Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy (Tenure-track)

Position Description

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Colby College invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position beginning fall 2026. Colby is a highly selective liberal arts college in central Maine that is recognized for excellence in undergraduate education and close student-faculty interaction. Our department offers a flexible physics and astronomy curriculum that draws creatively on faculty areas of expertise to best engage undergraduates with a wide range of interests and backgrounds. We seek applicants with a commitment to excellence in both research and teaching at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum. We are especially interested in candidates who, through their teaching, research, and/or service, will promote access, opportunity, and inclusion and contribute to the campus community.

The department has two laboratory instructors and shares an electronics technician/machinist, an instrument support specialist, and a scientific computing support administrator with other departments. Research is supported with a competitive startup package and excellent infrastructure and computational resources. The College encourages the attendance of its faculty at professional meetings by providing annual support for travel.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a Ph.D. in physics or a closely related field, and post-doctoral and teaching experience are preferred. Candidates with any field of expertise will be considered, but preference will be given to those who articulate a compelling vision for innovative and inclusive teaching in the physics curriculum, including our introductory physics sequence, lab courses, and upper-level electives. Candidates who conduct interdisciplinary research are encouraged to apply. The new hire will join six other physicists and astronomers with active on-campus research programs in astrophysics, experimental atomic physics, theoretical particle physics, and soft-matter physics. Members of the department teach courses for non-science majors, introductory courses for science majors, core courses for physics majors, and upper-level courses in their area of specialty. Laboratory instruction is shared by all members of the department. Faculty members also regularly supervise student research projects.

More information about Colby’s physics and astronomy program can be found at http://www.colby.edu/physics/.