LEO Lecturer I - ASTRO 127 (Fall 2026)

This is a 50.0% effort appointment for the Fall Term 2026, beginning August 25, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026.

About the role

The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and the Department of Astronomy at the University of Michigan invite applications for a LEO Lecturer I position. The successful candidate will serve as the Primary Instructor for ASTRO 127: Naked Eye Astronomy, teaching eight half-term (7-week) sections onsite in the Angell Hall Planetarium.

Responsibilities

• Adapt and deliver course syllabi, lecture materials, and planetarium projection demonstrations.
• Design, evaluate, and grade student assessments and observational logs.
• Hold regularly scheduled office hours and manage student inquiries.
• Oversee section rosters, enrollment permissions, and final grade entry in Wolverine Access.

A typical full-time (100% effort) teaching load for a Lecturer in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts is three courses per semester. This position is at 50.0% effort.

Course Description

ASTRO 127: Naked Eye Astronomy

Students learn about the nature of the most common astronomical objects that can be observed by eye, such as the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, comets, and meteors. The motion of these objects in the sky is studied along with their influence on the Earth.

Requirements

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics, Science Education, or a closely related field (or equivalent advanced graduate standing/experience).
• Demonstrated excellence in college-level teaching in the United States.
• Strong communication skills and enthusiasm for instructing non-science undergraduate majors.

Excellence in teaching and instruction will be the principal criteria used to select the successful candidate.

Desired Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, or Physics Education.
• Prior experience conducting planetarium-based instructional labs, teaching introductory astronomy courses to non-majors, or guiding naked-eye observational techniques.

Union Affiliation

This position is covered under the collective bargaining agreement between the University of Michigan and the Lecturers Employee Organization, AFL-CIO.