Search Postings

Title: Chair, Department of Physics
Division Name: Academic Affairs
College/Unit: College of Arts and Sciences
Department: Physics
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

Illinois State University (ISU) invites applications for the Chair position in the Department of Physics. The Department of Physics is looking for a visionary, collaborative, and successful teacher-scholar at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor with administrative experience to oversee its undergraduate and newly established graduate (MS) programs in physics, as well as to foster faculty-led research efforts, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2025. The ideal Chair candidate will be an experienced faculty member with proven leadership and administrative abilities, a strong track record of scholarly research and funding, a demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence and student success, and a clear vision for the future of the Physics Department within the context of Illinois State University. Priority will be given to candidates with a commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring a diverse student body in research, as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and students across various disciplines in the Department. The position is a twelve-month tenured appointment. The salary and rank are commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Chair is responsible for leading and guiding the department’s future, which includes faculty and staff development, mentoring, strategic planning, initiatives aimed at student recruitment and success, fiscal management, personnel recruitment and retention, and oversight of facilities. Additionally, the Chair will actively advocate for excellence in research, teaching, and service, while working to secure the resources necessary to advance the department's mission and vision. While administrative duties are primary, the Chair is expected to maintain an active and productive research agenda with meaningful research opportunities for students. The Chair will be expected to teach one course per academic year.

Additional Information

Department of Physics: The Department of Physics is one of 19 departments, schools, and interdisciplinary programs in the College of Arts and Sciences at ISU (https://cas.illinoisstate.edu/) offering bachelor's and master’s degrees in physics nationwide. The bachelor's degree in physics has concentrations in physics, physics teacher education, computational physics, biophysics, and engineering physics. The Department has 11 full-time, 4 instructional faculty, and 7 support staff, approximately 100 undergraduate students, and a newly established MS degree program that launched in Fall 2024 (https://physics.illinoisstate.edu/academics/). Our dynamic research programs (https://physics.illinoisstate.edu/research/) are led by internationally recognized faculty members and supported by major external funding agencies (e.g., National Science Foundation), focusing on theoretical, computational, and experimental physics. Our faculty members maintain active, interdisciplinary collaborations with other science and technology departments across campus and the discipline.

Illinois State University: Illinois State University, IllinoisState.edu, was founded in 1857 as Illinois’ first public university. We enroll approximately 21,000 students in six colleges. Our new strategic plan, Excellence by Design: 2024-2029, lists our seven core values: Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship; Individualized Attention; Equity, Diversity, Access, and Belonging; Collaboration; Community and Civic Engagement; Respect; and Integrity. By acting on these values, we create a learning environment that results in our university being the first-choice public university in Illinois for high-achieving, motivated students who seek an individualized educational experience combined with the resources of a large university. Learn more about Illinois State’s Metrics of Excellence at IllinoisState.edu/PointsofPride.

Bloomington-Normal: Illinois State University is located in the growing twin cities of Bloomington and Normal, with a metro population of approximately 172,000. The community is also home to Illinois Wesleyan University, Heartland Community College, St. Joseph Medical Center, Carle BroMenn Medical Center, COUNTRY Financial, State Farm Insurance’s International Headquarters, Central Illinois Regional Airport, and electric truck manufacturer Rivian Motors. The community has distinguished itself for its outstanding school systems, and its citizens’ high level of educational attainment, as well as its parks and recreation, health care, vibrant fine arts scene, job growth, economic opportunity, historic sites, and low crime rates. Bloomington made Livability’s top 100 Best Places to Live (2024) and ranked No. 3 on College Values Online’s list of Best Small College Towns in America (2024). Bloomington-Normal is conveniently located about three hours from Indianapolis; two hours from both Chicago and St. Louis; and an hour from Peoria, Champaign-Urbana, Decatur, and Springfield. Many of these locations are accessible from Bloomington-Normal via Amtrak, which is located one block from Illinois State’s campus. For more information on our community, visit visitbn.org.

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

Required Qualifications

• A doctoral degree in Physics or a related field
• Academic achievements in scholarship and teaching that merit appointment with tenure at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor
• Must be able to demonstrate oral proficiency in the English language as a requirement for this position, as mandated by state law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous administrative leadership experience in organizing or leading departmental or institutional initiatives
• Record of sustained external research funding
• Record of sustained teaching excellence
• Currently holding rank at the level of full professor

Work Hours

Varies

Proposed Starting Date

07/01/2025

Required Applicant Documents

1. Curriculum vitae
2. Cover letter
3. Statement of Leadership Philosophy, including a Vision for the ISU Physics Department, maximum 2 pages
4. Statement of Teaching Philosophy, maximum 1 page
5. Research Summary, maximum 2 pages
6. Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Statement, maximum 1 page
7. The names and contact details of 4 references. References will be contacted for candidates invited to participate in a Zoom interview.

Please Note: These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"

Special Instructions for Applicants

The review of the applications will begin on November 27, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. Apply by this date to be included in the first review of applications.

Contact Information for Applicants

Search Committee Chair, Rebekka Darner, rldarne@ilstu.edu
Human Resources Representative, Lexi Marquez, emmarq1@ilstu.edu

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at (309) 438-3383. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at (309) 438-8311.