Assistant Professor of Physical Sciences

Nevada State University; Kentucky; On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement match 19.25%

Educational benefits

12 paid holidays

Health insurance plans

Job summary

Nevada State University invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Physical Sciences in the Department of Physical and Life Sciences (PaLS) beginning fall 2027. The appointment supports Geology, Meteorology or Climatology, Environmental Science, or Physics with opportunities for interdisciplinary curriculum development.

The primary location for this position is Henderson campus, with teaching possible at North Las Vegas campus.

Qualifications

• Terminal degree (Ph.D.) in Physical Sciences at time of hire.
• Evidence of strong commitment to teaching and mentoring undergraduates.
• Commitment to a diverse, non-traditional student population.

Responsibilities

• Teach at Henderson campus; some courses at North Las Vegas campus.
• Teach lower- and upper-level courses in Geology, Environmental Science, Meteorology/Climatology, Physics, or Astronomy.
• Develop courses in area of specialization to complement other degrees.
• Foster inclusive learning environments and avoid racism, sexism, ableism, and discrimination.
• Engage in institutional service and program assessment; participate in curriculum design.
• Engage in professional development and scholarly activity in the discipline or pedagogy.

Skills

Teaching commitment

Undergraduate mentoring

Diversity and inclusion

Education

Ph.D. in Physical Sciences

Job description

Assistant Professor of Physical Sciences

Job Description

Nevada State University invites applications for the position of Assistant Professor of Physical Sciences within the Department of Physical and Life Sciences (PaLS) beginning fall 2027. The Assistant Professor of Physical Sciences will have a specialization in a field offered within our core curriculum: Geology, Meteorology or Climatology, Environmental Science, or Physics. We hope to find a colleague with interest and potential to participate in interdisciplinary opportunities in curriculum development and research among faculty and students and support the curriculum of our new branch campus.

The primary location for this position is Nevada State University's Henderson campus. Teaching assignments are determined based on departmental and programmatic needs and may include courses at Nevada State University's North Las Vegas campus.

About the School of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Business at Nevada State:

With talented faculty and bold academic programs, the School of Liberal Arts, Sciences, and Business' (LASB) student-centered ethos cultivates civically-engaged scientists, humanists, business professionals, and artists ready to influence the Southern Nevada region and beyond. Through 6 dynamic Departments - Business; Data, Media, and Design; History, Law, and Society; Humanities; Physical and Life Sciences; and, Psychology and Counseling - LASB educates students through the core curriculum, 21 bachelor's programs, and 27 minor programs.

About the Department of Physical and Life Sciences at Nevada State:

The selected faculty candidate will join a dynamic and interdisciplinary team, supporting Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Human Health Sciences. We value excellence in teaching and hope to find a colleague with an interest and potential to participate in interdisciplinary opportunities in curriculum development and research among faculty and students.

About the institution:

Nevada State University, a four-year Minority Serving public institution with a statewide mission, is dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning and committed to the advancement of a diverse and largely underserved student population. Designated a Hispanic Serving (HSI) and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Institution (AANAPI), Nevada State is a university where teaching and student support are valued above all else.

Nevada State University continues to grow as an institution of higher education. In Fall 2025, the enrollment surpassed 8,400, with 8,287 undergraduate students and 117 graduate students. A majority of our students are first generation, racial/ethnic minorities, parents, and/or returning students, of which 48% are Hispanic, 10% are Asian/Pacific Islander, 10% are Black/African American, and 22% are White.

We celebrate the storied backgrounds of our campus community. We operate with a shared commitment to represent and serve the diverse population of Nevada and to encourage the exchange of ideas that respects and honors the lived experiences of our students, staff, and faculty. We foster a culture of inclusive excellence so our members can live authentically, fully engage, and flourish. In order to strengthen the university and progress its mission, the university dedicates itself to intentional and ongoing reflection to meeting the evolving needs of Nevada State University, the surrounding communities, and the State of Nevada.

We seek applicants who are passionate about working with this promising student population and collaborating with faculty and staff across departments to make a lasting impact in developing our institution and our community.

We encourage you to highlight your background in fostering an inclusive campus culture and supporting the success of students who are historically underrepresented in higher education.

Primary Responsibilities:

• This is a 9-month appointment assigned 24 credits per academic year, which equates to approximately 12 credit hours in the fall semester and 12 credit hours in the spring semester. A 3-credit release is provided each semester for the first year.
• Teach at both North Las Vegas and Henderson campuses.
• Teach lower-level courses in Geology, Environmental Science, Meteorology or Climatology, Physics, or Astronomy with the potential to develop courses (lower- and upper-level) in an area of specialization that may complement other degrees in the department in a mostly in-person format.
• Create a culture of inclusive learning. Faculty at Nevada State put our students' needs at the forefront of curriculum design and classroom experiences. This includes classroom policies, management, and pedagogical practices that amplify the shared cultural capital of our diverse student body and acknowledge their lived experience. Faculty maintain a learning environment that actively avoids racism, sexism, ableism, and discrimination due to sexual orientation. This is an equally shared responsibility irrespective of the identity of the faculty member.
• Engage in institutional service. This may involve contributing to the development of programmatic goals and shared self-governance on campus in a variety of roles. For example, faculty may serve in faculty senate positions, contribute to curriculum design, advise on policy development, and/or participate in program assessment.
• Engage in professional development activities.
• Engage in scholarly activity within your discipline or in the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Required Qualifications:

• Terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D.) in any Physical Sciences field at the time of employment.
• Evidence of strong commitment to teaching, mentoring, and working with undergraduates.
• Demonstrated commitment to a diverse, non-traditional, first-generation student population.
• Eligibility to work in the United States without sponsorship (Nevada State does not sponsor employment-related visas).

Please note: Applicants must meet the posted minimum qualifications at the time of application in order to be considered for the position.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of instructional effectiveness at the college/university level.
• Commitment to active/experiential learning.
• Experience or interest in developing curriculum at the university level.
• Evidence of scholarly productivity and potential.Experience in mentoring Undergraduate Researchers.

Rank, Salary & Benefits:

9-month. Tenure Track. Budgeted salary for this position is commensurate with experience. Nevada State University offers excellent benefits, including 19.25% retirement match, beginning balance of 30 sick leave days, 12 paid holidays, educational benefits, and three health insurance plans that can be supplemented with flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts.

Exempt: Yes

Full-Time Equivalent: 100.0%