Two Tenure-Track Faculty Positions in Quantum Physics

Job Details

Two Tenure-Track Faculty Positions in Quantum Physics

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) invites applications for two tenure-track faculty positions in Physics to help build a new interdisciplinary PhD and undergraduate program in Quantum Information Science and Engineering. The positions will be at the Assistant Professor or Associate Professor level, pre-tenure, beginning January 1 or August 1, 2027. One of the tenure-track positions requires a strong experimental background with particular emphasis on quantum sensing and networking, while the other is open to any area of Quantum Information Science that aligns with the needs of the Physics Department (theoretical or experimental).

Senior candidates are encouraged to apply for our Governor’s Chair position (separate search). UTC is also in the process of hiring Research Faculty to support our Quantum Center. The UTCQC is an integral part of the rapidly emerging quantum techno-economic ecosystem in Chattanooga that includes the Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative (CQC). UTC’s focus is on use-inspired R&D in QISE and on offering QISE educational programs at all levels.

• Educational Requirement: A Ph.D. in Physics or a closely related field, completed by the start date;
• Research
  
  Experience:
  
  Postdoctoral research experience is strongly preferred;
• Teaching
  
  Experience:
  
  Prior teaching experience is advantageous;
• Assistant or Associate: level at hire is negotiable, based on experience;
• Teaching:
  Deliver a broad range of QISE and general physics courses at the undergraduate and graduate level;
• Research:
  Establish and maintain a productive research program involving both undergraduate and graduate students. Opportunities for collaboration exist within the campus community, including the UTC Quantum Center, and with external institutions such as Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the CQC;
• Instructional Modalities:
  Engage in various teaching methods, including online instruction, to support UTC’s strategic goals.

Applicants Must Submit a Single PDF File Electronically Through The UTC Faculty Career Site. The PDF File Should Be Named In The Format “First Name Last Name Application” (e.g., Jane Smith Application) And Must Include

• A letter of interest;
• Current curriculum vitae (include names, titles, and email addresses for three professional references on the last page).
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts;
• A one-page statement of teaching philosophy;
• A description of research interests, including research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students (no more than three pages).

Complete applications received by September 8, 2026, will receive full consideration. Review of applications will continue until the positions are filled.

• Faculty Composition:
  The department comprises 8 faculty members and 3 staff;
• Student Body:
  Approximately 30 physics majors enrolled across four academic tracks (Physics, Biophysics, Quantum, and STEM Education;
• Experiential Learning:
  Renowned for high-quality undergraduate education and research opportunities and a nationally-recognized chapter in the Society of Physics Students;
• Quantum Network Infrastructure: UTC is distinguished as the first university globally to have a permanent node on a commercial fiber-optic metro-scale quantum network infrastructure in downtown Chattanooga.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is in the heart of one of Tennessee’s largest and most dynamic cities. As a national model for metropolitan universities, UTC collaborates with its many regional partners to offer an experiential learning environment with outstanding teaching scholars in 128 undergraduate degree programs and 55 graduate programs—at both the master’s and doctoral levels. UTC and Chattanooga—nationally recognized for its downtown redevelopment and wealth of outdoor recreation—are inextricably linked, and the University is central to the workforce and economic development efforts of the region…