• Director of Undergraduate Laboratories in Physics

    University of Florida (Gainesville, FL)


    Director of Undergraduate Laboratories in Physics

     

    Work type: Non-Tenure-Track Faculty

     

    Categories: Physical/Mathematical Sciences

     

    Department: 16360100 - LS-PHYSICS-GENERAL

    Classification Title:

    LECTURER

    Classification Minimum Requirements:A master’s degree in physics, physics, physics education, or a related field, and at least two years of experience teaching undergraduate physics,

    Job Description:

    Organize and supervise in-person Physics 1 (mechanics) and Physics 2 (E&M) laboratory courses:

    + Supervising lab instruction performed by approximately 50 graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) and occasionally physics undergraduate learning assistants (LAs), who teach approximately 2500 students each fall & spring semester and 750 students in the summer.

    + Training TAs on the lab procedures and pedagogy for lab instruction, including expectations for grading and student communication.

    + Scheduling of TAs into the lab sections.

    + Providing TA evaluations at the end of each semester.

    + Amending the laboratory manuals for each course as needed.

    + Supervising a Teaching Laboratory Specialist who is responsible for the set-up, tear-down, and maintenance of the equipment used.

    + Maintaining the National Instruments computer interface hardware and the LabVIEW data acquisition software used.

    Supervise the team that delivers the UF Online versions of these courses to approximately 200 undergraduate students in both spring and fall semesters:

    + Training and supervising TA lab instructors.

    + Supervising assembly and shipping of single-use experiment kits for the labs.

    + Assisting students having trouble with the IOLab data acquisition device.

     

    Maintain equipment and participate in instruction for two advanced undergraduate laboratories. The Director is expected to keep up with developments in experimental physics and collaborate with other faculty in developing and introducing new experiments. The use of chemicals, radioactive isotopes, and lasers in some of these experiments requires compliance with Environmental Health and Safety regulations and passing their annual inspections.

     

    Oversee a budget of student lab fees collected for maintenance and replacement of equipment.

    Expected Salary:

    The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a full benefits package.

    Employment Benefits include:

    Health Insurance: UF participates in state- and university-sponsored benefits programs for individuals, families, and domestic partners, and offers voluntary insurance that includes vision, dental, long-term disability and more.

     

    Retirement Options: Attractive options include Florida Retirement System Pension Plan, State University System Optional Retirement Program, Florida Retirement System Investment Plan, and Voluntary Retirement Savings Plan.

     

    Leave: UF staff enjoy a generous paid leave plan as well as access to a sick-leave pool, parental leave, and leave payouts.

     

    Required Qualifications:A master’s degree in physics, physics, physics education, or a related field, and at least two years of experience teaching undergraduate physics,

    Preferred:

    A PhD is strongly preferred.

     

    Experience with National Instruments hardware and LabVIEW is preferred.

    Special Instructions to Applicants:

    At UF, Instructional Assistant Professors have professional development opportunities, including a well-defined promotion structure, a professional development leave program, and access to potential funding for travel to conferences for presentations.

     

    Expected start date: January 2026 (or sooner).

     

    Applications must be submitted online athttps://explore.jobs.ufl.edu/en-us/job/535880/director-of-undergraduate-laboratories-in-physics, and must include: a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a summary of physics teaching background and experience, a statement on the applicant’s philosophy on teaching labs including the role of labs in physics education, and the names and contact information for three to five references. Reference providers will only be notified of their upload link once an application is submitted in full, so early completion of an application is highly recommended.

     

    To ensure full consideration, applications must be submitted by August 15, 2025. For more information, please contact Prof. Andrew Rinzler ([email protected]).

     

    The University of Florida is an equal opportunity employer. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law. The University and greater Gainesville community offer a variety of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities. If an accommodation due to disability is needed to apply for this position, please call (352) 392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at (800) 955-8771 (TDD).

     

    Health Assessment Required:No.

     

    Advertised: 16 May 2025 Eastern Daylight Time

     

    Applications close: 15 Aug 2025 Eastern Daylight Time