Assistant Professor of Physics

Assistant Professor of Physics

The Department of Physics at Occidental College invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in experimental physics, with appointment to begin Fall 2023. All areas of experimental physics will be considered, with a preference for expertise in astrophysics. Occidental faculty are committed teacher-scholars who bring research and creative discovery to life for students in classrooms, labs, studios, and mentored projects. They teach broadly in the curricula of their departments, advise students, carry out research and creative work, and provide departmental, college-wide, and external service. In this position, your responsibilities will include the development and teaching of courses at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum, including both introductory and advanced labs. You will also be responsible for producing scholarship commensurate with the requirements for tenure, and will be expected to develop a program of research that engages undergraduate students. In addition, you will be expected to contribute to and participate in the life and development of the department, advise students, serve on committees, and participate in the broader college and disciplinary communities.

 Required Qualifications

 

·  A Ph.D. in experimental physics, including Astronomy/Astrophysics. 

·  Demonstrated commitment to and excellence in undergraduate teaching 

·  A strong record of scholarly accomplishments appropriate to the level of appointment

·  Experience in working collaboratively with colleagues 

·  Demonstrated commitment to working effectively with students from minoritized and marginalized social groups

·  Demonstrated commitment to the four cornerstones of the mission of the College:   excellence, equity, community, and service

 

Preferred Qualifications

·       research experience in Astrophysics

·       experience mentoring undergraduates

Application Submission Materials

You must submit a complete application package electronically to be considered. To apply, please send the following required materials to [email protected]: 

·       Cover Letter in which you respond to the required and preferred qualifications

·       Curriculum Vitae

·       Teaching Philosophy Statement

·       Commitment to Inclusive Excellence Statement

This statement provides your unique perspective on your past and present contributions to and future aspirations for promoting justice, equity, inclusion, and diversity in your professional career. This should include your demonstrated commitment to, past evidence of, and future plans for creating equitable opportunities for learning and mentoring especially for students from marginalized and minoritized groups. The purpose of this statement is to help the department identify candidates who have professional experience, intellectual commitments, and/or willingness to engage in activities that could help the College contribute to its mission in these areas.

·       Research Statement

·       Links to recent publications

·       List of classes completed as a graduate student

·       List of three references with relevant contact information

If you advance to the semi-finalist phase, you will be asked to have each of your three references submit a letter of recommendation. Please have these ready for the referents to submit should you move forward to this phase of the search. Do not submit these letters with your initial application.

Upon receipt of a complete application package, you will receive a preliminary questionnaire. You must complete this questionnaire to move forward in the search process. 

Please direct all questions about the position to Alec Schramm at [email protected].

Application Deadline

To be assured full consideration, your application materials must be received by 11/28/2022.

The Department and College

The Department of Physics currently has five regular faculty, with specialties in computational fluid dynamics, experimental particle physics, observational astrophysics, and theoretical nuclear and particle physics.  The department is supported by a departmental assistant, a laboratory coordinator, a teaching lab technician, and a machinist. In addition to the standard undergraduate physics curriculum, faculty also teach in the College’s general education program (Core) and First Year Seminar. The standard teaching load is five classes per year.  

The department is committed to ethics and equity in Physics, and serves a diverse body of students.  We work with various offices of the College to support our faculty, including for teaching through our Center for Teaching Excellence, for research through our Center for Research and Scholarship, and for community work through our Center for Community-Based Learning.

Occidental College is a nationally-ranked small liberal arts institution situated in Los Angeles. Occidental is located in the culturally-rich neighborhoods of Eagle Rock and Highland Park, near Caltech, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Natural History Museum, and other major research institutions. The College is committed to academic excellence in a diverse community and supporting interdisciplinary and multicultural academic programs that provide a gifted and diverse group of students with an educational experience that prepares them for leadership in a pluralistic world. We therefore strongly encourage applications from candidates who will further Occidental’s mission of excellence and equity in their teaching, scholarship, and/or service.  

Additional Information

Occidental is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Occidental is strongly committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum, and to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and just environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through their teaching, research, advising, and other activities are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area. Individuals advancing the College’s strategic equity and justice goals and those from groups whose underrepresentation in the American professoriate has been severe and longstanding are particularly encouraged to apply.

Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Moving expense reimbursement (up to $5000, taxable according to current IRS regulations), start-up funds, and a one-course reduction of teaching load in the first year are provided. A comprehensive benefits package is available that includes: excellent health, dental, life, and retirement benefits; tuition benefits for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and dependents; additional extras including use of gym facilities and the College Library. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https://www.oxy.edu/offices-services/human-resources/benefits-information.  

All qualified applicants will be considered for employment, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. 

Occidental College is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with qualifying disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the application or employment process, please contact Human Resources ([email protected]).