Assistant Professor - Astronomy & Physics

Date Posted: February 21, 2025

Posting Deadline: March 28, 2025

Department: Astronomy & Physics

Type of Employment: 3-year Limited Term Appointment (LTA), Full-Time

Group Affiliation: SMUFU

At Saint Mary's University, you will be surrounded by a talented and dedicated team of professionals committed to accessibility, diversity, and the provision of a positive and supportive learning environment. We recognize the importance of the contribution and growth of each individual in the University's success. We are currently looking to fill the position of Assistant Professor (Limited Term Appointment; LTA) to join our Astronomy & Physics Department for three years.

Job Information and Responsibilities

The Department of Astronomy & Physics at Saint Mary's University (SMU) invites applications for a full-time, 3-year LTA position at the rank of Assistant Professor to commence July 1st, 2025. We are seeking applicants with research expertise in Physics. Preference will be given to candidates working in sub-atomic physics (experiment or theory), whose research makes connections to national laboratories like TRIUMF and SNOLAB, or similar international facilities. The candidate will support our undergraduate curriculum by teaching courses in physics at all levels, and potentially developing courses in their areas of research specialization. The department offers MSc and PhD degrees in Physics (Applied Science) and Astronomy. The ideal candidate would be encouraged to supervise graduate students in advanced research. As a 3-year LTA holder, the successful applicant will be eligible to apply for Federal research funding through the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) per the agency's current eligibility criteria.

Our Department supports a diverse student body, and we seek a candidate who will incorporate inclusive practices in their teaching and research. The SMU Faculty Union's collective agreement with the university, which outlines salary scales and other elements associated with the faculty role, may be reviewed here:

https://www.smu.ca/webfiles/SMUFUCASeptember12022toAugust312025-DraftNewAgreement-April2420232.pdf.

The Faculty of Science, which houses the Astronomy & Physics Department, has undergone significant renewal, with many new and active faculty involved in teaching and research, and many renovated and upgraded spaces and facilities. We are working to establish and build upon areas of distinct research strength and through those foster collaborations locally, regionally, and internationally, as reflected in our Strategic Research Plan (https://news.smu.ca/research-plan).

The Astronomy & Physics Department supports 10 full-time faculty engaged in externally-funded research programs with expertise spanning low-energy nuclear structure and reactions, nuclear astrophysics, detector development, stellar astrophysics, globular clusters, galaxy formation and evolution, active galaxies and black holes, and cosmology.

Experience and Education Requirements

The successful candidate must have a record of a high standard of teaching (preferably in the courses listed at smu-ca-public.courseleaf.com/undergraduate/courses-az/phys/), hold a Ph.D. in Physics with strong research record or an emerging scholarly profile, and have a strong commitment to collegial service.

Application Details

Qualified candidates must submit an application package consisting of:

i) A cover letter outlining how the applicant's background aligns with the desired qualifications, and which of the Department's current course offerings the applicant would most like to teach.

ii) An up-to-date curriculum vitae.

iii) A teaching dossier that includes evidence of teaching effectiveness with student evaluations of past teaching (if available).

iv) A research statement including: i) A summary of the applicant's three most significant contributions to research (publications/presentations/reports/patents on a specific subject can be grouped into one contribution; maximum of 2 pages), ii) A short-term (3 years) and longer-term research plan (maximum of 2 pages).

v) The names and email contacts of three references that are best able to describe your suitability for this position.

vi) Optional: Candidates may also include a statement detailing career interruptions or other special
circumstances relevant to their application (maximum two pages).

The complete application should be sent as a single file in .pdf format to: Dr. Luigi Gallo, Chair, Astronomy & Physics Department, c/o Shannon Rhode email: [email protected]. Consideration of applications will begin on March 28, 2025. We appreciate all applications and note that only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls please.

At Saint Mary's University equity and diversity are integral to excellence and enrich our community. As an institution committed to fostering an environment of inclusion and respect, we welcome applications from women, Indigenous peoples, racialized persons/visible minorities, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity and others who might contribute to the growth and enrichment of our community. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. If you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]