Tenured or Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Astronomy and Astrophysics

The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at The Pennsylvania State University, University Park campus, invites applications for a tenured/tenure-track faculty position in the area of X-ray astronomical instrumentation. We will consider appointments at the rank of assistant professor as well as appointments at higher ranks, depending on the qualifications of the applicant.

The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics is home to a wide variety of research teams and participates in many multi-institutional research initiatives, including the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and the Rubin Observatory; is a major partner in the Chandra and Swift X-ray observatories, and is home to the Astrophysical Multi-messenger Observatory Network. It has strong connections with the Department of Physics through the Institute for Gravitation and the Cosmos and its constituent research centers. The Department hosts the Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds and the Extraterrestrial Intelligence Center; it also co-hosts the Center for Astrostatistics in partnership with the Department of Statistics. Penn State strongly promotes related interdisciplinary research via the Consortium for Planetary and Exoplanetary Science and Technology and the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences and their constituent research centers. Members of the department have access to the Roar supercomputing center at the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, which provides competitive allocations of CPU and GPU computing resources.

X-ray instrumentation has been an area of strength in the Penn State Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics for the past 40 years, with Penn State faculty leading the development of the ACIS instrument on Chandra and the XRT instrument on Swift.  The 2020 Decadal Report (Pathways to Discovery in Astronomy and Astrophysics for the 2020s) places a high priority on the development of major new X-ray observatories in the Probe (e.g., AXIS) and large strategic (e.g., Lynx) classes. We are seeking a new tenure-track faculty member who would strengthen the department’s ability to contribute hardware to such missions in the next decade and beyond.

Competitive applicants for the rank of Assistant Professor will possess a Ph.D. in astronomy, physics, astrophysics, or related fields before beginning employment at Penn State, with an emphasis in X-ray astronomical instrumentation. A successful candidate must also demonstrate strong potential for developing an externally funded, collaborative, interdisciplinary research program, and the potential to contribute to the college’s teaching mission.

Candidates seeking the rank of Associate Professor should have the same qualifications as the assistant professor, as well as a strong track record of scholarly achievement, external funding, and demonstrated success in teaching and service.

Candidates for Full Professor should have the same qualifications as the associate professor, as well as a track record of research publications, funding, teaching, and service that distinguishes them, nationally or internationally, as leaders in astrophysical instrumentation development.

The anticipated starting date for this appointment is summer 2023. The duties include research, teaching, and supervision of student research at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and service to the university and the greater professional community. Candidates are expected to demonstrate interest in and capacity to develop a strong, independent research program and capability to achieve teaching excellence at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Candidates are also expected to have a doctorate in astronomy, physics, or a related field.

The Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics takes an active role in building a talented and inclusive workforce. Applicants should have a commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive professional environment.

Applications must be submitted electronically to Penn State's Job Posting Board and should include the following:

• A cover letter that highlights the applicant’s relevant research, teaching, and mentoring experience and future goals, and commitment to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment
• Curriculum vitae including a list of publications.
• Statement of research, teaching, and diversity accomplishments and plans, including
  1. Research accomplishments, plans, and vision (up to 3 pages, including figures and references),
  2. Teaching experience, philosophy, and interests (up to 3 pages), and
  3. Past and current contributions to fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at the teaching, research, and professional levels, and descriptions of how the candidate plans to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into their research, teaching, and other duties at Penn State (up to 2 pages).

Note that system limitations allow for a total of 5 documents (5mb per document) as part of your application. Please combine materials to meet the 5 document limit. Please ensure all documents are uploaded prior to submitting your application.

In addition to the above materials, the applicants should arrange for at least three letters of recommendation to be sent directly to [email protected] by the same deadline.

Applications must be received by November 5, 2022.

Questions about the position and the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at Penn State may be directed to the chair of the search committee, Prof. David Burrows, by email at [email protected].

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applications without regards to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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