Part -Time Faculty (Temporary) in Physics & Astronomy

Maine; Orono (ME); On-site; USD 20,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

University of Maine System in Orono, Maine seeks part-time temporary faculty for the Department of Physics and Astronomy to teach fall 2026 and/or spring 2027. Courses may include Technical Physics, General Physics, physics for scientists and engineers, Intro Astronomy and online sections.

Positions are paid per credit hour and contingent on funding and performance. Responsibilities include syllabus alignment, lesson planning, grading, office hours, and use of LMS tools.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Physics or a closely related field.
• Bachelor’s degree in Physics or a closely related field for recitation or laboratory instruction.
• Demonstrated knowledge of safe laboratory practices
• Academic preparation adequate for the courses to be taught.

Responsibilities

• Syllabus development aligned with departmental expectations.
• Lesson planning and assignment design.
• Grading and providing timely feedback to students.
• Office hours and student correspondence.
• Use of an online learning management system and instructional software.
• Course coordination meetings with other faculty.
• Required orientation and training.
• Teaching in person on campus.

Skills

Teaching

Course planning

Student assessment

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in Physics

Bachelor’s degree in Physics

Safe laboratory practices

Job description

at University of Maine System in Orono, Maine, United States

Job Description

Statement of the Job:

In the Department of Physics and Astronomy, one or more courses or laboratory or recitation sections may be offered to part‑time, temporary faculty members in fall 2026 and/or spring 2027. Courses available could include Technical Physics, General Physics, Physics for Scientists and Engineers, Introductory Astronomy and/or Special Relativity. Laboratory or recitation sections would be in general education or introductory courses: Technical Physics, General Physics, and/or Physics for Scientists and Engineers. Introductory Astronomy includes in‑person and online sections of both the lecture and lab courses.

Essential duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: syllabus development aligned with departmental expectations, lesson planning, assignment design, grading, office hours, correspondence with students, use of an online learning management system and/or other instructional software, course coordination meetings with other faculty members, and required orientation and training.

Positions require teaching in person on campus.

Part‑time temporary faculty members may be rehired in subsequent semesters based on course availability, schedule, funding, and performance. Continuation is subject to the terms of the PATFA bargaining agreement and other applicable university policies. Part‑time faculty members are compensated on a per‑credit‑hour basis, commensurate with qualifications, experience, and in accordance with the Maine Part‑Time Faculty Association (PATFA) contract. To view the Credit Hour Rates, please refer to the PATFA Contract (https://www.maine.edu/human-resources/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/03/PATFA-2023-2026-CBA-accessible.docx).

About the University:

The University of Maine is a community of more than 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students, and 2,500 employees located on the Orono campus, the regional campus in Machias, and throughout the state. UMaine is a land, sea and space grant university, and maintains a leadership role as the University of Maine System’s flagship institution. UMaine is the state’s public research university and a Carnegie R1 top‑tier research institution, dedicated to providing excellent teaching, research and service for Maine, the nation and the world. More information about UMaine is at umaine.edu. The University of Maine offers a wide range of benefits (https://umainesystem.sharepoint.com/sites/USERVICES-UMS-Benefits-Public) for employees including, but not limited to, tuition benefits (employee and dependent), comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability as well as retirement plan options. UMaine is located in beautiful Central Maine. Many employees report that a primary reason for choosing to come to UMaine is quality of life. Numerous cultural activities, excellent public schools, safe neighborhoods, high quality medical care, little traffic, and a reasonable cost of living make the greater Bangor area a wonderful place to live. Visit the Maine Office of Tourism (https://themainehighlands.com/places-to-visit/greater-bangor-region/) to learn more about what the Bangor region has to offer.

Qualifications:

Required:

• For course instruction: Master’s degree in Physics or a closely related field.
• For recitation or laboratory instruction: Bachelor’s degree in Physics or a closely related field.
• For laboratory instruction: demonstrated knowledge of safe laboratory practices.
• Academic preparation adequate for the courses to be taught.

Preferred:

• At least two years’ college teaching experience.
• For course instruction: Doctoral degree in Physics or a closely related field.
• For recitation or laboratory instruction: Master’s degree in Physics or a closely related field.
• For online astronomy instruction: experience with online instruction, astronomy strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated effective teaching.
• Effective oral and communication skills.

For questions about the search, please contact department chair John Thompson at [e-mail]. The successful applicant is subject to appropriate background screening. The University of Maine System (the System) is an equal opportunity institution committed to fostering a nondiscriminatory environment and complying with all applicable nondiscrimination laws. Consistent with State and Federal law, the System does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability (physical or mental), genetic information, pregnancy, or veteran or military status in any aspect of its education, programs and activities, and employment. The System provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you are encouraged to contact the System Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX Services at 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, Orono, ME 04469-5713, by calling 207.581.1226, or via TTY at 711 (Maine Relay System). For more information about Title IX or to file a complaint, please contact the UMS Title IX Coordinator at www.maine.edu/title-ix/. Clery Act The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, such as the University, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report, (ASR) and provide notice of the availability of the ASR to all prospective employees. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University’s crime statistics for the past three calendar years; and disclosures regarding the University’s current campus security policies. You may view the University’s Annual Security Report (https://umaine.edu/police/clery-annual-safety-report/). If you wish to have a paper copy of the ASR or you need to have a copy of the ASR in an accessible format, the University will provide such a copy upon request. Please contact: UMaine Police Department, 81 Rangeley Rd., The University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5794, or call 207.581.4053.

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