Description

Job Summary

The Department of Physics at Furman University invites applications for two tenure track positions at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor rank to begin August 1, 2026. We are specifically seeking at least one candidate with expertise in experimental or engineering physics, with the second position to be filled by a candidate with either an experimental or computational physics background. Successful applicants will be excellent classroom instructors including developing new labs in alignment with our expanding applied physics curriculum. In addition, competitive applicants will demonstrate the capacity to establish a nationally competitive undergraduate research program supporting students with career aspirations that include applied science/engineering.  Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Physics or a closely related field, with postdoctoral or industry experience strongly preferred. These positions require a demonstrated potential for superb teaching and scholarship involving undergraduate researchers spanning a broad spectrum of backgrounds, effective institutional service, and a willingness to work with colleagues across disciplines.

Job Description

The Department of Physics confers B.S. degrees with majors in Physics and Applied Physics, and it plans to expand its current offerings in Applied Physics. The Department values teaching breadth and versatility, pedagogical excellence, research projects that bridge Physics with other disciplines, and efforts to provide students with learning opportunities outside the classroom. The teaching load is 20 credits per year equating to five lecture courses per year not including lab credits. Lab courses are variable in assigned load credits and typically reduce the number of lecture courses per year. Furman Physics faculty are expected to mentor undergraduates, both formally and informally, as part of the tenure and promotion process.

In addition, Furman aspires to build an inclusive student-faculty community in which all are welcomed, supported, having equal access to the wide range of teaching and learning opportunities the university offers. The Physics Department prioritizes this aspiration by encouraging inclusivity and embracing the respectful exploration of disciplinary knowledge and ideas. This involves intellectually dynamic co-curricular programming from all disciplines. The candidate should show interest in and aptitude for contributing to this endeavor.

In their teaching and scholarship, successful candidates will leverage knowledge and skills acquired from physics as well as from mathematics, engineering, chemistry, and/or computer science, to contribute to the design, simulation, analysis, and/or development of novel systems, materials, and devices. They will design and conduct experiments and/or simulations to ascertain physical properties and behaviors to inform these tasks, evaluate their theoretical performance, or develop algorithms. Areas of application could include optical systems, photonics, energy systems and storage, quantum systems, and materials science. Preference will be for candidates whose research directly contributes to developments and applications in national security or energy science.

Required Application Documents:

Applicants should submit the following documents as a single PDF in the order listed

• A cover letter addressing your qualifications and commitment to a research active, undergraduate program. Include a description of how your teaching, scholarship, mentoring and/or service might contribute to a liberal arts university that strives for a welcoming, thriving academic community for all students (2 pages max)
• C.V.
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• Statement of teaching philosophy (2 pages max)
• Statement of research contributions and a detailed research plan (4 pages max)
• Complete contact information for three references.

The statement of teaching philosophy should describe your teaching and mentoring approaches, broadly conceived, and how your teaching and mentoring may contribute to a liberal arts and sciences community that aims, among other things, to “honor inquiry, promote diversity, [and] strive for equity” FUture Focused Strategic Plan. You may also discuss any relevant professional development, service contributions, or other experiences that have refined your skills or demonstrate your efforts in these areas. The research statement should describe scholarly contributions, outline future research directions, describe how the research intersects with other disciplines, describe any planned collaborations with industry or other external partners, and include how the candidate intends to involve undergraduate students in their research agenda.

Review of applications will commence on November 15, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. Questions can be directed to the chair of the Department of Physics, Dr. Jeremy Gulley, at jeremy.gulley@furman.edu. For more information, and to apply, please go to:

https://furman.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/Furman_Careers/job/Main-Campus/Assistant--Associate--or-Full-Professor-of-Physics_R002992

About Furman:

Furman University is a selective private liberal arts and sciences college committed to helping students develop intellectually, personally, and interpersonally and providing the practical skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Furman professors are expected to be exceptional teacher-scholars who mentor undergraduate students within a campus community that values and encourages diverse ideas and perspectives. Our strategic vision, The Furman Advantage, promises students an individualized four-year pathway facilitated by team of mentors and infused with a rich and varied set of high-impact experiences outside the classroom that include undergraduate research, study away, internships, community-focused learning, and opportunities to engage across disciplines. 

Furman is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to fostering a vibrant and inclusive community through excellence in teaching, mentorship, and programming. We believe that cultural understanding, inclusiveness, and freedom of inquiry, thought, and discourse are essential components of a transformative undergraduate education.

We advance these ideals with a liberal arts and sciences curriculum built on a substantial general education program, featuring traditional and innovative elements, and a robust portfolio of disciplinary and interdisciplinary major and minor areas of study. Additionally, we have established and continue to develop various initiatives, including historic projects, dialogue programs such as On Discourse and the Intergroup Dialogues Program, the Center for Interpersonal Connections, and four distinctive external-facing institutes.

The successful candidate will have the ability to work with students from diverse backgrounds and contribute to Furman’s commitment to expanding access and opportunity to Furman’s rich learning culture.

Furman is located in Greenville, South Carolina, which is one of the fastest growing cities in the Southeast and is ranked among "America's Ten Best" by Forbes Magazine. The charming downtown features excellent restaurants, in-town parks, shops, museums, galleries, music venues, and theaters. The city also has excellent public and private schools and a vibrant international community. A 20-mile bike and running trail connects the university to Greenville and to Travelers Rest, which was named “one of America’s coolest small towns.” The surrounding area abounds with outdoor recreational activities and has some of the most beautiful lakes, rivers, and mountains in the country. Greenville is within easy reach of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Atlantic beaches. The newly renovated Greenville-Spartanburg Airport, located just 25 minutes from downtown, runs daily flights to major cities and airline hubs. Greenville is 2 1/2 hours from Atlanta, one and a half hours from Charlotte, North Carolina, and only one hour from Asheville, North Carolina. It is an ideal place to live and work.   

Requirements

Applicants should submit the following documents as a single PDF in the order listed

• A cover letter addressing your qualifications and commitment to a research active, undergraduate program. Include a description of how your teaching, scholarship, mentoring and/or service might contribute to a liberal arts university that strives for a welcoming, thriving academic community for all students (2 pages max)
• C.V.
• Undergraduate and graduate transcripts
• Statement of teaching philosophy (2 pages max)
• Statement of research contributions and a detailed research plan (4 pages max)
• Complete contact information for three references.