Employment Opportunities
Tenure-track Faculty in Theorectical Condensed Matter Physics
Description
The Department of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Notre Dame invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in theoretical condensed matter physics. The condensed matter group at Notre Dame consists of 10 experimental and 7 theoretical faculty members, specializing in hard condensed matter, quantum materials, complex systems, and biological physics.
The applicant should complement current activities of the Stavropoulos Center for Complex Quantum Matter's mission is to synthesize materials of interest for novel technologies and to study them with cutting-edge experimental and theoretical methods. While the emphasis is on computational condensed matter theory, quantum information and tensor network, exceptional candidates from all subfields of theoretical condensed matter physics are encouraged to apply.
We seek a faculty member committed to developing and sustaining an environment of excellence in research, teaching, and service. The successful candidate must demonstrate the ability to develop a highly successful research program, attract independent research funding, teach effectively at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and engage with students from diverse backgrounds. Duties include teaching, research, and service. The position is expected to be filled at the assistant professor level, but applications from exceptional researchers at associate professor and professor levels will also be considered. The expected start date is August 2027.
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Notre Dame has 48 tenured and tenure-track faculty, 5 teaching faculty, and another 24 research and concurrent faculty, as well as professors of the practice; more than 120 graduate students; and ~100 undergraduate physics majors. Additional information about the Department and the College of Science can be found at http://physics.nd.edu and http://science.nd.edu respectively.
Qualifications
Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent advanced degree in Physics or a closely related field.
Application Instructions
Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, list of publications, detailed research plans, and a statement of teaching and mentoring.
Research statement: Should describe the candidate’s research program, including background information such as overall scientific goals and accomplishments to date and the specific research questions and plans to be pursued at Notre Dame. The statement will be read by both specialists in the candidate's research area and the departmental Committee on Appointments, which includes all tenured and tenure-track faculty members. The research statement should not exceed five pages.
Teaching statement: Should outline the candidate’s past teaching experience. The teaching statement should not exceed three pages.
Candidates must also arrange for at least three letters of recommendation.
Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2026 and will continue until the position has been filled.
Postdoctoral Research Scholar in Astrophysics
The University of Notre Dame Department of Physics & Astronomy Astrophysics Research Group has an opening for a postdoctoral research scholar to work with Prof. Lauren Weiss on the discovery and characterization of extrasolar planets. The postdoctoral scholar will conduct original research that strengthens and augments the portfolio of the astroweiss group. The group has institutional access, augmented with external proposals, to the W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea, HI, including the Keck Planet Finder and HIRES spectrographs; and the Large Binocular Telescope on Mt. Graham, AZ, including the PEPSI and iLocater spectrographs. The group is leading a multi-semester Keck program in preparation for HWO and participates in the California Planet Search, the TESS Follow-Up Program, and Roman Science Collaboration. The group also has access to institutional high performance computing and public data products, including those from the NASA Kepler, NASA TESS, ESA Gaia, and ESA PLATO space missions, and the NSF/DOE-supported Rubin Observatory.
Depending upon the applicant’s research interests and qualifications, research topics may include, but are not limited to: (1) the maturation of long baseline, extreme precision RVs on KPF and/or iLocator, (2) the orbital dynamics, architectures, stability, and formation of planetary systems, including multi-planet systems and binary star systems, (3) the elemental compositions of planets, including super-Earth sized planets, and (4) observations with high-dispersion spectroscopy, including studies of planetary orbits and atmospheres.
Qualifications include a PhD in astronomy, physics, or a related field. Applicants demonstrating strong writing skills, analytical skills, research creativity, a history of successful project completion, and serious interest — demonstrated via concurrent application to the Notre Dame College of Science Postdoctoral Fellowship — will be viewed favorably. Applicants with a background in observational or theoretical studies of exoplanets are particularly encouraged to apply. People of all backgrounds, including those that have been underrepresented in modern science, are encouraged to apply.
The appointment is for up to three years, contingent on annual performance review and available funding. Base salary will be commensurate with experience. The start date is fall 2026 or earlier.
The University of Notre Dame is located in South Bend, Indiana and provides a family friendly environment and affordable cost of living. The successful applicant will receive health care and other benefits. More information about being a postdoctoral scholar at Notre Dame can be found at this website.
Candidates should provide a cover letter, a CV (including a full publication list), a three-page statement of research activities and future plans (including figures and references), and arrange to have three letters of recommendation submitted.