Lecturer of Physics and Astronomy

Department: Dept of Physics & Astronomy

Nature & Purpose of Position/Usual Duties:
The Sam Houston State University Department of Physics & Astronomy invites applications for a salaried lecturer position to begin in Fall 2026. Appointment is on an annual (9 month) contract basis with possibility of continuing annual renewal thereafter.

The primary responsibility of this position is teaching the core astronomy courses in our newly renovated Engaging Spaces classroom.

The instructional load is (4|4), i.e. four three-credit-hour courses for each of the fall and spring terms. A majority of instructional duties will be in-person, at the main SHSU campus, although a portion of assigned courses may be conducted online.

The department operates a new off-campus observatory (The Dominey Observatory), which opened in the spring of 2024. This wheelchair-accessible facility features an 18-foot dome with a 28" telescope from PlaneWave Instruments that supports imaging and also viewing at the eyepieces. The advertised position includes full observing privileges, and the successful candidate would be encouraged to participate in outreach programs using the Dominey Observatory, but organizing outreach activities is not required.

This position will be based at the main SHSU campus in Huntsville, Texas.

Other Specifications/Instructions for the Position:
Requests for information and letters of recommendation may be directed to Joel Walker (jwalker@shsu.edu) from an official email address.

Please note: Reference providers listed in the References section of the application will receive an automated email reference request at the time the application is submitted.

Educational Requirements for the Position (Faculty Positions Only):
Requires a minimum of a Master's degree in Astronomy or Physics or a very closely related field.

Experience Required for the Position (Faculty Positions Only):
Teaching experience is greatly valued in the selection process. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate that they are capable of providing quality teaching while maintaining an engaging classroom environment suitable for learning. The successful candidate should have a commitment to student success in our core astronomy courses for non-science majors, exhibit an ability to incorporate active learning styles in their presentations, and be able to teach introductory astronomy in various modalities, including face-to-face, online, and hybrid. The ideal candidate will have engaged in scholarly work involving astronomy education research, but such scholarship is not required.