Physics and Astronomy Faculty CFS Professional

Position: Physics and Astronomy FT Faculty CFS Professional
Job Title:

Physics and Astronomy FT Faculty CFS Professional Posting Close Date:
Monday, November 16, 2026

* NOTE:

Last day to apply is Sunday, November, 15, 2026 @ 11:59 p.m. MSTPosition

Start Date:

August 2027

Required Degree: MS, PhD preferred in physics, astronomy, computational science, or a closely related field involving significant use of scientific computing.

The required degree must be completed by the start date.

Experience:

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Brigham Young University invites applications for a professional faculty position in Computational Research Support. This position focuses on enhancing student-centered instruction and research in computational physics and data-driven science. Responsibilities include teaching and developing computational laboratory courses, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students, supporting faculty research through computational expertise, and strengthening departmental research infrastructure. The successful candidate will hold a MS or PhD degree in physics, astronomy, computational science, or a closely related field.

Candidates should have demonstrated expertise in most areas of scientific computing, such as computational modeling, data science and emerging AI-assisted approaches, high-performance computing environments, parallelization techniques, cloud-based computational resources, data management, and security protocols. An ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, students, and technical staff across disciplines is essential.

Required Qualifications Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in physics, astronomy, computational science, or a closely related field

Demonstrated expertise in scientific computing, including numerical methods, data analysis, and computational modeling in a research or academic setting

Proficiency in modern programming languages commonly used in scientific computing (e.g., Python, C/C++, Julia, or similar) and familiarity with relevant scientific libraries and tools

Experience with software development best practices, including version control, code organization, testing, and documentation

Demonstrated ability to mentor students or collaborators in computational methods and scientific programming

Familiarity with high-performance computing environments, parallelization techniques, and/or cloud-based computational resources

Understanding of reproducible research practices, including data management, documentation, and transparent workflows

Ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, students, and technical staff across disciplines

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to teach and explain technical concepts clearly

Commitment to student-centered teaching and mentoring in both classroom and research settings

Commitment to ethical, secure, and responsible computing practices

Commitment to the mission of Brigham Young University and willingness to abide by University standards, including supporting an environment that integrates faith and learning

Preferred Qualifications Experience teaching or supporting undergraduate or graduate instruction in computational physics or related areas

Experience integrating computational methods into physics or STEM curricula

Familiarity with data science, machine learning, or physics-informed AI methods applied to physical and astronomical systems

Experience supporting or managing shared computational infrastructure (e.g., HPC clusters, research computing environments)
Experience working with cybersecurity, data governance, or compliance requirements for federally funded research

Experience collaborating on interdisciplinary research projects involving computation, simulation, or large datasets

Experience developing training materials, workshops, or documentation for computational tools and workflows

Familiarity with research funding environments and expectations (e.g., NSF, DOE, NASA)
Demonstrated ability to contribute to a collaborative, inclusive, and student-focused academic culture

Duties/Expectations:

The duties for this professional faculty position fall into two categories: teaching, service, and citizenship. While the exact percentages will likely vary over time due to the needs of the department, the initial estimate is 40% teaching, 50% service, and 10% citizenship.

Teaching (40%)Support the redevelopment of computational lab courses to incorporate contemporary computational methods and practices, including the use of AI in computational code development, validation, and…