Tenure-track position in Astrophysics and Particle Astrophysics, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada

The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Arts and Science at Queen’s University invites applications for a Tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor with specialization in astrophysics and particle astrophysics. The expected starting date for the position is July 1, 2017. The successful candidate will be an outstanding scientist who will establish an excellent research program and contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching and supervision. In exceptional cases, candidates above the level of Assistant Professor may be considered.

Queen's University is one of Canada's leading research-intensive universities. The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy at Queen's University has 28 Faculty members working in the areas of astronomy and astrophysics, condensed matter physics and optics, engineering and applied physics, and particle astrophysics. We are located in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Kingston’s residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural, recreational, and creative opportunities.

Queen’s is playing a lead role in the establishment of the Canadian Particle Astrophysics Research Centre (CPARC), an ambitious new program funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF). A major goal of CPARC includes building a powerful research team contributing to the many diverse requirements of a world-leading particle astrophysics research program. This includes the development of particle astrophysics experiments and theory, observational and theoretical astrophysics, detector design, and the development of tools and techniques for calibration, material screening and low level radio-purification. To achieve this, CPARC aims to benefit from and strengthen cross-disciplinary expertise at Queen’s between Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy (particle astrophysics and detector development), Chemistry (radio-analytical chemistry), Geological Sciences (Facility for Isotopic Research) and Mechanical and Materials Engineering (Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory). The University anticipates hiring seven faculty members associated with CPARC, in addition to a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) particle astrophysics theorist, to complement its current team of research scientists, engineers, technicians, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. An additional seven faculty hires are being strategically targeted at collaborating institutions across Canada to significantly enhance this world-renowned particle astrophysics program. For further information please see www.cparc.ca.

The successful candidate for this position will have a research program that aligns with the research goals of CPARC, and which complements the existing research activities of the Queen’s astrophysics and astronomy groups. The ideal candidate will have experience in astronomy and particle astrophysics (e.g. dark matter, cosmology, neutrino physics, …) and will be a bridge between these two communities. The Astrophysics Research Group has eight faculty members (including two affiliated faculty members from the nearby Royal Military College) whose research interests include planet formation, galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, cosmology, and general relativity (see www.astro.queensu.ca). Queen’s is also heavily invested in research activities at the SNOLAB facility for underground science (see www.snolab.ca), a major international particle astrophysics facility located in Canada. We intend to maintain our leadership role in this field through the development of new experiments that explore questions at the intersection between particle physics and astrophysics/cosmology, and that will be sited in SNOLAB.

Candidates must have completed a PhD by the start date of the appointment. Research excellence and the demonstrated potential for teaching excellence are the main criteria for selection. The successful candidate will provide evidence of high-quality scholarly output that demonstrates potential for independent research leading to peer assessed publications and the securing of external research funding. The candidate must also exhibit a strong potential for outstanding teaching contributions at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and an ongoing commitment to academic and pedagogical excellence in support of the department’s programs. The successful candidate will be expected to make substantive contributions through service to the department, the Faculty, the University, and/or the broader community. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQ persons. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority.

To comply with federal laws, the University is obliged to gather statistical information as to how many applicants for each job vacancy are Canadian citizens / permanent residents of Canada. Applicants need not identify their country of origin or citizenship; however, all applications must include one of the following statements: “I am a Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada”; OR, “I am not a Canadian citizen / permanent resident of Canada”. Applications that do not include this information will be deemed incomplete.

A complete application consists of: a cover letter (including one of the two statements regarding Canadian citizenship / permanent resident status specified in the previous paragraph), a current Curriculum Vitae (including a list of publications), a statement of research interests, a statement of teaching interests and experience (including teaching outlines and evaluations if available), and three letters of reference, which should be sent directly by your referees to the Department Head, Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy at [email protected].

Please indicate clearly the position for which you are applying by quoting the following position number on your cover letter: (00503689). Electronic applications (in PDF format) can be emailed to the Department Head, Department of Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy at [email protected].

The first review of applications will begin on March 1, 2017 and will continue thereafter until a successful candidate is found.

The University will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact Julie McDonald at [email protected].

Additional information about Queen’s University, which may be of interest to prospective faculty members, can be found at http://www.queensu.ca/facultyrecruitment. Academic staff at Queen’s University are governed by a Collective Agreement between the University and the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA), which is posted at http://queensu.ca/facultyrelations/faculty-librarians-and-archivists/collective-agreement and at http://www.qufa.ca.