Assistant or Associate Professor Department of Physics Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA The Physics Department of the Naval Postgraduate School invites applications for tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant/Associate Professor levels. Exceptional candidates may be considered for appointment at a more senior level. Degrees in physics or applied physics are preferred for breadth of teaching within the department. Responsibilities include teaching graduate-level and refresher…
courses in applied physics and related fields; supervising Master’s and Ph.D. student theses; and other departmental service activities. Applicants will be expected to develop an externally funded research program on topics relevant to the U.S. Navy and DoD (broadly defined) and must have a demonstrated strong commitment to graduate teaching. Preference will be given to candidates with expertise in one of the following areas (in no particular order):
Conventional weapons, particularly candidates who can leverage existing facilities that include light gas and propellant guns, and high strain-rate test equipment.
Nuclear weapons effects/forensics and nuclear power. Preference will be given to candidates who can advance the department’s long-standing interaction with Lawrence Livermore and other national labs.
Hypersonic and ballistic missile systems. Ideal candidates will have expertise in the lethality or propulsion of modern hypersonic vehicles or maneuverable ballistic missiles.
The Naval Postgraduate School, located on the beautiful Monterey, CA peninsula, grants advanced degrees to the U.S. Armed Forces, DoD civilians, and international partners. The typical NPS applied physics student is a mid-career military officer or warfare center civilian employee who requires a technical graduate degree for his/her career trajectory.
The Physics Department has a long history of excellence in the areas of conventional weapons, electro-optic and quantum sensors, and underwater acoustics. The department is comprised of approximately 12 tenure-track professors, 4 research faculty, and one senior lecturer, in addition to multiple postdoctoral and contractor research support personnel. The department supports a range of NPS programs, including Applied Physics of Combat Systems, Undersea Warfare, Space Systems Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, and Energy. NPS is the nation’s premier defense-related graduate university and places high value on both research and instruction.
Veterans Preference Statement:
Veteran's preference does not apply when selecting individuals under this specific hiring authority. However, if you claim veteran's preference, you will be required to submit supporting documentation with your application.
Veterans Preference: If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. There is no formal rating system for applying veterans' preference to the excepted service; however, the Department of Defense considers veterans' preference eligibility a positive factor for hiring. Applicants eligible for veterans' preference must include that information in their cover letter or resume and attach supporting documentation such as a DD-214 or a VA Letter.
Additional Veterans’ information: If you are not sure of your preference eligibility, visit the Department of Labor’s website: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/vets . For more veterans’ preference information, visit: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/job-seekers/veterans/veterans-preference .
The Naval Postgraduate School is an equal opportunity employer. For additional information about NPS, please refer to the website at http://www.nps.edu Conditions of Employment:
Must be determined suitable for federal employment.
New employees to the Department of the Navy will be required to successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit e-verify.gov
Within the Department of War (DOW), the appointment of retired military members within 180 days immediately following retirement date to a civilian position is subject to the provisions of 5 United States Code 3326.
Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
You will be required to obtain and maintain an interim and/or final Secret security clearance prior to entrance on Failure to obtain and maintain the required level of clearance may result in the withdrawal of a job offer or removal.
Minimum Qualifications for Assistant Professor, AD-03:
An earned doctoral degree in a discipline that supports the departmental instructional needs;
evidence of teaching aptitude;
evidence of potential to advise student theses and dissertations;
and evidence of strong potential for scholarship leading to scholarly publications.
Minimum Qualifications for Associate Professor, AD-05:
An earned doctoral degree in a discipline that supports the departmental instructional needs;
broad experience (typically 6 years) as a faculty member in one or more accredited institutions of higher education or equivalent professional experience;
excellent teaching ability or aptitude;
an emerging national reputation for scholarship;
a sustained publications record;
an ability to advise student theses and dissertations based on comparable experience or aptitude; and
a record of performance of academic service based on comparable experience or aptitude.
Preferred Qualifications:
An earned doctoral degree in Physics, Applied Physics, Engineering Physics or closely related field;
Must be able to support a breadth of the department’s instructional needs;
Excellent teaching ability or aptitude;
A sustained publication record;
Evidence of potential to advise student theses and dissertations based on comparable experience or aptitude;
Ability to secure funds to support research.
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Required Documents Statement:
Your C.V. or resume must be two pages or less and must support the minimum qualification described in this announcement. Additional supporting documentation may be submitted to provide additional details regarding experience, publication record, and scholarship.
A letter of application including CV, statements of teaching and any research interests, and the names and addresses of three or more references should be sent to:
Faculty Search Committee
Department of Physics
Naval Postgraduate School
Monterey, CA 93943
Email: kbsmith@nps.edu
Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position will remain open until filled. The Physics Department needs to fill this position no later than July 1, 2027, for the Summer academic quarter. Assistant Professor, AD-3 Salary Range: $128,568 - $191,795
Associate Professor, AD-5 Salary Range: $140,011 - $209,105
Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience based on federal government Administrative Determined (AD) pay scale, including locality adjustments. Pay range above is based on Monterey, CA locality.