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Posting Details

Position Information

Position Title Assistant Professor, Astrophysics - 9 month appt

Work Location Springfield Campus

Department Physics, Astronomy & Material Science

HR Home Department 020700 COLLEGE OF NATL & APP SCIENCE

Pay Grade Unclassified

Position only available to current, regular, full-time Missouri State University employees? No, Position is available to all applicants.

Faculty Appointment Type Tenure Track

Term (if applicable) 9 month

Begin Date of Appointment 08/10/2026

Exempt/Non-Exempt Exempt

General Function

The Assistant Professor is a member of the ranked faculty with an intermediate academic rank who has demonstrated achievement in the areas of teaching, research, and professional service appropriate to the discipline. The Assistant Professor’s teaching responsibilities are assigned by the academic department head and may include serving as an academic advisor. The Assistant Professor engages in scholarly activities beyond those associated with teaching and is expected to demonstrate professional productivity in research, based upon the availability of resources and consistent with the mission of the University.

Description of Primary Duties

Duties include teaching undergraduate and graduate astronomy and undergraduate physics courses; maintaining an externally funded research program, involving undergraduate and potentially Masters-level graduate students; and appropriate service, which can include public outreach events at Baker Observatory. Missouri State University maintains Baker Observatory, which has a 14-inch, 16-inch, and 20-inch optical telescopes that are used for research and/or student training.

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications

The minimum acceptable qualifications for the position of Assistant Professor are prescribed in the Faculty Handbook.

Additional Qualifications

A Ph.D. in astrophysics, or equivalent in a closely related field, is required.

It is expected that the successful candidate will have research interests that align with use of “big astronomical data” such as that produced by Gaia, TESS , the Rubin Observatory, etc.

Link to Job Description http://www.missouristate.edu/human/jobdescriptions/21377.htm

Open Date 09/15/2025

Close Date (If Close Date is blank then the posting is considered open until filled)

Special Instructions to Applicants

First date of consideration will be October 13, 2025. Review of applications will continue until filled. Candidates should submit a letter of application, CV, research and teaching statements, and contact information for at least three references.

For additional information about the department, please visit our website at http://physics.missouristate.edu

Equal Opportunity Statement

Non-Discrimination Statement

Missouri State University is a community of people with respect for diversity. The University emphasizes the dignity and equality common to all persons and adheres to a strict non-discrimination policy regarding the treatment of individual faculty, staff, and students. In accord with federal law and applicable Missouri statutes, the University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin (including ancestry, or any other subcategory of national origin recognized by applicable law), religion, sex (including marital status, family status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other subcategory of sex recognized by applicable law), age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law in employment or in any program or activity offered or sponsored by the University. Sex discrimination encompasses sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence, and is strictly prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

This policy shall not be interpreted in a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

The University maintains a grievance procedure incorporating due process available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. Missouri State University is an Equal Opportunity employer. Inquiries concerning the complaint/grievance procedure related to discrimination on the basis of a protected class, including sexual harassment and sexual assault, or compliance with federal and state laws and guidelines, should be addressed to the Director, Office for Institutional Compliance, Carrington Hall 205, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, Missouri 65897, [email protected], 417-836-4252.

Background Check Statement

Employment will require a criminal background check at University expense.

Posting Detail

Posting Number 20250059FTF

Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.missouristate.edu/postings/83233

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

+ * How did you hear about this vacancy?

+ Indeed

+ Linkedin

+ Missouri State University Website

+ Google

+ Employee Referral

+ Job Alerts

+ HigherEdJobs.com

+ Personal Contacts / Networking

+ Job Board (CareerBuilder.com, Monster, etc.)

+ Other

+ * Please specify the recruitment source where you located this posting. If you selected Employee Referral above, please list the name of the current MSU employee who referred you.

(Open Ended Question)

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

+ Cover Letter

+ Unofficial Transcripts - 1

+ Statement of Teaching Philosophy

+ Curriculum Vitae

+ Statement of Research Interest

Optional Documents

+ Other Documents -1

+ Certificate/License-2

+ Unofficial Transcripts -2