Visiting Assistant Instructor in Stellar Astrophysics

Position Summary

Villanova University’s Department of Astrophysics and Planetary Science invites applications for the Visiting Assistant Instructor. The position is a prime opportunity for candidates seeking to stay in academia. The fellowship provides training and development in all three areas of academic life: research, teaching, and service. A successful applicant will join Andrej Prsa’s research team and work on cutting-edge theoretical and observational aspects of binary and multiple stellar populations. In parallel, the applicant will teach an undergraduate core science course/lab to non-STEM majors, where the stress is on incorporating four critical components in a meaningful way: problem-solving, laboratory experience, technology and quantitative tools, and interdisciplinary understanding. Finally, the applicant will join the Departmental ecosphere and participate in shaping the future of research and education at Villanova. The appointment is offered for 6 months starting January 1, 2025. Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in state-of-the-art research in theoretical and observational stellar astrophysics, computation astrophysics, astrostatistics, and/or exoplanetary science.
• Teach 2 sections of the Mendel core science courses or labs per semester (currently “How old is the Universe?”, “Life in the Universe”, “Planetary skies and landscapes”, “Birth and Death of Stars”, “Earth – our habitable world”, and “Earth – a cosmic connection”).
• Participate in Departmental affairs: meetings, colloquia, events and functions. This includes working with and counseling undergraduate students, contributing to public events and advancing the Department’s reputation and renown locally, nationally and internationally.

Minimum Qualifications

• A non-terminal degree in Physics, Astrophysics, Data Science or a closely related discipline is required, with the expectation that terminal degree (PhD) is obtained by July 1, 2025.

Preferred Qualifications

• Teaching: prior experience in teaching STEM classes to non-STEM majors is desired.
• Research: strong background in physics, astrophysics, statistics and programming is desired.
• Service: track record of the ability to work with others and to demonstrate diversity awareness is desired.