Tenure-track Assistant Professor Position: Exoplanets

The UW-Madison Department of Astronomy is seeking candidates with an active research program in exoplanets (observation, theory, or instrumentation). The position is a full-time academic tenure-track faculty position at the assistant professor level.

The successful applicant will be expected to develop a vibrant, internationally recognized and externally funded research program and contribute to the teaching and service mission of their tenure department. We are especially interested in candidates who are committed to building an equitable and inclusive educational environment, and who can bring new perspectives on recruiting, mentoring, and educating students from diverse backgrounds.

The Department has recently launched the Wisconsin Center for Origins Research (WiCOR), an interdisciplinary research center. As part of this initiative, the Department is a founding member of a campus-wide cluster hiring initiative that aims to further build the vibrant community of scholars interested in Origins of Life, Artificial Life, and Astrobiology (OoLALA; https://astrobio.wisc.edu/). Further information can be found at: https://facstaff.provost.wisc.edu/cluster-hiring-initiative/. The position described herein is not part of the cluster hire. Qualified applicants may apply separately to both positions.

The ideal candidate will complement the Department's current expertise in protoplanetary disks and prebiotic astrochemistry and the planned cluster hires in observational exoplanet spectroscopy and planetary astrochemistry. A Ph.D. in Astronomy or closely related field is required for this position.

Applicants are invited to envision the research they will undertake using the rich array of Department facilities. UW-Madison is a founding partner of the WIYN 3.5m telescope on Kitt Peak, which is host to the exceptionally high-precision NEID radial-velocity instrument, and of the 11m Southern African Large Telescope (SALT). The Department has proprietary access to the NOEMA interferometer and IRAM 30m telescope. Other facilities include the Washburn Astronomical Laboratories instrumentation lab and the UW-Madison Center for High-Performance / High-Throughput Computing.

UW-Madison is a world-class academic institution ranking among the top institutions in the nation in science and engineering expenditures, with a research portfolio of over $1 billion. The city of Madison provides a vibrant, culturally rich environment consistently ranked highly in national surveys for quality of life.

The UW-Madison College of Letters and Sciences and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Graduate Research and Education are all committed to maintaining and growing a culture that embraces diversity, inclusion, and equity, believing that these values are foundational elements of our excellence, and fundamental components of a positive and enriching learning

Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and a document containing a set of three statements discussing 1) research, 2) teaching, and 3) contributions to diversity and inclusion, respectively. These materials must be submitted as one document online at: http://jobs.wisc.edu.

Candidates will be asked to provide contact information for three references; these references will each receive an electronic link through which they can upload a signed letter of reference.

To ensure full consideration, application packets must be received by Monday December 6, 2021. However, the position will remain open until filled.

The University of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.