College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

Please click on the links below to learn more about open employment opportunities within the Department of Physics and Astronomy.  For more information, please contact Christina Taylor (christina.taylor@ucr.edu).

Open Positions

  • Assistant Professor position in the fields of Neutrino Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Cosmology and Gravitational Waves

    The Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of California invites highly qualified experimental physicists to apply for an academic-year tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level in the fields of Neutrino Physics, Particle Astrophysics, Cosmology and Gravitational Waves. We have recently made new faculty appointments in experimental gravitational waves, experimental dark matter searches, and cosmic microwave background observations. This appointment will complement them.


    The position has an anticipated start date of July 1, 2024. Candidates should possess a record of demonstrated excellence in research. The successful candidate is expected to establish an outstanding and well-funded research program involving graduate students and postdoctoral scientists, and to contribute to departmental teaching at all levels. We are seeking an independent researcher, who will build a significant on-campus research effort on the forefront of an experimental program in this general area of physics that will complement existing programs in our department.


    The current 9-month base pay range is $74,600 to $97,200. Additional compensation may include summer salary from research grant funds. Other components of pay are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.


    Candidates for this position are required to have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in physics or a related field. Salary will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications.


    Advancement through the faculty ranks at the University of California is through a series of structured, merit-based evaluations, occurring every 2-3 years, each of which includes substantial peer input.


    To apply: submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, list of publications, a statement of research and teaching objectives, a statement addressing the candidate’s past and potential future contributions to promote academic diversity and arrange to have at least three referees submit their letter of recommendation directly via the AP Recruit site at https://aprecruit.ucr.edu/apply/JPF01765.


    Review of applications will commence on November 19th, 2023, and proceed until position is filled. For full consideration, applicants should submit their complete applications prior to the above date.


    For more information about this position, please contact Barry Barish, Chair of the Search Committee, Department of Physics and Astronomy, at barry.barish@ucr.edu. For questions on application procedures and requirements, please contact Mrs. Christina Taylor, Academic Personnel, at christina.taylor@ucr.edu.


    UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.
    The University of California 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, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.


    University of California COVID-19 Vaccination Program Policy: As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs (https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy), as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

    Physics & Astronomy Department
    College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences
    University of California, Riverside

     

  • Postdoc Position in Theoretical Soft Condensed Matter and Computational Biophysics

    We invite applications for a postdoc position in theoretical and computational soft condensed matter and biophysics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at UC Riverside working with Professor Roya Zandi. As part of the Zandi group, the candidate will have the opportunity to work collaboratively on a variety of projects including elasticity theory of two-dimensional surfaces, virus assembly and formation, conformations of RNA and other polyelectrolytes in confined regions, motor-driven intracellular transport, heterogeneous active matter and fluctuation-induced (Casimir) forces in various systems.  

    The position is part of a multidisciplinary, multi-campus effort connected to the established UC Consortium on Coronavirus Research.  The primary goal of the group is to elucidate the mechanisms of the assembly of coronaviruses using analytical theory and computer simulation.  The postdoc will work closely with Roya Zandi at UC Riverside in collaboration with Ajay Gopinathan (UC Merced) and Patrice Koehl (UC Davis). The postdoc will also work closely with the experimentalists on three campuses to develop theory and numerical simulation for the design, analysis, and interpretation of relevant experiments. The position comes with multiple opportunities for professional development and meaningful mentorship, outreach and community engagement.

    Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled. 

    To apply, candidates should send their application materials to roya.zandi@ucr.edu, including a CV, a list of publications, and contact information of three references. Women and under-represented minorities are encouraged to apply.

  • Experimental Postdoctoral Position in Electron-Positron Plasmas

    The Positronium Science Group at UCR is looking for a qualified person to fill an experimental Postdoctoral Scholar position. Qualified candidates will have received a Ph.D. in plasma physics or a related field and have a demonstrated background in experimental plasma science. The Postdoctoral position involves (1) the creation of quasi-neutral electron-positron plasmas inside a cavity buried in a solid, (2) development of time-resolved diagnostics to characterize density and temperature of the evolving electron-positron plasmas. The Postdoctoral scholar will have access to a unique positron source delivering >10 million positrons per pulse in a small spot to load the buried cavity with positrons as well as copious secondary electrons created during the positron implantation and stopping process. We seek applicants with demonstrated laboratory, technical, and software expertise. Experience with microwave diagnostics is a plus but early work will concentrate on more easily characterized plasma densities with plasma frequencies <500 MHz.  The responsibilities of this position will include experimental efforts, analysis of data using advanced numerical techniques, writing and publishing results in scientific journals, and oral presentations of results. This work will be performed under the supervision of faculty in the UCR Physics and Astronomy Department who are experts in positron science and time-resolved optical probes of matter. Work will take place onsite at UCR. Hiring is contingent on having the right to work in the U.S. Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, a current CV, and two letters of reference to Prof. Harry Tom at Harry.Tom@UCR.edu 

    The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer with a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

      UCR is a world-class research university with an exceptionally diverse undergraduate student body. Its mission is explicitly linked to providing routes to educational success for underrepresented and first-generation college students. A commitment to this mission is a preferred qualification.  

Let us help you with your search