Founded in 1856, University of Maryland, College Park is the state’s flagship institution. Our 1,250-acre College Park campus is just minutes away from Washington, D.C., and the nexus of the nation’s legislative, executive, and judicial centers of power. This unique proximity to business and technology leaders, federal departments and agencies, and a myriad of research entities, embassies, think tanks, cultural centers, and non-profit organizations is simply unparalleled. Synergistic opportunities for our faculty and students abound and are virtually limitless in the nation’s capital and surrounding areas. The University is committed to attracting and retaining outstanding and diverse faculty and staff that will enhance our stature of preeminence in our three missions of teaching, scholarship, and full engagement in our community, the state of Maryland, and in the world.

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify someone from employment. Prior to any adverse decision, finalists have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding the background check.

The University reserves the right to rescind offers of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Offers are contingent on providing proof of employment eligibility in the United States no more than 3 days after the initial start date. If this proof is not provided within this timeframe, the offer may be rescinded or employment terminated.

The Department of Astronomy at the University of Maryland College Park invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position, at the assistant or associate professor level. Outstanding candidates in all areas of observational and theoretical astronomy and astrophysics will be considered, although we particularly encourage applicants in the fields of exoplanets, solar system and planetary origins, data science (especially time-domain astronomy and surveys), and the high-z universe and galaxy evolution. All candidates should have research that relates to current and near-future major astronomical facilities such as JWST, ALMA, Roman, and Rubin.

The Department of Astronomy has active observational programs in many areas of astronomy, with access to the 4.3-meter Lowell Discovery Telescope and the Zwicky Transient Facility, as well as successfully competing for time in open facilities such as ALMA and high-energy, ultraviolet, optical, and infrared NASA observatories. In addition to an in-house computing cluster of over 500 cores, members of the Department have access to three larger university clusters, including the world-class ‘Zaratan’. The Department has close collaborations with scientists in our departments of Physics, Geology, and Engineering as well as in neighboring institutions such as NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (formalized through the Joint Space Science Institute), the Applied Physics Laboratory, and the Space Telescope Science Institute. Candidates should describe in their application materials how their plans fit within this unique research environment. The Washington DC – Baltimore area is noted as a partner-friendly area due to its many employment opportunities in astronomy and other fields.

TO APPLY: For full consideration, complete applications (including letters) must be submitted by November 15, 2024. Applications should include a cover letter (up to 2 pages), a curriculum vita (including publications), a statement of past and future research (up to 3 pages, not including references), a statement of teaching and advising philosophy (up to 1 page, not including references), and a statement of community engagement (up to 1 page, not including references, “supplemental document 1”). This statement of community engagement should outline the candidate’s contributions and future plans to foster diversity, equity, and inclusivity, outreach efforts, or projects that create open and accessible tools. The applicants should also arrange to have three letters of reference submitted through the eTerp application system. Applicants are encouraged to complete applications in advance of the deadline to give time for the letter writers to submit their letters, as letters are not requested by the system until an application is complete. Queries concerning the position can be directed to the search administrator, Ms. Olivia Dent (odent@umd.edu).

Education:
A PhD in physics, astronomy, or a related discipline is required, and the successful candidate must have an established record of research excellence.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
As the duties of this position include undergraduate and graduate teaching, a potential for teaching excellence is necessary.

Salary range $150,000-$170,000.

The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.