Physics and Astronomy, Assistant Professor

Job No: 530346
Work Type: Instructional Faculty - Tenured/Tenure-Track
Location: Pomona
Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Natural Sciences, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Tenure Track Faculty Position
Department of Physics and Astronomy

California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of assistant professor in theoretical physics at the Department of Physics and Astronomy. All areas of theoretical physics (broadly construed) will be considered.

Cal Poly Pomona is one of three polytechnic universities in the 23-campus California State University system and among 12 such institutions nationwide. Since its founding in 1938, Cal Poly Pomona students participate in an integrative experiential learning education that is inclusive, relevant, and values diverse perspectives and experiences. With a variety of degree programs in the arts, humanities, sciences, engineering, and professional disciplines, the university is well known for its learn-by-doing approach and Teacher Scholar Model.

The university is noted for its scenic and historic 1,400-acre campus, which was once the winter ranch of cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. We acknowledge that Cal Poly Pomona resides on the territorial and homelands of the Tongva and Tataavium people who are the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar. The university's nearly 30,000 students are taught and mentored by the campus's more than 1,400 faculty as part of 54 baccalaureate and 29 master's degree programs, 11 credential and certificate programs, and a doctorate in educational leadership.

Highly regarded among its peer institutions, Cal Poly Pomona is No. 3 in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of top public regional universities in the west and was named the No. 28 best value college in the nation by Money Magazine. Cal Poly Pomona, a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, stands as a national leader in promoting social mobility, and was placed among the 25 top institutions in the country in awarding bachelor's degrees to minoritized students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education.

The Cal Poly Pomona campus is located less than 30 miles east of downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It is within an hour's drive of beaches, mountains and deserts. For additional information about the university, please visit www.cpp.edu, and for more about faculty life, please see YourLife@CPP.

Student Population. California residents comprise the majority (96%) of applicants to undergraduate programs at Cal Poly Pomona, and 41% of new students were transfers in Fall 2022. 57% of Cal Poly Pomona students are first generation, 70% receive financial aid, and 44% qualify as Pell-eligible. The university enrolls a diverse student body that identifies as 53% Latinx, 22% Asian, 14% White, 3% Black, 2% International, 4% two or more races, 3% unknown and less than 1% Native Hawaiian or Native Pacific Islander and less than 1% Native American Indigenous. Thirty-nine percent of the student body were STEM majors with the top enrolled programs including psychology, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, biology and computer science.

Inclusive Excellence and Student Success. We aspire to be the model inclusive polytechnic university in the nation. We have a strong commitment to inclusive excellence and to educational experiences that leverage the diverse perspectives and experiences needed to succeed and thrive in a diverse society.

*As a part of the application for faculty positions, all candidates must submit a Student Success Statement that demonstrates their commitment and record of contributions to diversity and equity through their teaching, scholarship, or service by speaking to at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria below.

Candidates should explain how they have engaged in the criteria below in their pedagogy, scholarship, and/or service, as well as the level to which these efforts have been consistently incorporated into their work.

Inclusive Excellence Criteria:

1. Incorporates the contributions and struggles of historic ethnic minority groups or other disadvantaged communities into their teaching, scholarly work, and/or service contributions;
2. Adopts teaching strategies that support the learning and success of students from diverse student populations;
3. Mentors and engages diverse student populations in discovery, scholarship, and creative activities;
4. Engages students in problem-based projects and learning that address the needs of diverse communities;
5. Possesses knowledge of challenges and barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline and uses it to inform their work in specific ways;
6. Mentors and assists diverse student populations interested in pursuing graduate education;
7. Engages in community-responsive action research or service with diverse student populations and communities;
8. Has experience in or demonstrates a commitment to adopting experiential learning activities and pedagogy with diverse student populations and communities; and
9. Has expertise in or demonstrated commitment to teaching, scholarship and/or service that contributes to access, diversity, and equal opportunity in higher education.

The College of Science. The College's mission is to educate, mentor, and inspire students through scientific inquiry and hands-on learning. It offers 15 undergraduate degree programs and six Master's degrees across seven academic departments that include: Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Computer Science, Geological Sciences, Kinesiology & Health Promotion, Mathematics & Statistics, and Physics & Astronomy. Our Center for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching (CEMaST) supports K-16 education locally and nationally to increase STEM success and participation for all. The College of Science has approximately 150 full-time faculty, 40 staff, and 4,500 active majors. Our commitment to the teacher-scholar model results in our college being the largest recipient of extramural grant funding on campus. We encourage a broad range of applicants who are committed to enhancing a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to an inclusive campus environment.

The Department: The Cal Poly Pomona Department of Physics and Astronomy is one of the largest in the CSU, and focuses entirely on undergraduate education, from classroom instruction, to advising and mentoring, to supervising undergraduate research. Faculty members maintain active research programs that provide hands-on learning opportunities for undergraduates. The department has more than 150 majors and serves over 1000 students each semester in multiple disciplines. The department typically confer 30 or more B. S. Physics degrees each year, many of these graduates from underrepresented minority groups. The department has 13 tenured/tenure track faculty and 5 support staff and engenders a strong commitment to equity and inclusion for faculty, staff and students. We have an Industry Advisory Board with representatives from leading organizations in STEM fields, particularly organizations that hire our graduates. Our excellent benefits program includes start-up funds, a reduced teaching load during the first two years, as well as a generous retirement and pension program. For more information, please see the department website: http://www.cpp.edu/~sci/physics-astronomy/.

The Position: The faculty member will teach undergraduate physics classes at all levels (freshman to senior) and establish a research program that involves undergraduate students in publishable research. The position requires excellence in teaching and advising, professional and scholarly achievements, and a commitment to service to the university. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong interest in teaching and the potential to develop an on-campus, independent research program in theoretical physics that includes participation by undergraduate students.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Physics, or a closely aligned field, from an accredited university by the start of the appointment.
• Classroom teaching experience, as an instructor or teaching assistant in a physics lecture, discussion, or laboratory
• Original, published, peer-reviewed research in some field of theoretical physics.
• A plan for doing on-campus, theoretical physics research involving undergraduate students, that comprises the primary portion of their research.
• Ability and commitment to teach and develop upper division physics courses
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to the diversity and inclusiveness of the academic community through research, teaching, and/ or service. This evidence must be communicated via a statement on Inclusive Excellence and Student Success, as outlined above.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Evidence of teaching excellence demonstrating the use of effective pedagogy, incorporating teaching methods that encourage critical thinking and analytical skills in students.
• Experience teaching lecture courses as the instructor of record.
• Experience involving undergraduate students in research.
• Postdoctoral research experience.

Conditions of Employment:

The person offered this position is required to pass a background check.

Application Process:

A completed application will consist of

• Cover letter in which the applicant describes their interest in the position, relevant experience, and how they meet the minimum and preferred qualifications;
• A Student Success Statement (up to 2 pages, single-spaced) that responds to the prompt above - 'Inclusive Excellence and Student Success' and addresses at least two of the inclusive excellence criteria listed (please indicate the criteria numbers in your Statement);
• Curriculum vitae;
• The names, titles, email addresses, and telephone numbers of at least four individuals who can speak to the candidate's potential for success in this position;
• Statement of teaching experience and philosophy (including the types of courses and duties performed in previous teaching roles) and philosophy;
• Statement of research interests and plans, outlining a program of research projects that can be accomplished with the participation of undergraduate students;
• Three recent letters of reference; and
• Unofficial transcripts.

Finalists will be required to submit official transcripts for their Ph.D. program. Additionally, those being interviewed as finalists are expected to deliver a presentation of their theoretical research and conduct a teaching demonstration for the faculty, as well as interact with students.

Consideration of completed applications will begin on Monday, November 20, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled. Early response is encouraged.

Please address inquiries to Search Committee co-Chairs, Dr. Shohreh Abdolrahimi (sabdolrahimi@cpp.edu) and Dr. Jorge Botana Alcade (jorgeb@cpp.edu)

Equal Opportunity Employer
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The university seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the people of California, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to offer our students richly varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing. Cal Poly Pomona subscribes to all state and federal regulations and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, and covered veteran status. The university hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. As required by the Clery Disclosure Act, the university prepares a public annual security report.


Advertised: August 23, 2023 (4:30 PM) Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Open Until Filled

To apply, visit https://careers.pageuppeople.com/873/po/en-us/job/530346/physics-and-astronomy-assistant-professor









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