"Assistant/Associate Professor"

Job Details

Assistant/Associate Professor

Tenure Status: Tenure Track

Department: Physics & Astronomy - 250700

Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Physics, or a related field.

Areas of Interest (No Minimum Level Required)
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Appalachian State University seeks a candidate to fill a tenure-track position with a focus on astronomy. Preference will be given to candidates whose research and/or outreach activities include facilities available at the department's Dark Sky Observatory (DSO).

License/Certification Required

Description of the Department or Unit
The University's Dark Sky Observatory hosts 32- and 18-inch telescopes with imaging and spectrographic capabilities as well three robotic photometric telescopes (6-, 14- and 17-inch). On the 32-inch telescope, the GM spectrograph is automated for stellar targets (and other objects moving at the sidereal rate) and astronomers can expect roughly six nights per month (72 nights per year) on the 32-inch for imaging and or spectroscopy. The Jo and Don Cline Visitor Center at DSO is used for public outreach. The department also houses an instructional observatory on campus with a 16-inch telescope capable of imaging and spectroscopy and the "GoTo" Astronomy Facility, a state-of-the-art astronomical laboratory with 15 Celestron CPC1100 telescopes used in our two-semester introductory astronomy course sequence.
The department offers a B.A. in Physics, a B.S. in Physics with a concentration in Applied Physics, and a B.S. in Physics with a concentration in Secondary Education. Additionally, the department's M.S. program in Engineering Physics is a national leader in instrumentation and automation. The faculty includes 13.5 tenure-track and 11 full-time non-tenure-track members. Both undergraduate and graduate programs are consistently ranked among the largest in the country by the AIP when compared to other Masters granting institutions: enrollment exceeds 180 undergraduate majors (with more than 40 in the astronomy concentration) and 20-25 master's students.
As the premier, public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors. Additional information about the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the University, and the surrounding area can be found at www.appstate.edu and www.physics.appstate.edu and at the above-listed department website.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Candidates must have a strong commitment to excellence in education and are expected to develop a research program that, in addition to involving undergraduate and M.S. students, can attract and maintain external funding. Responsibilities will include teaching astronomy and physics courses, advancing astronomical research, and service activities, including advising. Some start-up funds will be available to the successful candidate.

Proposed Date of Hire: 08/01/2026

Suggested Salary Range: Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Closing Date:

Open Until Filled: Yes

Evaluation of Applications Begins: 10/24/2025

To apply, visit https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/52287

Appalachian State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or sexual orientation.