Job Description
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Carleton College anticipates hiring a visiting faculty member for the 2026-27 academic year, beginning in September of 2026. We seek individuals who have a PhD (or are nearing the completion of their PhD) in physics or a closely related field with a strong commitment to teaching in a liberal-arts environment. The positions will include teaching a combination of courses across our curriculum such as courses in the introductory physics sequence for both majors and non-majors, introductory astronomy, intermediate lab courses (e.g., Electricity & Magnetism), and upper-level labs and electives. Members of groups traditionally underrepresented in physics and astronomy, including those with non-traditional career paths, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Our Institution: Carleton is a highly selective liberal arts college with a student body of approximately 2,000. Located in the thriving two-college town of Northfield, Minnesota, it is forty-five miles from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul, in easy reach of a vibrant metropolitan area that is home to three million people and rich cultural resources. We are located a similar distance from Rochester, home of the Mayo Clinic. Our campus includes an 800-acre arboretum, and the region contains a network of state parks, lakes, and trails. Information about Carleton, Northfield, and the Twin Cities is available at .
Our Physics & Astronomy Department:
Who we are: We are eight faculty members and four staff members. Annually, we graduate 14-30 majors, and about 10% of the students on campus take introductory courses with us.
Facilities we have: We have recently built or updated our well-equipped and modern teaching spaces, research labs, a computational research suite, an instrument shop, and a makerspace. Goodsell Observatory has both historic and modern optical telescopes for curricular and co-curricular use.
Things you will do:
Teach six courses in physics and/or astronomy distributed across Carleton’s three trimesters. Lab sections count as a half course.
Participate as an active member of the department (e.g., attend department meetings).
Integrated within all that you do:
Help cultivate a welcoming community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. We strive to foster an environment where all people can be themselves, build community, learn, and grow.
Things you can choose to do:
Engage in outreach, including with the observatory
Research, including with students
How we will support you:
The expected starting salary range for this position is between $73,800 - $78,690. Actual pay will be adjusted based on job-related factors permitted by law, such as experience and training; licensure and certifications; market factors; departmental budgets; and responsibility. Carleton also offers a robust suite of benefits including:
A generous 403(b) retirement plan with a 10% employer contribution and 2% employee contribution
Medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for all employees
The Learning and Teaching Center provides teaching professional development. Modest internal funding is available to support scholarly activity, e.g. conference travel.
To apply, submit online (go.carleton.edu/carletonjobs):
Cover letter - describing why this particular position is of interest to you.
Teaching statement - (2-3 pages) describing your approach to teaching discussing ideas or techniques you would like to pursue or have tried in prior teaching experiences including TAing or tutoring. Address how these engage a student body with broad diversity including preparation, career interests, identities, and the intersections between them.
CV
After passing through an initial screening process, applicants may receive a request for the contact information for three references who can speak to their abilities in teaching and collaborative engagement. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with review of applications anticipated to begin on February 15th 2026. Direct questions to Jay Tasson, Chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy,
Carleton College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, marital status, veteran status, actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, status with regard to public assistance, disability, or age in providing employment or access to its educational facilities and activities. Carleton is committed to developing its faculty to better reflect the breadth of our student body and American society. Members of underrepresented groups at Carleton are strongly encouraged to apply.
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