Teaching Assistant Professor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Job Info

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Department:

Physics and Astronomy - 319000

Posting Open Date:

10/10/2024

Open Until Filled:

Yes

Position Type:

Permanent Faculty

Working Title:

Teaching Assistant Professor

Appointment Type:

Fixed Term Faculty

Vacancy ID:

FAC0005309

Full-time/Part-time:

Full-Time Permanent

Hours per week:

40

FTE:

1

Position Location:

North Carolina, US

Proposed Start Date:

07/01/2025

Be a Tar Heel!:

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

Our primary mission is providing instruction of the highest quality in physics and astronomy to undergraduate and graduate students at UNC-CH. Training in physics is fundamental among the natural sciences because it provides understanding of the forces governing the structure of matter, from subatomic particles to the large-scale structure of the universe.

Our departmental instructional mission spans all segments of the student community. Over 60% of all college graduates from UNC-CH have taken a course in our department. Among them: undergraduate liberal arts majors who should master the power of quantitative reasoning; undergraduates seeking a degree in another of the natural sciences, who need physics as a foundation for their advanced scientific training; the small number of undergraduates who major in physics, to whom we provide broad and rigorous training. Our graduate education and research advances frontiers of knowledge at the two extremes of space and time, from the very small) the realm of particle physics) to the very large (the realm of astronomy, while expanding the boundaries of knowledge in the many subfields spanning length scales between. Forefront physics and astronomy research requires access to well-equipped laboratories and extensive computing capabilities; it also must be supported by comprehensive and accessible library collections. Again, in research at this advanced level, the bridging aspect of physics provides basic interdisciplinary insight for many other sciences.

This instructional mission is supported by a strong managerial, administrative, and technical staff. Duties of these employees range from budget planning and management for the numerous research grants held by faculty in the department to maintaining course and student records. These activities are usually accomplished in a standard 40- hour week schedule.

Position Summary:

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for a faculty teaching position. The opening is for a candidate at the Teaching Assistant Professor level with a target start date of fall semester 2025. The position is for an initial term of three (3) years and is renewable upon review. We seek a dynamic person to teach undergraduate physics, primarily at the introductory level in a large-enrollment setting, using pedagogy informed by physics and astronomy education research. The successful candidate will also be expected to serve as a course coordinator to manage a team of faculty and teaching assistants for one of the introductory courses, join other faculty members in the department engaged in similar efforts, and participate in obtaining grant support for curricular and pedagogical improvements.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Required qualifications include a PhD in Physics (or a closely related field) by the start date and a background in physics and/or astronomy education research and/or experience in teaching at the college level using research-validated pedagogy.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

Strong oral and written communication skills
Prior experience in designing and revising course curricula
Prior experience in effectively collaborating with a team
Proven ability to engage students in the learning process
Previous experience in leadership roles

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:

Not Applicable.

Special Instructions:

Applicants must submit the names of three recent mentors, supervisors, and/or collaborators who will provide letters of recommendation in order to be considered for this position.

Applicants should apply at https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/289669 then upload PDF files of the requested documents by December 15, 2024. Review of applications will begin on that date and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants are required to identify the names, titles, email addresses and phone numbers of the professional references when applying.

Recommenders identified by the applicant will be contacted by our system via email with instructions for uploading their letters of support. Applicants will use the application system to have at least two of their reference writers submit the above-mentioned letters in order to receive initial consideration (the third letter is due when the short list is assembled). Questions should be directed to the chair of the search committee, Colin Wallace, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599; cswphys@email.unc.edu.

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