Physics-Astronomy Faculty

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Position

Calvin University invites applications for a full-time regular faculty member to join the Physics and Astronomy Department to teach both physics and astronomy and to do astronomy research, beginning in August 2027, pending administrative approval. The opening is at the rank of assistant professor.

The university seeks applicants with vibrant Christian faith who are dedicated to integration of that faith with their field of study. Ideal candidates will hold a PhD in Astronomy or Physics or a related field. Candidates are expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level as well as an active stream of relevant research and publication. Preference will be given to candidates with experience teaching using a variety of methods and instructional technology.

The university will prioritize candidates with broad interdisciplinary interests, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ability to integrate questions of meaning, significance, and ethics into all course content, and deep commitment to engaging students beyond the classroom.

Faculty members typically teach 24 semester hours per academic year. Faculty are expected to grow in Reformed Christian commitment, to pursue an active scholarly agenda, to teach effectively, and to serve the university, department, students, and the wider community. Candidates will be asked to affirm their commitment to the educational mission of Calvin University as a Christian liberal arts university in the Reformed tradition, affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.

Calvin University provides numerous faculty development opportunities to foster growth in these commitments. For this position, the faculty member should be able to teach a variety of introductory and intermediate-level undergraduate physics courses and introductory astronomy courses, both lecture and lab, and at least one upper-level undergraduate physics theory course. The faculty member is expected to maintain an active experimental, computational, or theoretical research program that includes undergraduate research assistants during the summers.

Preference will be given to someone whose research area is in astronomy and who is able to teach intermediate-level courses in astronomy.

Calvin University stands at the forefront of Christian scholarship across disciplines. The University hosts a number of Centers and Institutes and provides other funding opportunities to support faculty teaching and research, including sabbaticals, grants, course releases, summer research stipends, travel funds, and student research opportunities.

The Physics and Astronomy Department at Calvin University is a collegial community of five faculty members dedicated to excellent teaching, mentoring, and scholarship. The department regularly offers the upper-level undergraduate theory and laboratory courses needed to prepare students well for graduate study in physics or astrophysics, and it has a strong record of placing alumni in outstanding graduate programs and industry jobs.

The department also makes significant contributions to Calvin's broader STEM programs through physics cognate courses for engineering, pre-med, and other majors, as well as astronomy courses for non-science students that contribute to the broader liberal arts mission of the university. Faculty therefore have the opportunity to teach both specialized courses for majors and high-impact courses that reach students from across the campus.

Faculty maintain active research programs in physics or astronomy, with most research conducted during the summer, often in collaboration with undergraduate research assistants. Opportunities also exist to apply for teaching release time to support research during the academic year. Strong interdisciplinary connections with other STEM programs further enrich the department's teaching and research environment, making Calvin an attractive place for faculty committed to undergraduate education.

Calvin University is a top-ranked national university that equips students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ's agents of renewal in the world. Approximately 3,600 Calvin students study the liberal arts and select from a broad range of majors and professional programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate level offerings. The university is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a thriving metropolitan region of approximately one million people situated equidistant from Chicago and Detroit.

Furthermore, the West Michigan region is ranked by Forbes as the #1 place to raise a family. For more information, please visit http://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

Calvin is building a tradition of diversity and accessibility and welcomes applications from persons whose personal characteristics will further that commitment.…