ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITION
THEORETICAL ASTROPHYSICS
THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the field of Theoretical Multi-Messenger Astrophysics. The Department has active research programs in theoretical nuclear, neutrino, and gravitational wave astrophysics. Departmental faculty play leading roles in three national collaborations: the DOE SciDAC TEAMS (Toward Exascale Simulations of Mergers and Supernovae), DOE ECP Exastar, and NSF M3PM (Nuclear Physics from Multi-Messenger Mergers) collaborations. The Department’s theory efforts are complemented by its research programs in experimental nuclear astrophysics. Both programs benefit from extensive collaboration with research scientists at the nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and from the leadership-class facilities there, such as the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility, one of the world’s premier computing facilities. We seek a candidate to complement and expand these research efforts.

The Department has an exemplary research record, with seven professors earning NSF CAREER awards in the past eight years, eight professors among the world’s top two percent of physicists based on citation count, the award of the prestigious American Physical Society 2021 Bonner Prize, eleven APS Fellows, and three AAAS Fellows. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville is Tennessee’s flagship state research institution, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates and a premier graduate institution with a number of nationally and internationally ranked programs and with national and international leadership in numerous fields.

The Department respects and values people of all races, genders, creeds, cultures, and sexual orientations, and holds a deep commitment toward developing and promoting an inclusive community. We strongly encourage applications from members of groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields, as well as, candidates who will contribute in meaningful ways to the equity and inclusion goals of the Department and the University. The latter should be demonstrated in the candidate’s Statement of Equity and Inclusion. 

The University’s campus is located in one of the most beautiful areas of the country, with easy access to miles of inland waterways, pristine state and national parks, diverse cultural opportunities, and a blend of convenient urban and rural living settings. Downtown Knoxville, adjacent to campus, is a thriving neighborhood filled with restaurants, shops, and indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, and is home to the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Knoxville Opera Company, annual international festivals, such as the Big Ears Music Festival, and seasonal and weekly events such as Jazz on the Square, Shakespeare on the Square, and the Farmers Market.

Candidates should have a PhD in physics or astronomy, or a closely related field. The successful candidate will have established an exemplary record of research that includes significant contributions to the candidate's field of study and that is indicative of future promise and scientific leadership, as demonstrated through publications in peer-reviewed journals, citation statistics, the number and significance of invited talks, evidence of leadership roles the candidate may have assumed, and the candidate’s Statement of Research. The successful candidate will be expected to establish an externally-funded research program in the Department and provide training for Departmental graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the teaching mission of the Department. We are looking for candidates committed to effective undergraduate and graduate teaching, as well as, to innovation in the development of curricula and teaching methods, as demonstrated by the candidate’s Statement of Teaching. Evidence of prior formal, or informal but notable, teaching, and outreach will be an advantage.

Applicants should send a 1) Curriculum Vitae including research and teaching experience, 2) List of publications, 3) Statement of Research, 4) Statement of Teaching, 5) Statement of Equity and Inclusion, and should also arrange for at least three confidential letters of reference to be submitted. All application materials, including the letters, should be submitted via https://apply.interfolio.com/91962 . Only electronic applications will be considered and acceptable file formats are .pdf or .docx.  We will start reviewing applications by December 1, 2021.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, telephone 865-974-2498. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity.