Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Position in Astronomy

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Position in Astronomy

College/School/Unit: College of Natural Sciences

Department: Department of Astronomy

Posted: Sep 8, 2026

Apply By: Nov 10, 2026

The Department of Astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level, with an anticipated start date of August
2027. We welcome applications from candidates in all areas ofastronomy and astrophysics. We are particularly interested in candidates working in stellar astrophysics, time-domain and transient astrophysics, the Milky Way, the Local Group, and related areas that can take advantage of UT Austin's exceptionalobservational resources, including McDonald Observatory and the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). Candidates in other areas that complement or expand the department's existing research strengthsare also strongly encouraged to apply.

The search is primarily atthe Assistant Professor level, although exceptional candidates atmore senior ranks may be considered.

Information on departmental and McDonald Observatory resources and research programs can be found at: .

UT Austin offers exceptional access to observational,computational, and collaborative resources. The University is amajor founding partner in the next-generation 25-m GMT (http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).). Major new facilities are also being developed at the West Texas Mc Donald Observatory  site. UT Austin faculty have access to the 10-m HET,the 2.7-m HJST, the 2.1-m and 0.8-m telescopes, and a node for theLas Cumbres Observatory (LCO) network.

Faculty participate in majorastronomical surveys and observing programs using facilities including SDSS, JWST, HST, Roman, TESS, and other national and international observatories. UT Austin also provides exceptionalcomputational resources through the Texas Advanced Computing Center(TACC: https://), aworld leader in high-performance computing, large-scale data analysis, visualization, and machine learning.

UT Austin hosts a broad range of centers and interdisciplinaryinitiatives that provide opportunities for collaboration acrossastronomy, physics, planetary science, computational science, and artificial intelligence. These include the Center for Planetary Systems Habitability (CPSH), Cosmic Frontier Center (CFC), Wootton Center for Astrophysical Plasma Properties (WCAPP), Weinberg Institute for Theoretical Physics, and the NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins (CosmicAI).

The Department of Astronomy is a highly collaborative and collegialcommunity, with a strong culture of mentorship, scientificexchange, and support for early-career faculty. Our faculty,researchers, and students interact across traditional subfieldboundaries, and new colleagues are encouraged to develop ambitiousnew research directions and collaborations across the University.

Beyond campus, Austin offers an exceptional quality of life for individuals and families alike, combining the cultural and culinaryopportunities of a major city with abundant green space and easy access to the outdoors. Ranked among the top U.S. cities for raising a family, Austin is known for its extensive parks and trailsystems, neighborhood pools and swimming holes, family-friendlyrestaurants and outdoor gathering spaces, and year-round cultural and recreational activities.

UT Austin also offers significant resources for faculty with families, including three university

Child Development Center locations. Seventy-six percent of Austinresidents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, in which the citysupports an extensive network of public pools and splash pads.

Austin offers an unusually rich quality of life for faculty andtheir families.

Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Physics, Planetary Science, or related fields. The primary selection criteria will beexcellence and leadership in astrophysics research, teaching, and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students. We particularlyseek candidates who will lead transformational science withnext-generation observational and computational facilities and creatively utilize the resources of the Astronomy Department andMcDonald Observatory. Applicants are encouraged to highlightthroughout their application their relevant experiences andskillsets in supporting academic success of all students (e.g.,their specific approaches for teaching, mentoring, research and /or scholarly work).