Open Rank Assistant Teaching Professor

computational physics, biophysics, nanoscale science, physics education, experimental nuclear physics, particle and nuclear theory, experimental optics, and experimental atomic and molecular physics. The department enrolls approximately 120 graduate students and 140 undergrad physics majors. The department size is approximately 57 faculty members. While working in this department, you will be expected to foster a supportive and welcoming environment.

NC State promotes an integrated approach to problem solving that transforms lives and provides leadership for social, economic, and technological development across North Carolina and around the world. NC State’s land grant mission of teaching, research and service is dedicated to the service of North Carolina and its people. Applicants are encouraged to review the institution’s mission, vision and strategic plan, and consider how their background, interest and experience would enable them to support the university.

Wolfpack Perks and Benefits

As a Pack member, you belong here, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.
What we offer:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Flexible Spending Account
• Retirement Programs
• Disability Plans
• Life Insurance
• Accident Plan
• Paid Time Off and Other Leave Programs
• 12 Holidays Each Year
• Tuition and Academic Assistance
• And so much more!

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits, Wellness & Recreation Membership, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Disclaimer: Perks and Benefit eligibility is based on Part-Time or Full-Time Employment status. Eligibility and Employer Sponsored Plans can be found within each of the links offered.

Essential Job Duties

The successful candidate will devote most of their time to teaching undergraduate astronomy and astrophysics courses offered by the Department of Physics & Astronomy, including introductory courses for the broader university community and courses for physics majors and the astrophysics minor. Duties include preparing and delivering courses, developing and assessing learning outcomes, advising and mentoring students, and participating in department curriculum development, including helping to shape the astrophysics minor. The candidate will provide high-quality, effective instruction in astronomy and astrophysics for the department and the university and help develop and lead the department’s astrophysics minor.

Other responsibilities that may occupy a smaller share of time include contributing to the design, review, and ongoing improvement of the astrophysics minor and related courses; academic advising and mentoring of students interested in astronomy and astrophysics; outreach and public engagement in astronomy; serving on department, college, and university committees; and collaborating with other physics and astronomy faculty, the College of Sciences, and other units that serve students taking astronomy courses.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Strong knowledge of astronomy and astrophysics at the undergraduate level.
• Ability to design, deliver, and assess engaging courses in lecture, laboratory, and online or hybrid formats, using learning management systems and instructional technology.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Ability to mentor and advise students and to foster a supportive, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues on curriculum development and department initiatives.

Other Required Qualifications

• PhD in physics, astrophysics, astronomy, or a related field.
• College-level teaching experience.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness, such as teaching evaluations and a statement of teaching philosophy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching astronomy and/or astrophysics courses at the undergraduate level.
• Experience using evidence-based, student-centered teaching methods and assessing student learning.
• Experience developing or revising courses or curricula, such as a minor, certificate, or program.
• Experience teaching a range of student audiences, from non-science majors in introductory courses to science and physics majors in upper-level courses.
• Experience with astronomical observation, data analysis, or computational tools in a teaching setting.

Required License(s) or Certification(s)

N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required

No

Commercial Driver's License required

No

Job Open Date

10/21/2026

Anticipated Close Date

Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please submit all required application documents (see Applicant Documents) online. Teaching Evaluations (e.g., summary of student evaluations from recent courses) should be uploaded in the “Other Document” upload.
Review of applications will begin November 30, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. Interviews may begin at any time. Finalists will be asked to give a teaching presentation or demonstration as part of the on-campus interview.
Employment is contingent upon verification of the degree and satisfactory completion of a background check.

Position Number

00112403

Position Type

Non-Tenure-Track Faculty

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week)

1.0

Appointment

9 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation - Adverse Weather

Non Mandatory - Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation - Emergency Events

Non Mandatory - Emergency Event

Department ID

170601 - Physics and Astronomy

EEO

NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.

If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.

Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.

NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Organization

NC State: Think and Do

NC State was founded with a purpose: to create economic, societal and intellectual prosperity for the people of North Carolina and the country. We began as a land-grant institution teaching the agricultural and mechanical arts. Today, we're a pre-eminent research enterprise with 12 colleges excelling in all major academic fields.

Our 34,000 high-performing students take what they learn in the classroom and apply it in the real world by conducting research, working in internships and co-ops, and performing acts of world-changing service. That experiential education ensures that they leave here ready to lead the workforce. NC State's 13:1 student-faculty ratio is one of the reasons why we're the best college for your money in North Carolina (Money) and the No. 5 best value among public universities nationally (U.S. News & World Report).

Overcoming Challenges, Improving Lives

NC State is one of only two universities in the nation leading two National Science Foundation Engineering Research Centers — one developing wearable, self-powered health monitors, and the other researching smart-grid technology. We’re also leading interdisciplinary efforts to curb nuclear proliferation, help farmers confront climate change and build a new American manufacturing sector.

Our research doesn't just get published in a journal or sit on a shelf; it makes an impact. NC State is No. 6 nationwide in commercialization agreements based on university research, and we're No. 2 among universities without a medical school. Our Cooperative Extension Service provides research-based information to citizens in all 100 North Carolina counties. In addition, our industrial extension unit — Industry Expansion Solutions — has created an economic benefit for the state's manufacturers averaging $149 million per year since 2005.

Bright Minds Creating a Bold Future

NC State’s 9,000 faculty and staff are world leaders in their fields, bridging the divides between academic disciplines and training high-caliber students to meet tomorrow’s challenges. NC State students won two Goldwater scholarships, five Fulbright scholarships, one Churchill scholarship and a record-breaking 25 National Science Foundation graduate research fellowships in the 2016-2017 academic year. In addition, 25 faculty are members of the National Academies.

Our Centennial Campus, an award-winning public-private research campus, is home to more than 70 partner organizations working alongside more than 70 NC State research and academic units. Centennial is also the location of the innovative Hunt Library, which Time magazine has dubbed “the library of the future.”

In Raleigh and Around the World

It all happens in one of the best cities in America. A top spot for job-seekers and tech professionals, Raleigh is nationally recognized as a leading urban center:

• No. 2 hot spot for tech jobs (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 3 best city for young professionals (Forbes, 2016)
• No. 4 best city for jobs (Glassdoor.com, 2017)
• No. 4 best place to live (U.S. News & World Report, 2016)
• Best big city in the Southeast (Time, 2016)
• Selected as a Google Fiber expansion city

With Durham and Chapel Hill, Raleigh anchors the Research Triangle, a national hotspot for high-tech enterprise. The top companies in the region — including IBM, Cisco Systems, SAS Institute, Biogen Idec and GlaxoSmithKline — are among the country’s best employers. They also lead the way in hiring new NC State graduates.

More than 130 years after its creation, NC State continues to make its founding purpose a reality. Every day, our career-ready graduates and world-leading faculty make the fruits of learning and discovery available to people across the state, throughout the nation, and around the world.