Thursday, May 1, 2008

Demo manager, UMd

The Department of Physics at the University of Maryland seeks candidates with a PhD in physics and a strong interest in innovation in science education to oversee its world renowned Lecture Demonstration Facility. The Physics Department at the University of Maryland is the largest in the country and is located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Our current online catalog (http://www.physics.umd.edu/deptinfo/facilities/lecdem/lecdem.htm) includes over 1600 demonstrations as well as archives of our "Question of the Week" for use in outreach activities and class engagement. The lecture demonstration facility is also central to the department's vibrant public outreach programs. We are looking for an individual with the vision to modernize this facility and maintain its acclaimed status well into the 21st century by using technology to bring the latest in interactive teaching methods into our classrooms, using computers and animations in instruction, revamping older demonstrations and assisting faculty in developing new ones. The successful applicant will oversee the lecture demonstration staff members, as well as part time student assistants and graduate assistants. The successful candidate is expected to also be a practitioner of these cutting edge teaching techniques, and will teach 2 or 3 one semester undergraduate physics courses per year. University level teaching experience preferred.