitted with electron-beam lithography capabilities, and a rheometer. It has shared access to a clean room with photolithography and thin film deposition equipment. The department has two 14" telescopes with supporting CCDs and a spectrograph. Additional information is available online about JMU at www.jmu.edu and about the department at http://csma31.csm.jmu.edu/physics/.

JMU is a comprehensive public university with over 19,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students. For 19 consecutive years, JMU has been ranked as a top public, masters-level university in the South. Located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, JMU is approximately 130 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. in the scenic Shenandoah Valley. Nestled between the Appalachians and Shenandoah National Park, Harrisonburg is known for its livability, diversity, local food, arts and natural surroundings. Harrisonburg is a diverse community, with over 50 languages represented in excellent K-12 public schools, an annual international festival and a wide variety of restaurants and shops.

The successful candidate will be expected to lead the department and build upon its strengths in astrophysics, materials science, nuclear and particle physics, and soft condensed matter and nonlinear dynamics. Candidates must be eligible for the rank of Full Professor and have a Ph.D. in Physics or a closely related field. The successful candidate is expected to maintain a productive scholarly research program. Startup is negotiable. A commitment to excellence in teaching is essential and this individual will be expected to teach courses across the physics curriculum. The successful candidate will possess excellent communication skills, management and leadership skills, and the demonstrated ability to build and foster effective working relationships. The department is very interested in candidates who have a demonstrated commitment towards building an equitable and diverse scholarly environment.

Review of applications will begin on January 22, 2017 and will continue until the position is filled. Salary is commensurate with experience. Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background investigation. To apply go to JobLink.jmu.edu, reference posting number 0407767, complete the faculty profile and attach a curriculum vitae, cover letter, statement of research interests and/or teaching philosophy, and a statement of leadership that addresses your ability to work with faculty, staff and administration, shape the department vision, aid in achieving departmental goals and foster innovative teaching as Other Document #1. Please also address your vision in maintaining JMU's position as one of the top ten undergraduate-only physics departments in the country in this document. Finally, please attach a list of 4 professional references as Other Document #2.

For questions regarding the position, please contact Dr. Stephen A. Leslie, ([email protected]), Search Committee Chair.

James Madison University is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status. Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Included Benefits: 

No benefits information has been provided by the employer.

Application Deadline: 
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Current Status of Position: 
No Status Given (Opted Out)
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Attention To: 
Dr. Stephen A. Leslie
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Institution/Company: 
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City: 
Harrisonburg
State/Province: 
Virginia
Zip/Postal Code: 
22807
Country: 
United States
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