"Assistant Professor of Physics"

Assistant Professor of Physics

University of South Dakota

Posting Number: F01732P

Department: USD-Physics

Physical Location of Position (City): Vermillion

Job Description:

The Department of Physics at the University of South Dakota (USD) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position starting Fall 2026. This position is part of the recently awarded NSF EPSCoR Ge-STAR Project (Germanium Science and Technology for Advanced Research - https://ge-star.org) and offers an outstanding opportunity to join a nationally recognized research program in germanium-based science and technology.

Position Description

We seek candidates with expertise in Ge-based science and technology, with research interests in one or more of the following areas:

• High-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors for rare-event physics, including dark matter detection and neutrino property measurements.
• Medical imaging technologies utilizing germanium-based sensors.
• Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to materials science, detector development, medical imaging, and data analysis.

The successful candidate is expected to:

• Develop a vigorous, externally funded research program aligned with the goals of the Ge-STAR project.
• Contribute to graduate and undergraduate education in Physics and data sciences.
• Teach classes in Physics and AI/ML in Data Sciences.
• Contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations within the Ge-STAR project and across USD.
• Have expertise in AI/ML applications for scientific and engineering challenges.

Unique Resources at USD

USD hosts the world's only public high-purity germanium crystal growth facility, supporting large-scale R&D for detector fabrication and advanced materials science. The department collaborates closely with international rare-event physics experiments, including the LEGEND neutrinoless double-beta decay project, SuperCDMS for dark matter, and COHERENT for neutrino properties. Additionally, USD has growing expertise in theoretical physics and infrastructure in AI/ML research, providing opportunities for interdisciplinary projects in materials informatics and detector optimization.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Physics, Computational Physics, Medical Physics, Materials Science, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
• Potential for high-quality research and effective teaching.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience with Ge detector technology, low-background experiments, medical imaging systems or a closely related area.

Application Process

Applicants should submit the following:

• A cover letter.
• Curriculum vitae.
• A statement of research interests and future plans (3 pages max).
• A statement of teaching philosophy (2 pages max).
• Contact information for at least three references.

Applications must be submitted through USD's online job portal. Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

Closing Date:

Open Until Filled: Yes

First Consideration Date: 12/01/2025

Advertised Salary:

Duration of the Term: 9 months

Appointment Percent: 100

Appointment Type: Regular