Notice of Vacancy

Assistant Professor in Astrophysics

Department of Physics and Astronomy
Washington State University

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Washington State University invites applications for a permanent, full-time, tenure track position on the Pullman campus at the assistant professor level to begin August 16, 2010.  Applicants must have a demonstrated record of excellence in any area of theoretical, computational or observational astrophysics.

Washington State University is a comprehensive land-grant university and one of two Research I  universities in the state of Washington, with an enrollment of 24,473 on four campuses. Of these, 18,748 are enrolled through the main campus in Pullman. Pullman is located in the beautiful Palouse region of Eastern Washington. It is within a few hours drive of locations with a wide variety of summer and winter outdoor activities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The faculty member will be expected to establish a vigorous externally funded research program teach effectively at undergraduate and graduate levels, particularly in courses of the astronomy program, and work collegially and collaboratively with diverse internal and external constituencies.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:   Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in physics, astrophysics, astronomy, or a related field before date of hire.  Applicants must have a demonstrated ability to initiate and lead research projects and excellent teaching skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:  Demonstrates a strong commitment to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate level.  Demonstrates a high potential for constructive interaction with other astrophysicists at WSU as well as at LIGO, or PNNL at Richland.  Provides evidence of the potential for establishing an outstanding experimental or theoretical research program.  Evidence includes strong publication history in peer-reviewed journals, successful grant proposal activity if applicable, and scientific awards.  Research plan submitted by the applicant demonstrates potential for extramural support. Demonstrates the potential to supervise the research of graduate and undergraduate students. 

UNIVERSITY SETTING:  The gravitational wave observatory at LIGO-Hanford site is close by.  Within the department are active research groups in general relativity and gravitational waves, stellar populations, and galaxy evolution, as well as acoustics, atomic physics, chaos and nonlinear dynamics, condensed matter and surface physics, femtosecond and nonlinear optical physics, and shock and high-pressure physics,  The department has more than 64 graduate students and 40 undergraduate majors. The department offers service courses for more than 1,000 students each semester.  The Owen Science and Engineering Library supports study and research in the sciences with substantial collections, as well as automated bibliographic retrieval and user services.  The department especially encourages applications from women and underrepresented groups.  More information about the department can be found at http://www.physics.wsu.edu.

Interested individuals should submit the following application materials in PDF format to (physics@wsu.edu): a detailed letter of application, curriculum vitae which includes a publication list, research plan, and statement of teaching philosophy. Include also the names and full contact information for at least three referees, and arrange for these individuals to send confidential letters of reference on your behalf, in PDF format, to “Chair, Astrophysics Search”, at physics@wsu.edu.   Screening of complete applications will begin December 21, 2009.  For more information visit:  http://www.physics.wsu.edu/Searches.htm 

Department of Physics and Astronomy; Washington State University; Pullman, WA 99164-2814; Phone: (509) 335-9532; Fax: (509) 335-7816
 
WSU is committed to excellence through diversity, has faculty friendly policies including a partner accommodation program, and a NSF ADVANCE Institutional Transformation grant to increase the advancement of women faculty in science, engineering and math (see http://www.excelinse.wsu.edu/.)  Washington State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action educator and employer. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veterans, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.  Washington State University employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens.  All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities.  To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resources Services:  509 335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service:  Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers:  1-800-833-6388, 509 – 335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.