Assistant Professor of Physics

Physics World; United States; On-site; USD 74,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Life & Disability Insurance

403(b) Plan

Tuition Remission for dependents

Tuition Waiver for two courses

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Whitman College invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Physics. The successful candidate will teach five courses annually, engage undergraduate students in classroom and research mentoring, and contribute to curriculum innovation in computational methods and data science.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in physics or related field at start of position, and will join a diverse, research-minded department committed to inclusive education and undergraduate mentorship.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics or a closely related field at the start of the position.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate students in research.
• Interest in innovating curriculum with computation or data science.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses across the department’s program, including General Physics and upper-level topics (five courses per year).
• Advise and mentor undergraduate research projects and theses.
• Contribute to curriculum development with emphasis on computational methods and data science.

Job description

Assistant Professor of Physics

Location:Walla Walla, WA
Open Date:Aug 03, 2026
Deadline:

Description

Located in the vibrant community of Walla Walla, WA, Whitman College is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving roughly 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe. With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top undergraduate, liberal arts colleges in the country.

The Department of Physics seeks applicants for a tenure-track position beginning August 2027, at the rank of assistant professor. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in physics or a closely related field at the start of the position. We seek candidates who are motivated to share their passion for physics and work closely with our undergraduate students in the classroom and as research mentors. In addition, we seek individuals who are prepared to help innovate our curriculum in the areas of computational methods or data science. Applicants from all fields of specialization are invited to apply.

The successful candidate will, over time, teach courses in our major track including General Physics, upper level courses, and special topics courses in their areas of interest, as well as courses that contribute to the college's general education requirements. The standard annual teaching load is five courses. The department regularly rotates class teaching assignments to encourage faculty collaboration, promote growth as instructors, and to avoid siloing faculty in specific classes. The college provides a generous pre-tenure sabbatical leave program and professional development support for both research and teaching.

Whitman's Physics Department graduates an average of 15 majors per year, including students with interdisciplinary physics-astronomy, physics-geology, physics-environmental studies, and physics-mathematics majors. Our majors are intellectually engaged, passionate learners; more than half have pursued graduate degrees in physics and adjacent fields while others have found employment in the tech industry, consulting work, teaching, and the energy/sustainability sector. The department values pedagogical innovation, disciplinary and cross-disciplinary collaboration, and consensus-based decision making.

Whitman College is committed to fostering an inclusive learning community that values diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives. In the cover letter, candidates should describe their interest in teaching undergraduates, majors as well as non-majors, at all levels of instruction. In doing so, candidates should address how their classroom and scholarly practices will advance equity and inclusion in the learning environment.

Salary Range: $73,700 - $80,500

For additional information about Whitman College and the Walla Walla area, see www.whitman.edu and www.walla walla.org.

Applicant questions about the position should be directed to Prof. Kurt Hoffman,[e-mail].

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits package that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees.

Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances
• basic life, accidental death and dismembermentand long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage
• 403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met
• Tuition Remission - Dependent Children, after eligibility requirements
• employee tuition waiver for two Whitman courses per semester
• an Employee Assistance Program

New faculty receive a relocation stipend for moving expenses based on the distance of relocation.

Benefit offerings and eligibility described reflect current offerings and may be subject to change in accordance with College polices and plan documents.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college's working and learning environment.

Whitman College is an EEO employer. The college shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.