Assistant Professor in Experimental Soft Matter or Biophysics

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Tufts University invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in Experimental Soft Matter or Biophysics with a target start date of September 1 2027.

We seek an outstanding experimental researcher who will establish an innovative externally funded program addressing fundamental questions in soft matter physics biophysics or a closely related area. We interpret these areas broadly across soft complex and living systems and seek candidates who will complement existing strengths while bringing new experimental capabilities and research directions to the department.

Possible areas of interest include complex fluids and rheology; colloids interfaces and self-assembly; polymers gels granular and jammed systems; active and nonequilibrium matter; mechanics and transport in soft systems; molecular and cellular biophysics; mechanobiology and living systems; and new experimental approaches. We emphasize scientific excellence and creativity over any particular experimental platform or physical system and welcome research that creates opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Tufts provides a strong environment for this work with relevant expertise across Physics and Astronomy Biomedical Engineering Mechanical Engineering Chemical and Biological Engineering Chemistry Biology and Applied Mathematics. Particular strengths include soft and active matter fluid mechanics biomaterials biomechanics microfluidics imaging and quantitative biology. Tufts location in the Boston metropolitan area provides additional opportunities for collaboration with universities research institutes hospitals and technology companies.

Tufts is an R1 research university and Physics and Astronomy has active programs in condensed matter physics high energy physics astrophysics and cosmology quantum information and physics education. The successful candidate will develop an externally funded research program involving graduate and undergraduate students and contribute to the intellectual life of the Department and University.

The Department places a strong value on educational excellence. The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate physics courses and have opportunities to develop new courses. Candidates should demonstrate promise as an effective teacher and mentor and a commitment to evidence-informed growth as an educator. The teaching load for research-active faculty is one course per semester.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Physics or a closely related field by the time of appointment have relevant postdoctoral experience and should demonstrate a strong record of research accomplishment and the potential to develop an independent internationally recognized research program.