ASSISTANT PROFESSOR (CONTINUING TRACK), DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY, UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

The Department of Physics and Astronomy (web.physics.udel.edu) in the College of Arts and Sciences seeks applications for a Continuing Track (CT) faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor starting August 16, 2026.

CT faculty positions are continuing, long-term positions, with responsibilities focused on teaching. CT faculty are eligible for promotion in academic rank, participation in shared governance, and sabbatical leaves (see https://sites.udel.edu/ctcaucus/why-do-you-want-to-be-a-ct-faculty-at-ud/ for details).

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at UD is a research-active department with vigorous undergraduate and graduate physics programs that also values high-quality instruction. The successful candidate will join a group of faculty (both tenure and continuing track) with interest in teaching introductory physics using pedagogical methods informed by PER (Physics Education Research). Professional development of instructional faculty is strongly encouraged and supported by the department.

QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:   We are seeking an exceptional candidate to teaching introductory undergraduate physics.

The minimum qualifications for this position are a completed Ph.D. or Ed.D. in Physics, Astronomy, Physics Education, or a related field, and experience in teaching introductory physics classes to STEM majors at the college level. 

The ideal candidate will have:

• expertise and demonstrated excellence in teaching introductory physics classes to STEM majors, including those associated with Health Sciences and/or Engineering.
• expertise and/or interest in PER-informed pedagogical techniques, and curriculum development and assessment,
• experience managing courses with multiple sections, teaching assistants, and/or laboratory sections. 

The primary responsibilities of this position will be teaching mainly introductory-level Physics courses during the fall and spring semesters, and coordinating the associated discussion sections (taught by Teaching Assistants). CT faculty are employed year-round. Responsibilities during the winter (January) and summer terms (June-August) can include course preparation, curriculum development, and/or scholarship. Scholarship can include pedagogy, outreach, and/or education/physics research. Depending on departmental needs, opportunities may also be available to teach upper-level physics/astronomy or introductory astronomy courses. The successful candidate will also participate in Department, College, and University service. 

For questions about the position contact Dr. Véronique Petit, Chair Search Committee (vpetit@udel.edu). 

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at UD:  The Department of Physics and Astronomy (DPA) at the University of Delaware (https://web.physics.udel.edu/) is within the College of Arts and Sciences. The DPA is home to more than 35 full time faculty with research interests spanning sub-atomic phenomena to astrophysics, with external research grant funding in excess of $9M per year.  The DPA currently has about 90 graduate students and100 undergraduate majors. The DPA introductory physics curriculum serves over 2500 undergraduate students per year.

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is the largest college at the University of Delaware, comprising 22 academic departments, 2 academic centers, and 35 interdisciplinary centers, programs, and institutes across the arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. CAS serves every student at the University through foundational coursework, while also supporting over 7,300 undergraduate and 1,100 graduate students majoring in our disciplines. In 2024-2025, CAS conferred more than 1,400 BA and AA degrees and 460 graduate degrees.

Our community includes more than 600 full-time tenure-track and non-tenure contract faculty who are leaders in their fields, innovators in teaching, and advisors to nonprofit and governmental agencies at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Faculty emphasize the enduring value of an arts and sciences education and share a deep commitment to excellence in scholarship and all forms of creative and intellectual expression. With annual sponsored research expenditures totaling more than $40 million, including significant funding from the NIH and NSF, CAS houses several large, interdisciplinary grants and maintains outstanding research and teaching facilities that encourage innovation and collaboration.

Guided by a commitment to shared governance, CAS faculty serve as leaders in the University and College Faculty Senates. More than 380 staff members and 45 postdoctoral fellows and researchers further enrich the CAS community by providing essential support to students and academic units. CAS maintains annual operating expenditures of over $152 million and is a hub for interdisciplinary engagement, connecting students and faculty with local, national, and global communities through research, creative activity, and public service.

The University of Delaware is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or status as a protected veteran, as well as any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. For the University’s complete non-discrimination statement, please visit www.udel.edu/aboutus/legalnotices.html

TO APPLY: Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants should upload at http://www.udel.edu/careers the following material:

• A CV that:
  • includes a chronological list of all courses taught (as instructor of record or teaching assistant) with the approximate number of students in each.
  • lists participation in service tasks, professional development opportunities, leadership positions, etc, if applicable.
• A teaching statement (max 3 pages). In this statement, please provide a narrative of your relevant experience. Here are some examples of information that the committee might find useful (this list is for guidance only, and not exhaustive):
  • a description of PER-informed pedagogy implemented by the candidate,
  • an explanation of assessment techniques for student learning and teaching effectiveness,
  • a description of experience managing large enrollment courses,
  • the candidate’s approach to fostering engagement and a sense of belonging in the classroom,
  • a summary of student feedback and/or peer-review observations,
  • a description of activities undertaken by the candidate to develop their knowledge of pedagogical practices, with a focus on physics education.
• The contact information for 3 individuals who are willing to provide letters of recommendation. Letters will be requested after the application is submitted and after a first review of the applications.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Véronique Petit, Chair Search Committee (vpetit@udel.edu).

SALARY AND BENEFITS: Compensation packages are highly competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. The UD benefits package is one of the best in the nation.

Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity
The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its employment, educational programs and activities, admissions policies, and scholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies. The University of Delaware also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence.