Three-Year Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics
Three-Year Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics
Simpson College: Academic Affairs: Division of Natural Science: Chemistry and Physics
Location
Indianola, IA
Open Date
Dec 03, 2024
Description
The Simpson College Department of Chemistry and Physics invites applications for a Three-Year Term Physics position at the rank of Assistant Professor of Physics to begin in August 2025. A Ph.D. in physics or a closely related area is required. If program goals are met, the three-year term position will be converted to tenure-track with years counted toward tenure and promotion.
Simpson College is a small liberal arts college with a dedicated group of faculty, staff and students. Simpson’s main campus is in Indianola, Iowa, a part of the greater Des Moines metropolitan area. The Des Moines area has a population of over 600,000, and economic growth has outpaced the U.S. in recent years. In addition, the cost of living is well below the national average. To learn more about Simpson College, please visit: www.simpson.edu
The standard teaching load for this position is six courses per year in a 3-3 format; three courses per semester. The candidate will be assigned to teach a year-long introductory physics course with 1-2 lab sections each semester (2 labs = 1 course), along with an intermediate or advanced course in physics each semester (to be determined). The department must also serve the general educations program and will be responsible for helping develop courses which serve nonmajors at Simpson College (ex. astronomy). The department owns several telescopes including a Celestron 11” Schmitt-Cassegrain and a Coronado solar telescope. Assignments may include a course in our three-week May Term.
The candidate would mentor students in appropriate course projects and a modest student accessible research program. We operate in an environment of limited resources, but we work hard to offer research experiences for our students. Many of our students leverage their research experiences at Simpson and obtain summer research experiences both here at Simpson College and at other institutions (through REUs and SULIs).
The successful candidate will be the second physicist in a Chemistry and Physics department of five members. Our program offers majors in Physics and Physics-Engineering (3-2) and has seen steady growth in majors over the last 3 years. We have an active SPS club chapter and a Sigma Pi Sigma honor society chapter. Many of our students are interested in practical applications of physics and engineering (e.g., materials science, alternative/renewable energy issues, photonics, etc.) and experimental fields that align with their interests.
Qualifications
We seek an enthusiastic and energetic candidate with innovative ideas to grow and strengthen a growing physics program. Candidates must be able to teach physics at all levels of the undergraduate physics curriculum, including laboratories. Moreover, the candidate must be enthusiastic about utilizing innovative technologies, particularly AI, to enhance student learning outcomes. A Ph.D. in physics or a closely related area is required.
Our ideal candidate would be one who is primarily dedicated to innovation and excellence in undergraduate teaching. We are looking for an experimental physicist who can develop the upper-level laboratory curriculum and engage students in hands-on, undergraduate-accessible research projects. The department currently owns and maintains equipment in optics, laser spectroscopy and quantum optics which could be of great use to the right candidate. The Division of Natural and Health Sciences is strongly committed to fostering a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. The ideal candidate will expand on existing strengths in computational modeling and data science by creating hands-on experimental research opportunities for students that complement and enhance existing research initiatives within the faculty. Industry experience is a plus.
Application Instructions
Applications should include a cover letter describing the candidate’s interest and ability to meet the qualifications for the position as described above, a current curriculum vitae, unofficial transcripts if available, and teaching and research statements. Also required are teaching evaluations or other evidence of teaching effectiveness, a diversity statement regarding teaching, scholarship the names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of three professional references, especially from those who can comment on your potential as a teacher and as a colleague. (Note, reference letters which only describe the technical details of the candidate’s research are of limited value.)
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time. Official transcripts and a background check are required before hiring
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. All applications received by January 6, 2025, will receive full consideration
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION: Applicants for admission and employment, students, parents of students, employees, sources of referral for admission and employment, and all unions or professional organizations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with Simpson College are hereby notified that this institution does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, creed, religion, disability, genetic information, veteran or veteran disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic in admission, access to, treatment or employment in, its programs and activities. Any persons having inquiries concerning Simpson College’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX – Section 504 or Americans with Disabilities Act are directed to contact Mary Ellen Bartley-Nancarrow, Director of Human Resources, Simpson College, 701 North C Street, Indianola, Iowa 50125-1299, (515) 961-1511. Persons may also contact the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, regarding the institution’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX – Section 504, or Americans with Disabilities Act.
TITLE IX: Simpson College does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender. Simpson College also prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Reports of misconduct, questions regarding Title IX, and concerns about non-compliance should be directed to the Title IX Coordinator. For a complete copy of the policy, more information, or to report an instance of sex or gender-based discrimination, please contact the Title IX Coordinator (titleix@simpson.edu) and/or the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html.
The College is committed to providing a safe and productive learning and living community. To achieve that goal, we conduct background investigations for all candidates being considered for employment. Background checks may include but are not limited to criminal history, national sex offender search, and motor vehicle history. Simpson’s annual security compliance document is available on the Simpson Security website. To comply with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, you will be required to, upon being made an offer of employment, produce documents that are specified by the federal government to establish your identity and right to work in the United States. These documents must be produced no later than seventy-two (72) hours after beginning paid employment. Questions? Contact the Human Resources department at employment@simpson.edu
SIMPSON COLLEGE PROMOTES A CLEAR AIR LEARNING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT. SMOKING IS PROHIBITED ON COLLEGE PROPERTY.
