Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Position in Astronomy

University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin's Department of Astronomy invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in astronomy, with an anticipated start date of August 2027. We welcome candidates in all areas, with emphasis on stellar astrophysics, time-domain and transient astrophysics, the Milky Way, and related areas that leverage GMT, McDonald Observatory, and other UT resources.

Apply by November 10, 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience leading high-impact astrophysics research and teams.
• Proven teaching and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students.
• Ability to develop transformational science with next-generation facilities.

Skills

Astronomy research leadership

Teaching experience

Mentoring students

Education

Ph.D. in Astronomy/Physics/Planetary Science

Job description

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Position in Astronomy

College/School/Unit: College of Natural Sciences

Department: Department of Astronomy

Posted: Sep 8, 2026

Apply By: Nov 10, 2026

Description

The Department of Astronomy at The University of Texas at Austininvites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at theAssistant Professor level, with an anticipated start date of August2027. We welcome applications from candidates in all areas ofastronomy and astrophysics. We are particularly interested incandidates working in stellar astrophysics, time-domain andtransient astrophysics, the Milky Way, the Local Group, and relatedareas that can take advantage of UT Austin's exceptionalobservational resources, including McDonald Observatory and theGiant Magellan Telescope (GMT). Candidates in other areas thatcomplement or expand the department's existing research strengthsare also strongly encouraged to apply. The search is primarily atthe Assistant Professor level, although exceptional candidates atmore senior ranks may be considered.

Information on departmental and McDonald Observatory resources andresearch programs can be found at: https://astronomy.utexas.edu.

UT Austin offers exceptional access to observational,computational, and collaborative resources. The University is amajor founding partner in the next-generation 25-m GMT (http://www.gmto.org). Major newfacilities are also being developed at the West Texas McDonaldObservatory site. UT Austin faculty have access to the 10-m HET,the 2.7-m HJST, the 2.1-m and 0.8-m telescopes, and a node for theLas Cumbres Observatory (LCO) network. Faculty participate in majorastronomical surveys and observing programs using facilitiesincluding SDSS, JWST, HST, Roman, TESS, and other national andinternational observatories. UT Austin also provides exceptionalcomputational resources through the Texas Advanced Computing Center(TACC: https://www.tacc.utexas.edu), aworld leader in high-performance computing, large-scale dataanalysis, visualization, and machine learning.

UT Austin hosts a broad range of centers and interdisciplinaryinitiatives that provide opportunities for collaboration acrossastronomy, physics, planetary science, computational science, andartificial intelligence. These include the Center for PlanetarySystems Habitability (CPSH), Cosmic Frontier Center (CFC), WoottonCenter for Astrophysical Plasma Properties (WCAPP), WeinbergInstitute for Theoretical Physics, and the NSF-Simons AI Institutefor Cosmic Origins (CosmicAI).

The Department of Astronomy is a highly collaborative and collegialcommunity, with a strong culture of mentorship, scientificexchange, and support for early-career faculty. Our faculty,researchers, and students interact across traditional subfieldboundaries, and new colleagues are encouraged to develop ambitiousnew research directions and collaborations across the University.Beyond campus, Austin offers an exceptional quality of life forindividuals and families alike, combining the cultural and culinaryopportunities of a major city with abundant green space and easyaccess to the outdoors. Ranked among the top U.S. cities forraising a family, Austin is known for its extensive parks and trailsystems, neighborhood pools and swimming holes, family-friendlyrestaurants and outdoor gathering spaces, and year-round culturaland recreational activities. UT Austin also offers significantresources for faculty with families, including three universityChild Development Center locations. Seventy-six percent of Austinresidents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, in which the citysupports an extensive network of public pools and splash pads.Austin offers an unusually rich quality of life for faculty andtheir families.

Qualifications

Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Physics, PlanetaryScience, or related fields. The primary selection criteria will beexcellence and leadership in astrophysics research, teaching, andmentoring of undergraduate and graduate students. We particularlyseek candidates who will lead transformational science withnext-generation observational and computational facilities andcreatively utilize the resources of the Astronomy Department andMcDonald Observatory. Applicants are encouraged to highlightthroughout their application their relevant experiences andskillsets in supporting academic success of all students (e.g.,their specific approaches for teaching, mentoring, research and /orscholarly work).

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equalopportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with allapplicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination andaffirmative action. The University is committed to a policy ofequal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on thebasis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex,sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability,religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs andactivities, and admissions.

For further information about the position, please contact thesearch committee at [e-mail] the Department Chair, Professor Karl Gebhardt ([e-mail]).