Assistant Professor in Physics AMO/Quantum Information/College of Sciences

Job Class Code: 10031
FLSA: Exempt
Posting Number: FRGV1216
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Division/Organization: Provost - Academic Affairs
Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position:
Tenure Status: Tenure Track
FTE: 1

Scope of Job:
We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's diverse student body as Assistant Professors in the Department of Physics and Astronomy beginning in the 2022-2023 academic year, subject to funding availability. This position is open to both experimentalists and theoreticians. This hiring initiative focuses on the area(s) of experimental/theoretical Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Physics (AMO) with an emphasis in quantum information (e.g., qubits). Candidates for this position are expected to strengthen and complement our current experimental/theoretical research on silicon nanophotonics, quantum optics, lasers, interferometry, fiber amplifiers, and manipulating individual atoms and molecules, as well as our theoretical and computational research on synthetic waves and materials, vacuum-matter-light interactions, superconducting quantum circuits, and solid-state defect centers. Our department currently lacks faculty that have a direct track record in quantum information science. Such faculty is of paramount importance for attracting external grants in this field. The position will thus complement and create synergies with our existing research listed above. The selected finalists will establish independent research programs that successfully attracts extramural funding, actively contributes to departmental development, and engages in innovative teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The position offers excellent start-up funds, salary, and laboratory space, computational facilities locally and via the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), and instrument facilities, such as a Pioneer-two electron beam lithography and scanning electron microscope, an electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy system, a physical property measurement system, cryogenic testing, RF measurement and design facilities, and laser and optics laboratories, in a dynamic and highly interactive research environment. About UTRGV: It is UTRGV's Vision “To be one of the nation's leaders in higher education, its premier Hispanic-serving institution, and a highly engaged bilingual university, with exceptional educational, research, and creative opportunities that serve as catalysts for transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond.” As such, UTRGV is committed to building a diverse faculty and staff that can contribute to an enriching learning environment that strives for more equitable outcomes for student success. UTRGV is a distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top 3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students. Thanks to a steadfast commitment to safety and success, UTRGV yielded record-breaking outcomes in enrollment and student success in the fall semester. For additional information, please visit our website.
Department Background

The Department of Physics and Astronomy is in the lower Rio Grande valley, at the UTRGV Brownsville and Edinburg campuses. We offer a BS in Physics, two master's degrees, MS in Physics and MSIS, and a recently approved Ph.D. in Physics. Our department has 22 full-time tenured and tenure track faculty, 1 tenured faculty shared with the School of Earth Environmental and Marine Sciences, several lecturers, and 6 full time staff. Our research areas of interest are in Gravitational Wave Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space Technology, Material Science, Condensed Matter Theory, Optics, Biophysics, Nuclear and High Energy Physics, and Physics Education. We have two research centers located in the Brownsville campus: The Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy (CGWA) and the Center for Radio Astronomy (CARA). Astrophysics faculty have ongoing collaborations using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory (Swift), the transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), the Chandra X-ray Observatory (Chandra), the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder, and NOIRLab facilities, such as the Gemini Observatory. Our GW faculty are founding members of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) facility and have collaborations with other institutions and telescopes within the US and abroad. We have excellent experimental facilities at both campuses, which include optics, lasers, and spectroscopy equipment, as well as access to computational facilities locally at UTRGV and at TACC. Our faculty publish in high impact journals and are successful in securing external funding to support their research. UTRGV is the newest member of the University of Texas System with major campuses in Brownsville, Edinburg, and Harlingen. The Department of Physics and Astronomy currently has 23 tenured/tenure-track faculty members and several lecturers, graduate students, and post-doctoral scholars. The department has strong research programs in gravitational wave, radio and optical astronomy, applied optics and lasers, nanoscience, nanotechnology and nano photonics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, computational physics, nuclear/high energy theory, and physics education. There are six state-of-the-art laboratories funded by the NSF, NASA, DoD, US Air Force, and NIH. The department offers B.S. and M.S. degrees, as well as PhDs in collaboration with other UT institutions. Additionally, the department is anticipating launching its own Physics Ph.D. program which is currently at the final stages of approval. As a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution, UTRGV is committed to preparing its students to succeed, contribute and excel in an increasingly diverse, global, and interconnected world, and seeks faculty who are prepared to help in this goal.

Minimum Qualifications:
A Ph.D. in Physics and postdoctoral experience are required.

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications:
Applicants should provide evidence of strong potential for significant productivity in research. Externally funded research and teaching experience are considered a plus. Successful candidates will demonstrate potential for forming collaborations with existing faculty within the Department of Physic and Astronomy and across UTRGV, as well as nationally, and abroad, the ability to involve both undergraduate and graduate students in research activities, and a commitment to educate a diverse body of students in a Hispanic Serving Institution.

Preferred Qualification:
This hiring initiative focuses on the areas of quantum optics, single-photon optics, and quantum information science (e.g., qubits). Candidates for this position are expected to strengthen and complement our current research program in experimental and theoretical AMO Physics. Diversity and inclusion are part of our core values and as such we encourage applications from women and members of underrepresented groups in the sciences. It is our commitment to elevate the lives and economic well-being of the Valley community by offering first-rate education in the STEM fields. We value applicants who can understand and have overcome race, gender-based, and ability-based barriers, and who can bring with them the wealth of worldview, perspective, and experience that is critical to an innovative and accessible educational environment. As a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution with a student population that is over 90% Hispanic, UTRGV is committed to preparing its students to succeed, contribute and excel in an increasingly diverse, global, and interconnected world. Applicants who identify with this mission are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience
License or Certification Required?: No
Number of Vacancies: 2
Desired Start Date: 09/01/2022

EEO Statement:
EEO Statement
It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the civil rights act of 1964, the title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.
Diversity Statement
UTRGV is a Hispanic-serving Institution dedicated to student success and building a diverse faculty committed to working in a multicultural environment. UTRGV has an NSF ADVANCE grant to increase the representation of women in STEM fields and to promote a positive, family friendly workplace for all faculty. We strongly encourage applications from women and minorities.

Open Date: 09/28/2021

Special Instructions to Applicants:
Dear Applicant, Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following: *Date of Birth *Social Security Number *Gender *Ethnicity/Race Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission.
Security sensitive; All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). CBCs will be conducted for all candidates invited for an on-campus interview.

The expected starting date of the position is September 1, 2022, subject to funding availability. Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy, and the names & contact information of at least three references. In addition, applicants should submit a detailed research plan, including major equipment and start-up funding required for an operational laboratory. Letters of references will be requested from short-listed candidates. Complete applications should be submitted online at http://careers.utrgv.edu. Electronic inquiries may be directed to Andreas.Hanke@utrgv.edu. Evaluations of the applications will begin on January 24, 2022 and continue until the position is filled.


Additional Information:
UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the position may require presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment. This position is security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code §51.215. The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Department of Physics and Astronomy website: www.utrgv.edu/physics/

Please Note:
Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Incomplete applications will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget approval.

Please Note: Required documents.
1. Curriculum Vitae2. List of 3 References3. Unofficial Transcripts4. Cover Letter/Letter of Application5. Description of future research plans (including major equipment & startup funding required for an operational laboratory)6. Teaching Philosophy/Statement7. Diversity statement describing how he/she would promote an environment of diversity and inclusion through his/her different activities.

To apply, visit https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/31369





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