Research Associate or Full Professor; Yu Yuen Kit; YYK Professor

About the Position

The Yu Yuen Kit (YYK) Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy will be held by an eminent scholar in physics and/or astronomy. The first holder of this endowed position will be an expert in theoretical and/or computational quantum science who will relocate their program to George Mason University and collaborate across departments and fields. Responsibilities will include establishing and maintaining an externally funded research group, training graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and collaborating with other George Mason faculty in research and pursuit of center‑level funding.

The YYK Professor will complement the expertise of existing physics faculty members while also launching new research areas.

• Develop and maintain an active, externally funded research program.
• Publish in high-quality peer reviewed journals and present at professional conferences.
• Supervise research staff, graduate students, and/or postdoctoral fellows.
• Contribute to interdisciplinary research initiatives within the department and university.
• Teach 1–2 courses per year or as assigned at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• Advise and mentor students in coursework, research, and professional development.
• Contribute to instructional innovation.
• Serve on departmental, college, or university committees as assigned.
• Participate in professional service (e.g., reviewing for journals, serving on grant panels).
• Contribute to outreach, engagement, and initiatives that support the mission of the university.

• PhD in Physics or a related field.
• Rank of Associate Professor (or equivalent) or higher.
• Experience in quantum physics to include, but not limited to, quantum information science, quantum devices, quantum materials, and quantum sensing.
• Success in securing external research funding.
• Strong record of scholarly production.
• Knowledge – Deep, discipline‑specific expertise, plus knowledge of the academic research enterprise to include advanced theoretical and methodological knowledge in the researcher’s field; cutting‑edge qualitative and/or quantitative research design; grant writing and knowledge of the funding landscape including federal agencies (e.g., NSF, NIH, DoD), foundations, and industry; research ethics, IRB protocols, and compliance requirements; lab, project, or center management; scholarly communication norms, including publishing, peer review, and conference dissemination.
• Skills – Practical, demonstrable skills necessary for research leadership; research design and execution, including experimental, computational, or theoretical methods; data analysis, often including statistical modeling, programming, or discipline‑specific analytic tools; grant writing and proposal development; scholarly writing, with a strong record of publication in top journals and/or conferences; project management and multi‑team coordination; mentoring and supervision of graduate students and postdocs;
  
  collaboration and interdisciplinary communication; presentation and scientific communication for diverse audiences (academic, community, industry, funders).
• Abilities – Enduring capabilities that support successful research leadership, including the ability to conceptualize and lead a sustained research agenda; secure external funding independently and repeatedly; manage large, complex research projects or labs; supervise research staff and trainees effectively; work independently with minimal oversight; form and maintain interdisciplinary collaborations; build partnerships with government, industry, and internal communities; translate complex ideas into grant proposals and publications;
  
  maintain high ethical and professional standards in research conduct; in addition, the ability to teach and design undergraduate and graduate classes.
• Other Attributes – Personal attributes, professional dispositions, and qualifications commonly expected of such a position, including strong professional integrity and research accountability; publication record appropriate for the discipline and rank; history of obtaining external funding;…