One-Year Visiting Professor of Physics

Description

The Simpson College Department of Chemistry and Physics invites applications for a One-Year Visiting Physics position at the rank of Assistant Professor of Physics to begin in August 2024 with possible continuation.

We seek an enthusiastic and energetic candidate with innovative ideas to grow and strengthen a growing physics program. Candidates must be able to teach physics at all levels of the undergraduate physics curriculum including laboratories. The current area of expertise in the department is in optics, lasers, and atomic physics. We hope to find a candidate with expertise in this field or one complementary which would be of general interest to our students. Nevertheless, other fields in physics and those closely related to physics that may be engaging to our students will receive full consideration. In our blended department, knowledge and teaching experience in the field of Chemistry is considered advantageous. Additionally, the Division of Science and Mathematics is one of the strongest divisions of the college and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration where appropriate. Candidates with innovative, demonstrable, and hands-on skills in laboratory instruction would be advantageous. The candidate must have strong speaking, writing and personal organization skills.

The standard teaching load for this position is seven courses per year in a 3-3-1 format; three courses per semester and one three-week May Term class. The candidate will be assigned to teach a year-long introductory college physics course for life science majors (Phys 151-152) with 1-2 lab sections each semester (2 labs = 1 course), along with an intermediate or advanced course in physics each semester (to be determined). Assignments may include a course in our three-week May Term.

The successful candidate will be the second physicist in a Chemistry and Physics department of five members. Our program offers majors in Physics and Physics-Engineering (3-2) and has seen steady growth in majors over the last 3 years. We have an active SPS club chapter and a Sigma Pi Sigma honor society chapter. Many of our students are interested in practical applications of physics and engineering (e.g. materials science, alternative/renewable energy issues, photonics, etc.) as well as the more theoretical areas (e.g. high energy, GR, and dark matter physics), so long as they can be made undergraduate-accessible.

The candidate could mentor students in appropriate course projects and a modest student accessible research program. Mentoring capstone projects, and seminar courses would greatly enhance the student experience. We operate in an environment of limited resources but we work hard to offer research experiences for our students. Many of our students leverage their experiences at Simpson and obtain summer research experiences both here at Simpson College and at other institutions (through REUs and SULIs).

Simpson College is a private, nationally recognized regional college grounded in the liberal arts tradition. The campus is located in Indianola, Iowa just 12 minutes from the capital city of Des Moines. Simpson College encourages innovative teaching and seeks colleagues who will help its students of all ages develop critical intellectual skills, and nurture values which foster personal worth and individuality for the purpose of living lives of leadership in a creative, diverse, and just community.

Qualifications

A Ph.D. in physics or a closely related area is required.

We seek an enthusiastic and energetic candidate with innovative ideas to grow and strengthen a growing physics program. Candidates must be able to teach physics at all levels of the undergraduate physics curriculum including laboratories. The current area of expertise in the department is in optics, lasers, and atomic physics. We hope to find a candidate with expertise in this field or one complementary which would be of general interest to our students. Nevertheless, other fields in physics and those closely related to physics that may be engaging to our students will receive full consideration. In our blended department, knowledge and teaching experience in the field of Chemistry is considered advantageous. Additionally, the Division of Science and Mathematics is one of the strongest divisions of the college and encourages interdisciplinary collaboration where appropriate. Candidates with innovative, demonstrable, and hands-on skills in laboratory instruction would be advantageous. The candidate must have strong speaking, writing and personal organization skills.

Application Instructions

Application Procedure: Submit these application materials via Interfolio: 1) a letter of application, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) a teaching statement, 4) graduate transcripts (unofficial), 5) three professional reference information (phone, address, relationship), 5) a diversity statement through teaching, scholarship, and/or service, and 6) teaching evaluations or other evidence of teaching effectiveness.

We recognize that many great ideas and discoveries are a result of a diverse mix of minds, backgrounds and experiences, and we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. All applications received by May 15, 2024 will receive full consideration.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment VISA at this time.