"Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics"

Job Summary

The Physics Department at Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) welcomes applicants for a full-time, one-year Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics position, or Visiting Instructor position, to begin in July 2026. Applicants of all specializations are welcome to apply. The successful candidate will be expected to teach Introductory physics lectures and lab for physics majors, dual-degree engineering students, and pre-health audiences, but will also have the opportunity to teach upper-level courses based on their interest.

The Department has lab space and resources available for new faculty to continue their scholarly activities, and greatly values the inclusion of undergraduate students in the research process. Candidates who are passionate about this should write about it in their cover letter.

The Physics department also has a substantial laboratory curriculum that has recently undergone revision to focus instruction on development of experimental skills using best-practices from pedagogical research. We welcome candidates who can bring their own perspective and experience to these courses, and can adjust their approach based on the backgrounds of the students.

We also value instructor development and the effort required to adapt to a new environment. The College offers mentoring experiences and faculty development resources to support short and long-term career growth of new faculty.

About Department

The Physics Department at W&J offers B.A. and a B.S. degrees in physics that focus on experimental skills. We also offer emphases within the major that allow students to study interdisciplinary topics such as chemical physics, biological physics, mathematical physics, and the intersections of philosophy and physics. Physics faculty also teach courses in support of W&J's chemistry, biology, pre-health, and dual-degree engineering programs. The department is housed in the Swanson Science Center, which offers state-of-the-art educational laboratories and a well-appointed machine shop. We frequently offer interdisciplinary general education courses, consistent with the liberal arts mission of the college.

Qualifications

The department seeks candidates who have a PhD or Masters in physics or related field. ABD candidates will also be considered. Candidates should also demonstrate a dedication to excellence in teaching and a desire to contribute to the campus-wide liberal arts culture.

Application Instructions

Candidates should submit a cover letter addressing how their experiences/qualifications meet the job description, CV, and a statement of teaching philosophy and approach to https://washjeff.applicantpro.com/jobs/. They may also submit evidence of teaching excellence such as peer or student evaluations, or a sample syllabus, if available. Applicants should be prepared to provide three confidential letters of recommendation on request. It is recommended that all documents be in PDF format and uploaded at one time. To upload more than one document on the application, please choose file then upload files until all documents are showing in the submitted hr@washjeff.edu. Questions regarding the position should be addressed to Professor Cory Christenson (cchristenson@washjeff.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately and will be conducted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. All applications submitted before May 10, 2026 will be considered.