Faculty - Tenure-Track, Assistant Professor - Physics

Position Announcement

Join Utah Valley University as an Assistant Professor of Physics and contribute to a dynamic academic environment dedicated to student learning, discovery, and success. This faculty position includes a 12-credit teaching load each semester, offering the opportunity to teach a variety of courses, including upper- and lower-division courses, general elective courses, college service courses, laboratories, and majors’ courses. Faculty are encouraged to bring a student-centered and engaging approach to instruction while participating in assessment, curriculum planning, instructional improvement, and other activities that enhance the quality of the educational experience. Through regular office hours, student consultations, and mentorship, you will play a meaningful role in supporting students both inside and outside the classroom.

In addition to teaching, this position offers the opportunity to develop and sustain a robust research program that actively involves undergraduate students in scholarly work. Faculty are expected to pursue presentations at professional conferences, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and seek internal and external funding to expand research opportunities and resources for students. The role also includes service to the department, college, university, and broader community through committee participation, collaborative initiatives, and institutional leadership. For candidates passionate about teaching, mentoring, research, and helping students achieve their academic and professional goals, this position offers an opportunity to make a lasting impact while advancing the field of physics.

Summary Of Responsibilities

• Teaches twelve credit hours per semester, which may include any combination of courses listed in the UVU Catalog offered with a PHYS or ASTRO prefix, including upper and lower division courses, general elective courses, college service courses, laboratories, and majors’ courses.
• Teaches in a student-oriented, engaged manner, with fully prepared classroom lectures, demonstrations, and other appropriate activities.
• Makes use of classroom and course management tools such as those made available online by the university per university policy.
• Carries out appropriate planning, implementation, evaluation and assessment of learning activities.
• Keeps thorough records of student performance such as grades, and other information related to performance and outcomes.
• Shows strong commitment to student success both inside and outside the classroom as evidenced by holding regular office hours and other student consultations, responding in a reasonable and timely manner to student communications such as email, and in mentoring student researchers in appropriate projects.
• Participates in professional development activities related to teaching, such as faculty workshops, conferences and similar events
• Develops and maintains an active, student-oriented research program which must include participation by undergraduates with an outcome of having students present results at local, regional or national conferences, and/or publish in peer-reviewed journals.
• Develops financial resources to support research, both from internal funding sources and (preferably) from external funding agencies.
• Engages in professional development activities including participation in professional meetings.
• Collaboration with other faculty at UVU, as requested, and those of other institutions.
• Participates in service to the department, college, university and/or community per university and department policy.
• Attends department meetings and serves on committees as required.
  
  

Qualifications / Licenses / Certifications

A PhD in physics or a closely related field is required at the time of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Evidence of, or potential for, excellence in teaching a variety of physics classes at the undergraduate level.
• Proven success in a field of physics research with collaborative potential with current UVU physics, science, and/or engineering faculty. Fields relating to biomedical applications, condensed matter physics, or technologies relevant to contemporary material physics may have particular potential for effective collaboration.
• Additional preference will be given to those with experience interfacing with undergraduate engineering programs and/or in developing and implementing undergraduate laboratories.
  
  

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

Knowledge

• Good understanding of the fundamentals of physics, mathematics, and computational methods at a level sufficient to teach introductory courses and one or two upper-division courses, such as mechanics, thermodynamics, electrodynamics, optics, quantum physics, or relativity.
• Knowledge specific to a particular research discipline in physics is sufficient to mentor undergraduate research and create new opportunities for students in that field.
• Knowledge of educational “best practices” in teaching physics and other pedagogical methods.
• Basic knowledge of the operation and functions of a college department and university, and be knowledgeable about specific UVU institutions and policies related to the job.
  
  

Skills

• Social skills to communicate with and treat all students and university personnel with respect, professionalism, patience, kindness, and good humor.
• Common computer and communication skills such as are used in a modern office.
• Proficiency in any of a variety of computer languages appropriate to physical science.
• Problem-solving and calculation skills in physics and/or astronomy.
• Skills to organize and maintain a research program.
• Skills to mentor students individually in a compelling, effective, and safe manner.
• Good classroom management skills.
• Skills to explain complex physical ideas to those without a mathematical foundation.
• Skills to explain complex physical ideas with the use of appropriate mathematical models to those with advanced scientific backgrounds.
  
  

Abilities

• Ability to use educational “best practices” in teaching physics and other pedagogical methods, and the ability to explain complex physical principles at a variety of levels, depending on the audience.
• Ability to communicate effectively both in writing and in speech.
• Ability to relate to students, faculty, and staff in a caring and professional manner.
• Ability to have tenacity in working with difficult, long-term problems.
• Ability to create new opportunities for students by performing effectively in research and innovating new projects.
• Ability to solve problems effectively.
• Ability to analyze problems in a rational and objective way.
• Ability to engage the interest of coworkers and students alike in educational pursuits.
• Ability to collaborate with peers at UVU and at other institutions on projects of interest in teaching and in research.