Assistant Professor, Astronomy and Astrophysics
Assistant Professor, Astronomy and Astrophysics
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Job Description
The University of Nevada Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.
If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process please contact our recruitment helpline at or . For UNR Med professional job postings please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at .
Job Description
The Department of Physics at the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Astronomy and Astrophysics with a start date of July 1 2026 or later. We welcome applications from candidates across all areas of observational and theoretical astronomy.
The successful candidate will be expected to:
Develop and maintain a robust externally-funded research program.
Mentor PhD and undergraduate students in research and academic development.
Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in physics and astronomy.
Contribute to departmental college and university service.
Required Qualifications
Ph.D. in Astronomy or Astrophysics or in a related field including Physics.
Preferred Qualifications
The successful candidate will have demonstrated an ability to perform research at the forefront of their subfield and demonstrated a commitment to building an inclusive scholarly environment.
Compensation Grade
Assistant Professor
To view the salary schedule for this position please visit: Salary Schedules and select Academic Faculty (Nine-month). Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.
Remarkable Retirement!
Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University. With the faculty retirement plan you are 100% vested on your first back and watch your retirement dollars grow! All permanent employees on an annual A or B contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada.
Perks of Working at UNR!
Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance
E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options. E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center
Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders
Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate
No state income tax!
Grants-in-Aid for Faculty Employees
The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits but in order to be eligible children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employees spouse or domestic partner. Faculty Grants-in-Aid
Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program
The University of Nevada Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program
Department Information
UNR is a Carnegie R1 Research University and Nevadas land-grant institution. The Physics department houses around 20 tenure-track and research faculty 5 teaching faculty and around 40 PhD students. Our undergraduate program offers a physics major and an astronomy minor. Astrophysics research areas include black hole accretion and relativistic jets multi-wavelength astronomy and laboratory astrophysics experiments in photoionized plasmas and warm dense matter. We are a partner institution of the 0.7 meter Great Basin Observatory located in Great Basin National Park in Eastern Nevada (an International Dark Sky Park). The successful applicant will have access to UNRs high performance computing cluster Pronghorn. The department also has close ties with the Nevada Center for Astrophysics based in Las Vegas which comprises 17 tenure-track research facultywith expertise from stars and exoplanets to multi-messenger astronomy.
For more information please see here: Information
Search Chair: Richard Plotkin at or
Search Coordinator: Beth Jacobsen at or
YesFull-Time Equivalent
100.0%Required Attachment(s)
Please note once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter references additional documents sections of the application will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments prior to the committee review of applications please contact the candidate helpdesk at .
Application Materials: The following materials must be submitted with your application:
1) Resume/CV that includes a list of publications.
2) Cover letter summarizing the application in the context of this ad. (1 page maximum).
3) Research statement highlighting past research successes and future interests. This statement should include the types of research projects envisioned for graduate and undergraduate students. Please include one (1) lead author publication that the applicant would most like the committee to read to help assess originality of ideas and science communication skills (2-4 pages maximum).
4) Teaching statement describing the applicants teaching philosophy and educational goals at UNR. Clearly state prior teaching mentoring and/or outreach experiences so that accomplishments can be judged relative to opportunity. (1-2 pages maximum).
5) Contact Information for Three Professional References who have agreed to send letters on request.
Full Consideration
For full consideration applications must be received by December 3 2025.
This posting is open until filled
Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been
Posting Close Date
Note to Applicant
A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.
HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty members first day of employment.
References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.
Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.
As part of the hiring process applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.
For positions that require driving evidence of a valid drivers license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.
Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.
The University of Nevada Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a persons age (40 or older) disability whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities) gender (including pregnancy related conditions) military status or military obligations sexual orientation gender identity or expression genetic information national origin race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles afros bantu knots curls braids locks and twists) color or religion (protected classes).
About Us
The University of Nevada Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevadas original land-grant university the University serves more than 23000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.
Classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (Very High Research) university it is also recognized in the Carnegie Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the Best National Universities and Best National Public Universities. It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.
Since 2009 nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs facilities and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevadas first medical school the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe where education research and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada Reno Extension Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Nevada Small Business Development Center the Nevada Seismological Laboratory and Wolf Pack Athletics.
The main campus is in Reno Nevada a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe the beautiful 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The Universitys physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus known as University Village to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.
Collaborating with world-renowned organizations the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple which ensures equitable access to technology for students providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Googles TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.
In 2023 the U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada led by the University of Nevada Reno was named one of the inaugural 31 RegionalTechnology and InnovationHubs (TechHubs).Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its Tech Hub will strengthen Americas lithium batteries critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.
Through its commitment to high-impact education world-improving research and creative activity and outreach thats transforming Nevadas communities and businesses the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state nation and world.
The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students faculty and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.
Today the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics facilities support engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students cognitive growth and academic achievement all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.
For more information please visitthe Universitys website.
University of Nevada Reno
Employment Type
Full-Time
