Professor and Chair, Department of Physics

Arizona State University (ASU) invites inquiries, nominations, and applications for the position of Chair of the Department of Physics.

About the Department of Physics:

The Department of Physics, housed in the Division of Natural Sciences within The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is among ASU’s most distinguished units and is a leader in research and educational initiatives in biological and soft matter physics, nanoscience and materials physics, cosmology, particle physics and astrophysics, and physics education. A vibrant community of scholars, teachers, and professionals, the ASU Physics Department has 56 teaching faculty, including 45 tenured and tenure-track, who serve almost 9400 enrolled undergraduates, 845 physics undergraduate majors, and 110 PhD and MS students. ASU Physics plays a critical role in ASU’s educational mission. The unit has evolved over the years in response to the needs of students, pioneering new degrees and online programs, and engaging in cross-cutting interdisciplinary research. We invite potential applicants to learn more about the Department of Physics by visiting https://physics.asu.edu .

The Chair of the Department of Physics will lead a unit with a broad, ambitious, and impactful vision. The successful Chair will be a world-class scientist with demonstrated leadership ability, excellent interpersonal skills, and a strong track record of funding, with a commitment to teaching innovation, and an interest in engaging with external stakeholders. The Chair will have a vision for the future of the ASU Department of Physics as a leader in its field, and a leadership plan that aligns with the University Charter’s goals.

About The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences:

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of Arizona State University, committed to improving communities on a local, national, and global scale. We support the professional development and growth of our faculty and staff in their cutting-edge research to advance these aims. Within The College, our faculty engage with a large, curious student body, guiding them as they grow into socially aware, critical thinkers and writers able to succeed in a wide range of careers and to address the challenges of the twenty-first century. Advancing the success of our students remains our top priority. To learn more about The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, please visit https://thecollege.asu.edu.

About Arizona State University:

Arizona State University exemplifies a new prototype for the American public research university. As articulated in the ASU Charter, ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural, and overall health of the communities it serves.

ASU is a leading public university and member of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). ASU is widely recognized as one of the fastest-growing US research universities, and ranked as #1 Most Innovative School by U.S. News & World Report eleven years in a row. ASU is leading a bold reinvention of higher education as the New American University. The university’s location within the large and fast-growing Phoenix metro region provides a rich context for research and community engagement around issues of physical sciences and engineering. We invite potential applicants to learn more about Arizona State University by visiting https://newamericanuniversity.asu.edu/.

Essential Functions:

• To lead a unit with a broad, ambitious, and impactful vision.
• To be a world-class scientist with demonstrated leadership ability, excellent interpersonal skills, and a strong track record of funding.
• A commitment to teaching innovation, and an interest in engaging with external stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent degree in physics or a closely related field.
• A distinguished scholarly record commensurate with the rank of tenured full professor, and relevant administrative experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• An appreciation for a breadth of research areas within physics and interdisciplinary sciences, including a commitment to working across disciplines, academic units, divisions, and schools.
• Demonstrated innovative and strategic leadership.
• Experience serving a broad student and/or faculty community.
• Commitment to supporting strong academic programs necessary for student success
• An informed grasp of key issues affecting faculty recruitment, retention, and promotion
• A vision for the future of the Department of Phsyics as a leader in the field, and a leadership plan that demonstrates a commitment to working with faculty, staff, students and communities to advance the principles of the ASU Charter

For best consideration, please apply by January 5, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. Candidates will be asked to create or use an existing Interfolio Dossier to submit the following application materials:

• Nominations and inquiries
• Curriculum vitae with cover letters
• Contact information for four references (to be contacted at a later date).