Assistant Professor of Physics

Physics World; Walla Walla (WA); On-site; USD 74,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance

Life and disability insurance

403(b) Retirement Plan with match

Tuition remission - dependent children

Employee tuition waiver for two Whiton

Job summary

Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA, invites applications for a tenure-track position in the Department of Physics at the rank of assistant professor, starting August 2027. A Ph.D. in physics or closely related field is required at hire.

We seek candidates who will mentor undergraduates, teach across the major and general education tracks, and contribute to curriculum innovation in computational methods or data science.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in physics or closely related field required at start of appointment.
• Ability to mentor undergraduate research and teach across general and upper-level physics courses.
• Interest in curriculum innovation in computational methods or data science.

Responsibilities

• Teach five courses annually across major track and general education requirements.
• Mentor undergraduate research students and guide student projects.
• Collaborate with colleagues to innovate curriculum and support a diverse learning environment.

Skills

Undergraduate teaching

Education

Ph.D. in Physics

Job description

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.

Location

Walla Walla, WA

Open Date

Aug 03, 2026

Deadline

September 15, 2026

Position Details

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.

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

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

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances
• basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and 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
• Employee Assistance Program

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.