Associate or Assistant Professor - Tenure Track

Associate or Assistant Professor - Tenure Track

The Department of Astronomy at the University of Maryland College Park invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position, at the assistant or associate professor level. Outstanding candidates in all areas of observational and theoretical astronomy and astrophysics will be considered, although we particularly encourage applicants in the fields of exoplanets, solar system and planetary origins, data science (especially time-domain astronomy and surveys), and the high-z universe and galaxy evolution. All candidates should have research that relates to current and near-future major astronomical facilities such as JWST, ALMA, Roman, and Rubin.

The Department of Astronomy has active observational programs in many areas of astronomy, with access to the 4.3-meter Lowell Discovery Telescope and the Zwicky Transient Facility, as well as successfully competing for time in open facilities such as ALMA and high-energy, ultraviolet, optical, and infrared NASA observatories. In addition to an in-house computing cluster of over 500 cores, members of the Department have access to three larger university clusters, including the world-class ‘Zaratan’. The Department has close collaborations with scientists in our departments of Physics, Geology, and Engineering as well as in neighboring institutions such as NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (formalized through the Joint Space Science Institute), the Applied Physics Laboratory, and the Space Telescope Science Institute. 

Candidates should describe in their application materials how their plans fit within this unique research environment. The Washington DC – Baltimore area is noted as a partner-friendly area due to its many employment opportunities in astronomy and other fields.

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify someone from employment. Prior to any adverse decision, finalists have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding the background check.

Education:

A PhD in physics, astronomy, or a related discipline is required, and the successful candidate must have an established record of research excellence.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

As the duties of this position include undergraduate and graduate teaching, a potential for teaching excellence is necessary.

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.