https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/48362
Position Title Assistant/Associate Professor-Physics and Astronomy
Tenure Status Tenure Track
Provide Rank Assistant or Associate Professor
Position Number 070181
Department Physics & Astronomy - 250700
Position Summary Information
Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must hold (or acquire by May 2025) a doctorate in physics or physics education. Alternatively, applicants may hold a doctorate in a related field with a minimum of 18 credit hours in physics at the graduate level.
Areas of Interest (No Minimum Level Required)
The department especially seeks someone with excellent written and verbal communication who has a clear agenda for continuing scholarship in physics education research and pedagogy.
Candidates who can demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching undergraduate courses are desired. Experience in, or potential for the following will contribute to the candidate’s success:
Educating students of varied physics backgrounds
Working in K-12 science classrooms with student teachers and/or education professionals
Teaching courses in physics, physics education, or related areas
Contributing to the secondary physics teacher education program including recruitment and retention of physics teachers
License/Certification Required N/A
Description of the Department or Unit
Appalachian State University is a public university with campuses in Boone and Hickory, North Carolina. Known as AppState it was started in 1899 as a teacher’s college and today has more than 20,000 students enrolled.
AppState provides over 150 bachelor’s degrees and 70 graduate degree programs including two doctoral programs. In the Physics and Astronomy department we have dedicated faculty and staff that support student participation with state-of-the-art research laboratories, observatories and other educational programs that will enhance our majors’ learning experience.
We have over 160 undergraduate majors and over 30 graduate students. Our department is committed to excellent physics teaching and offers a B.S. in Physics with a concentration in Secondary Education and a Physics minor for Secondary Education majors in addition to several other options. The mission of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at App State is to offer sustainable, nationally recognized degrees in which a diverse student body is enabled through science-intensive instruction and experiential learning delivered by well-trained and empowered faculty and staff to make productive, enduring contributions to the fields of physics and astronomy applicable to the Appalachian region, the state, the nation, and the world.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Candidates must have a strong commitment to excellence in education and are expected to develop a research program that engages undergraduate and masters students and has the potential to attract and maintain external funding for scholarship. Responsibilities will include teaching physics and physics education courses, advancing physics education research, and service activities including advising and mentoring of physics secondary education majors. Some start-up funds will be available to the successful candidate.
Candidates are expected to:
Teach a standard teaching load of 18 semester hours per year for research-active faculty
Establish and maintain a program of research or other scholarly activities that may include applying for external funding
Participate in service activities that may include advising students, curriculum planning and assessment, working with professional organizations, and other activity needed for faculty governance at the department, college, and university levels
Support the physics education community through mentoring pre-service physics education students, evaluating student teachers, and providing professional development to physics education professionals
Foster and develop relationships with the local school systems and other stakeholders
Support the departmental Learning Assistance Program
Type of Position Full Time Position
Appointment Type 1.0
Number Of Months Per Year 9
Physical Demands of Position
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.
Posting Details Information
Proposed Date of Hire 08/01/2025
Suggested Salary Range Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
ABD Consideration: ABD with reduction in rank and salary (see desc. below)
ABD Description
ABD with reduction in rank and salary: ABD will be considered for this position. Evidence of successful defense of the dissertation must be received by July 31 for a fall hire or November 30 for a spring hire. If confirmation of defense is not provided by the deadline, the candidate will receive a new one-year fixed-term contract and be hired at the rank of Instructor. The candidate’s salary will also be reduced to a lower rate commensurate with other full-time instructors in the same department. However, if degree verification is provided before the end of the one-year fixed-term contract, the candidate will be returned to the rank of assistant professor with commensurate compensation beginning July 1 of the following academic year.
No ABD consideration: Only candidates with an earned doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution will be considered for the position. Since ABD will not meet the minimum requirements, ABD will not be considered.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Candidates should upload the following:
Cover Letter / Letter of Interest
Curriculum Vitae
List of References with Contact Information
Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Statement of Research Interests
UNC System Code (Section 610(2)) Special Faculty Hires
The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.
UNC System Code (Section 610(2)) Special Faculty Hires
The continued employment of a special faculty member during the term appointment may be made expressly contingent on items such as the continued availability of funding from any source, on enrollment levels, or any other contingency established by the institution.
Posting Date 10/14/2024
Closing Date
Open Until Filled Yes
Evaluation of Applications Begins 11/01/2024
Search Chair Name Anthony Calamai
Search Chair Email calamaiag@appstate.edu
Quick Link https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/48362
Posting Number FA00456P
