Physics - Assistant Professor - Virginia Commonwealth University

Mission or Goal of Unit:

The mission of the College of Humanities and Sciences is to serve as the intellectual heart and soul of our institution and wider community. The College of Humanities and Sciences:

• Prepares lifelong learners to participate actively as engaged and responsible citizens
• Propels scientific research and scholarship to improve the human condition, cure and treat diseases, and promote healthy environments
• Grounds us in our history, critically examines our present human condition and empowers students to create more equitable local and global communities
• Provides communities with a passionate and creative workforce that serves as a powerful engine for economic development and innovative solutions to problems

As the intellectual lifeblood of VCU and our community, the College of Humanities and Sciences seeks to inspire our students to explore their passions and dreams as individuals and provide the context to understand their place in the world and connections with others—locally, globally and throughout time. Most importantly, our educational and research environment addresses an array of technological, health-related and societal problems, as well as providing profound insights and reflections of what it means to be human and humane.

Chief Purpose of this position: The Department of Physics at VirginiaCommonwealth University, seeks a diverse pool of applicants for a newtenure-track Assistant Professor position in experimental physics beginning August2023. We offer B.S. and M.S. degrees in physics and Ph.D. degrees inNanotechnology.  We seek an excellent,dynamic, hands-on experimentalist who would work on nationally-fundableresearch projects.  We are particularlyinterested in the area of nanotechnology.  Applicants must have a Ph.D. in experimentalphysics or a closely related field, as well as post-doctoral researchexperience. The successful candidate must have the demonstrated ability toteach courses across the physics curriculum, must be able and committed tocontributing to diversity on campus, must be willing to contribute in servicecommensurate to rank, and must demonstrate a strong commitment to establishingand sustaining an externally-fundable research program.

Position Responsibilities: Weseek an excellent, dynamic, hands-on experimentalist who would work onnationally-fundable research projects.  Weare particularly interested in the area of nanotechnology.

Required Qualifications: Candidates are required to have a Ph.D. in physics or aclosely related field, as well as postdoctoral research and some teachingexperience. The successful candidate must be an excellent experimental"bench-top" physicist, a self-starter, a clear communicator, and atalented teacher who can demonstrate the ability to teach effectively at theundergraduate and graduate level. The new hire must be able to work comfortablyand effectively in a collaborative and diverse academic environment and shouldcontribute to enhancing diversity on campus. The candidate must be able tobuild and sustain an active research program that will attract externalfunding. The candidate will be required to develop a sustained researchprogram, as per the department scholarship standards that will contribute tothe inquisitive climate in the department, result in the publication ofpeer-reviewed papers, and attract external funding.  The successful candidate will also beexpected to contribute service to the department, college and/or university asappropriate to rank.

Preferred Qualifications:  Postdoctoralresearch and some teaching experience. 

VirginiaCommonwealth University enrolls ~ 29,000 students. Diversity is among ourgreatest assets at VCU and we strive to create and sustain an equitable andinclusive environment as we know this is the best approach to achieve universalexcellence and success. In 2020, 32.7% of our freshmen identified asfirst-generation, 52.3% as minority, and 35.4% as historically excludedminorities..


REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:
Application review will begin Dec. 15, 2022 and continueuntil the position is filled.  Applicantsmust use our eJobs portal ( www.vcujobs.com ) to submit a complete applicationpackage consisting of
1. Cover letter specific to this particular opportunity
2. Current curriculum vitae
3. Contact information for three professional references whocan speak to the candidate's suitability for this position. External letters ofrecommendation will be requested for selected candidates after an initialevaluation is complete.
4. Proposed research overview that focuses on the quality,viability and sustainability of the proposed work
5. Brief statement of teaching philosophy
6.  A diversity andinclusion statement.

Applicants are requested to submit a Statement ofContributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (typically between 150-300words) providing your career aspirations and contributions toward promotingdiversity, equity, and inclusion. Through this statement, you can share howyour lived experiences, and academic and professional activities will impactyour contribution to VCU’s mission of promoting equity and inclusion. For moreinformation and guidelines, see https://provost.vcu.edu/faculty/prospective/

Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100
Tenure: Tenure Track
Rank: Assistant Professor
Months: 9
Department:Physics

Salary:

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Dr. Jason Reed
Contact Email: jcreed@vcu.edu
Contact Phone: