Job Description
Assistant Professor - College of Sciences, Physics and Astronomy Location: San Antonio, TX
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Job ID: 12483
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Position Information The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Science and Department of Physics and Astronomy invites applications for the full-time tenure track assistant professor position conducting research in cosmology and the early universe with technical experience with data science.
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) The University of Texas at San Antonio is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution specializing in digital economy, human health, fundamental futures, and social-economic transformation. With more than 35,000 students, it is the largest university in the San Antonio region.
UTSA advances knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service, and with an intentional focus on career readiness, the university produces more graduates for the workforce than any other institution in the region. It is a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property — for Texas, the nation, and the world.
In 2024, the UT System Board of Regents authorized the UT System to begin integrating UTSA and the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio into one unified institution, establishing a world-class university that integrates academic, research, and clinical excellence to build a profoundly impactful university of the future. Driven by a vision for growth and impact, this merger will expand capacity to offer robust undergraduate and graduate programs, attract top-tier faculty and staff, develop innovative initiatives, and elevate transdisciplinary research to address the evolving needs of the region.
UTSA has been recognized as a Top Employer in Texas by Forbes Magazine. Learn more online , on UTSA Today or on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , Facebook , YouTube or LinkedIn .
College The College of Sciences (COS) at UTSA is committed to innovation and excellence in the classroom and laboratory and is dedicated to producing the next generation of well-educated, highly trained professionals and leaders.
COS offers 17 undergraduate degree programs and 19 graduate degree programs in the life sciences, physical sciences, computer science, and mathematics, which is supported by over 300 faculty members across 8 academic departments. COS is the UTSA's second largest college in terms of undergraduate and graduate student enrollment. In Fall 2023, it recorded its highest student enrollment in college history with 5580 undergraduate students and 610 graduate and post-baccalaureate students.
COS is major contributor to UTSA's Carnegie R1 status with its strong commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and addressing real-world challenges. COS has grown its annual research expenditures to approximately $50 million with over 300 actively funded research projects in areas like brain health, infectious disease and artificial intelligence among other fields. COS is aligned with numerous research centers and institutes, including the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute, Brain Health Consortium, and the Center for Innovative Drug Discovery. COS is also a collaborator with the National Security Collaboration Center and the School of Data Science. The COS faculty have been recognized for their excellence in research and includes several NSF CAREER recipients, AAAS fellows, National Academy of Inventor members, and senior members of national and international professional societies.
COS is dedicated to student success and providing the encouragement, assistance, and superior educational experience that students will need to succeed in the sciences, health and medicine, information technology, data science, and other ventures. COS has three faculty members who received the prestigious University of Texas Regents' Outstanding Teaching Award. The COS Student Success Center (SSC) was established in Fall 2020 to serve as a hub for all student success activities within the college, including peer mentoring, academic and career development workshops, and community building events, and is dedicated to helping students build their science identity. In 2023, three COS undergraduate students received the Barry Goldwater Scholars award, which recognized their outstanding work in research in the natural sciences, engineering, and mathematics fields. Four COS graduate students also received the NSF's Graduate Research Fellowships to advance their graduate research education.
Visit the College of Sciences website to learn more.
Department The Department of Physics and Astronomy currently has 22 full-time tenure/tenure-track faculty members, 7 full-time lecturers, and 18 faculty cross-appointed between UTSA and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) adjoint faculty with research across materials science, biophysics, observational astronomy, theoretical and laboratory astrophysics and space physics. Strong collaborations already exist with departments in Engineering as well as other College of Sciences departments such as Chemistry and Earth & Planetary Science. The department enrollment is currently 133 undergraduate majors, 17 M.S. students, and 65 Ph.D. students. The Department offers accredited B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Physics.
Faculty members have access to the Arc high-performance computing cluster: . UTSA faculty may apply for computing time through the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC): . Additional information about the Department can be found at .
Position Summary The successful applicant will be expected to (1) develop an externally funded and internationally recognized research program; (2) supervise graduate students; (3) teach undergraduate and graduate classes in astrophysics and/or physics; (4) work with others across disciplinary boundaries; and (5) serve the department, College of Science, and the University.
Qualifications This position is open to PhD-holding scientists with research interests including but not limited to: galaxy formation and evolution in the first several Gyr, inflation, observational constraints on and models of dark matter and dark energy, general relativity, and particle astrophysics. Expertise in data science techniques - e.g. the application of AI/ML to large simulations and data sets, etc. complementary to strengths within UTSA's School of Data Science - and/or high-performance computing is highly desirable.
We are especially interested in applicants whose research programs will utilize, leverage, and/or complement leading current and upcoming NASA missions (e.g. JWST, Roman) and ground-based telescopes (e.g. Keck, Subaru, Rubin) with an eye towards longer-term advances (e.g. the US ELT Program, HWO).
Salary Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. UTSA offers an attractive package of benefits, including medical and dental coverage plus a choice of participation in the Teacher Retirement System or an Optional Retirement System.
Application Process To apply applicants must upload the following in a single PDF document. Submit all materials to the Talent Acquisition website at UTSA Office of People Excellence .
- A current curriculum vitae (including publications list)
- A Brief Statement of Research Interests (3 pages)
- A Brief Statement of Teaching Interests and PhD Student Advising Philosophy (1-2 pages)
- A PDF of one recent lead-author journal publication that is representative of the applicant's current interests and future plans
- Contact Information for at least three professional references
This position will remain open until filled. To ensure full consideration, please apply by November 15, 2024. For further inquiries, please contact faculty search committee co-chairs Thayne Currie ( thayne.currie@utsa.edu ) or Chris Packham ( chris.packham@utsa.edu ).
Additional Information - UTSA is a tobacco free campus.
- This is a security sensitive position. Employment is contingent upon a successful background check.
- Applicants selected must be able to show proof of eligibility to work in the United States by time of hire.
Working Conditions
This position will be primarily located
on campus . Travel and parking expenses are the employee's responsibility.
Equal Employment Opportunity As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, it is the policy of The University of Texas at San Antonio to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information, and veteran status. The University is committed to the Affirmative Action Program in compliance with all government requirements to ensure nondiscrimination. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. UTSA campuses are accessible to persons with disabilities.
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Job Tags
Full time, Temporary work, Part time,