Physics-Astronomy Faculty

Calvin University invites applications for a full-time regular faculty member to join the Physics and Astronomy Department to teach both physics and astronomy and to do astronomy research, beginning in August 2027, pending administrative approval. The opening is at the rank of assistant professor.

REQUIREMENTS

The university seeks applicants with vibrant Christian faith who are dedicated to integration of that faith with their field of study.

Ideal candidates will hold a PhD in Astronomy or Physics or a related field.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level as well as an active stream of relevant research and publication. Preference will be given to candidates with experience teaching using a variety of methods and instructional technology.

The university will prioritize candidates with broad interdisciplinary interests, demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, ability to integrate questions of meaning, significance, and ethics into all course content, and deep commitment to engaging students beyond the classroom.

FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES

Faculty members typically teach 24 semester hours per academic year. Faculty are expected to grow in Reformed Christian commitment, to pursue an active scholarly agenda, to teach effectively, and to serve the university, department, students, and the wider community. Candidates will be asked to affirm their commitment to the educational mission of Calvin University as a Christian liberal arts university in the Reformed tradition, affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. (See Educating for Shalom and Faculty Expectations.) Calvin University provides numerous faculty development opportunities to foster growth in these commitments.

For this position, the faculty member should be able to teach a variety of introductory and intermediate-level undergraduate physics courses and introductory astronomy courses, both lecture and lab, and at least one upper-level undergraduate physics theory course. The faculty member is expected to maintain an active experimental, computational, or theoretical research program that includes undergraduate research assistants during the summers. Preference will be given to someone whose research area is in astronomy and who is able to teach intermediate-level courses in astronomy.

FACULTY RESOURCES

Calvin University stands at the forefront of Christian scholarship across disciplines. The University hosts a number of Centers and Institutes and provides other funding opportunities to support faculty teaching and research, including sabbaticals, grants, course releases, summer research stipends, travel funds, and student research opportunities.

ABOUT THE PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY PROGRAM

The Physics and Astronomy Department at Calvin University is a collegial community of five faculty members dedicated to excellent teaching, mentoring, and scholarship. The department regularly offers the upper-level undergraduate theory and laboratory courses needed to prepare students well for graduate study in physics or astrophysics, and it has a strong record of placing alumni in outstanding graduate programs and industry jobs. The department also makes significant contributions to Calvin’s broader STEM programs through physics cognate courses for engineering, pre-med, and other majors, as well as astronomy courses for non-science students that contribute to the broader liberal arts mission of the university. Faculty therefore have the opportunity to teach both specialized courses for majors and high-impact courses that reach students from across the campus.

Faculty maintain active research programs in physics or astronomy, with most research conducted during the summer, often in collaboration with undergraduate research assistants. Opportunities also exist to apply for teaching release time to support research during the academic year. Strong interdisciplinary connections with other STEM programs further enrich the department’s teaching and research environment, making Calvin an attractive place for faculty committed to undergraduate education.

ABOUT CALVIN UNIVERSITY

Calvin University is a top-ranked national university that equips students to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Approximately 3,600 Calvin students study the liberal arts and select from a broad range of majors and professional programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate level offerings. The university is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in a thriving metropolitan region of approximately one million people situated equidistant from Chicago and Detroit. Furthermore, the West Michigan region is ranked by Forbes as the #1 place to raise a family. For more information, please visit http://www.calvin.edu/go/facultyopenings.

Calvin is building a tradition of diversity and accessibility and welcomes applications from persons whose personal characteristics will further that commitment. Calvin does not discriminate in the employment of individuals on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, sex, or age. Calvin University is an educational agency of the Christian Reformed Church and, in compliance with Title VII and other applicable law, reserves the right to give preference in employment based upon religion.

Please note that, while we welcome applications from all qualified applicants, employment opportunities for foreign nationals may be subject to additional eligibility, timing, sponsorship, and funding considerations under current U.S. immigration and visa requirements.

TO APPLY

Complete the online application process and attach the following:

• A one- or two-page application letter that addresses your ability to fulfill the requirements and responsibilities of the position.
• A 250 to 500-word statement describing your Christian faith and explaining your interest in teaching and scholarship at a Reformed Christian University.
• Full curriculum vitae (CV).
• Statement of teaching philosophy and practice (1-2 pages).
• A plan to conduct a research program while at Calvin (1-2 pages).

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. For questions, contact the department chair, Loren Haarsma, at [email protected].

FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.

2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.