Assistant Professor of Physics

Position: Assistant Professor – Physics (Germanium Science & Technology)

Type: Full-Time, Tenure-Track

Location: Vermillion, South Dakota

Department: Physics, University of South Dakota (USD)

Start Date: Fall 2026

Salary: Not specified

Application First Review Date: 12/01/2025

Final date to receive applications: Open until filled

Physics

• Part of the NSF EPSCoR Ge-STAR Project (Germanium Science and Technology for Advanced Research).
• Focus on Ge-based science and technology, with research in:
  • High-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors for rare-event physics (dark matter, neutrino properties)
  • Medical imaging using Ge-based sensors
• AI/ML applications in materials science, detector development, and data analysis

• Develop an externally funded research program aligned with Ge-STAR goals
• Teach graduate and undergraduate courses in Physics and AI/ML in Data Sciences
• Contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations within USD and the Ge-STAR project

• World’s only public high-purity germanium crystal growth facility

• Collaborations with international rare-event physics experiments: LEGEND, SuperCDMS, COHERENT
• Infrastructure and expertise for AI/ML research in materials informatics and detector optimization

• PhD in Physics, Computational Physics, Medical Physics, Materials Science, or a closely related field by the time of appointment
• Potential for high-quality research and effective teaching

• Research experience with:
  • Ge detector technology
  • Low-background experiments
  • Medical imaging systems or related areas

• Cover letter

• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Statement of research interests and future plans (max 3 pages)
• Teaching philosophy statement (max 2 pages)
• Contact information for at least three references

Equal Opportunity

USD is committed to a dynamic, inclusive, and welcoming environment.

Provides equal employment opportunities regardless of protected status.

Health Foundations & Medical Research