Department: College of Science
Classification: 9-month Instructional Faculty
Job Category: Instructional Faculty
Job Type: Full-Time
Work Schedule: N/A - I/R Faculty
Location: Fairfax, VA
Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible
Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa
sponsorship
Salary: Salary commensurate with education and
experience
Restricted: Yes
Criminal Background Check: Yes
About the Department:
The Department of Physics and Astronomy includes over 40 faculty
members, 100 undergraduate students (BS), and 70 graduate students
(MS and PhD). Our faculty and students collaborate with local,
national, and international research institutions, including the
Applied Research Lab, Argonne National Laboratory, CERN, Naval
Research Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and
Technology, the Institute for Quantum Matter, NASA Goddard Space
Flight Center, Space Telescope Science Institute, and the US Naval
Observatory. For more information on the department, see
http://physics.gmu.edu .
George Mason University, a Carnegie Research I institution, is
Virginia's largest university with more than 39,000 students
representing all 50 states and more than 135 countries. Located in
Fairfax, Virginia, Mason is part of the Washington DC metropolitan
area offering easy access to the scientific and political resources
of the nation's capital.
Statement on Building an Inclusive Culture: George Mason University
College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing
inclusive excellence and fostering an environment free from
discrimination, harassment, and retaliation throughout our STEM
community. At Mason Science, our values include cultivating an
organizational culture that promotes belonging, respect, and
civility. We believe that varied opinions, cultures, and
perspectives are what provides vibrancy, innovation, and growth to
an academic community. By prioritizing cultural responsiveness in
academics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive to
attract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission
and vision.
About the Position:
The Yu Yuen Kit (YYK) Associate or Full Professor of Physics in the
Department of Physics and Astronomy will be held by an eminent
scholar in physics. The first holder of this endowed position will
be an expert in theoretical and/or computational quantum science
who will relocate their program to George Mason University and
collaborate across departments and fields. Responsibilities will
include establishing and maintaining an externally funded research
group, training graduate students and postdoctoral scholars,
teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and
collaborating with other George Mason faculty in research and
pursuit of center-level funding. The YYK Professor will complement
the expertise of existing physics faculty members while also
launching new research areas.
Responsibilities:
Research
- Develops and maintains an active, externally funded research
program;
- Publishes in high-quality peer-reviewed journals and presents
at professional conferences;
Supervises research staff, graduate students, and/or
postdoctoral fellows; and
Contributes to interdisciplinary research initiatives within
the department and university.
Teaching
- May teach up to two (2) courses per year or as assigned at the
undergraduate and/or graduate level;
- Advises and mentors students in coursework, research, and
professional development; and
- Contributes to instructional innovation.
Service
- Serves on departmental, college, or university committees as
assigned;
- Participates in professional service (e.g., reviewing for
journals, serving on grant panels); and
- Contributes to outreach, engagement, and initiatives that
support the mission of the university.
Required Qualifications:
- Terminal degree/PhD in Physics or a related field;
- Experience in quantum physics which includes, but is not
limited to, quantum information science, quantum devices, quantum
materials, and quantum sensing;
- Rank of Associate Professor (or equivalent) or higher;
- Success in securing external research funding;
- Strong record of scholarly production;
- Knowledge of theoretical and/or computational quantum science
at a depth demonstrated by a sustained, internationally recognized
record of peer-reviewed scholarship;
- Knowledge of the physics curriculum sufficient to teach at both
the undergraduate and graduate levels;
- Knowledge of federal and non-federal research funding
mechanisms, including center-level and multi-investigator
programs;
- Skill in preparing competitive research proposals to federal
agencies and other external sponsors;
- Skill in mentoring and supervising graduate students and
postdoctoral scholars;
- Skill in scientific writing, oral presentation, and classroom
instruction;
- Ability to establish and maintain an externally funded research
group;
- Ability to collaborate across departments and disciplines,
including in the pursuit of center-level funding;
- Ability to launch new research directions that complement
existing departmental expertise;
- A record of research, teaching, and service supporting
appointment at the rank of associate professor or professor with
tenure; and
- Standing as an eminent scholar in physics evidenced by honors,
fellowships, editorial or advisory roles, or comparable external
recognition.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate
and graduate levels.
Instructions to Applicants:
For full consideration, applicants must apply for
Yu Yuen
Kit (YYK) Associate or Full Professor of Physics - Quantum
at
https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the
online application to include three professional references with
contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent,
CV, Research Statement, Teaching Statement and (3) Professional
Letters of Recommendation for review.
Posting Open Date: September 17, 2026
For Full Consideration, Apply by: November 15, 2026
Open Until Filled: Yes
Mason Ad Statement
George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 research
university committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous
world. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largest
and most diverse public research university in Virginia, offering
degree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,
along with certificates and credentials.
George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment for
students, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. We
believe in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancing
our mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; and
we believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity of
origin, identity, circumstance, and thought.
Equity Statement
George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its
community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual
orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or
veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.
Campus Safety Information
Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at
http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/