Physics Department - Full-time Faculty - Anticipated Fall 2027

IMPORTANT

Conditions of employment require employees to hold and to be worthy to hold temple recommends. Job applicants must be able to meet these conditions to advance through a hiring process successfully. An expired recommend will prevent consideration for hire.

Posting Closes

Monday, November 2, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MST

University Environment

Brigham Young University-Idaho is supported and guided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its mission is to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities. As a private, baccalaureate institution, the university is teaching focused and student centered by design. To learn more about teaching at BYU-Idaho, see BYU-Idaho Faculty.

BYU-Idaho prefers to hire qualified members of the Church in good standing as authorized under Title 41 CFR § 60-1.5 (a)(6). As a condition of employment, faculty members hold and are worthy to hold a current temple recommend. Faculty abide by university policies and refrain from behavior or expression that seriously and adversely affects the university mission or the Church of Jesus Christ. Faculty who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ must also receive a clearance from the Church Educational System's Ecclesiastical Clearance Office (the ECO) to be eligible to be considered for or continue employment.

Position Summary

Help fulfill the university's mission by teaching students and providing content expertise in lower- and upper-division undergraduate physics, including:

• Classical mechanics

• Electricity and magnetism

• Thermodynamics

• Quantum mechanics

Specialized topics such as:

• Astrophysics

• Cosmology

• Nuclear physics

• Particle physics

• Optics

• Solid-state physics

Teaching lower-division service courses for other science and engineering programs constitutes a major portion of the standard teaching load.

For this hiring cycle, preference will be given to candidates with a strong background in astronomy and astrophysics. For qualified candidates, responsibilities may also include serving as Planetarium Director and Observatory Manager.

While this is not a research position, the successful candidate will facilitate student research experiences, mentor experiential learning activities, and foster connections with research institutions that provide students with research opportunities.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Mentoring students toward successful graduation, employment, or graduate school placement

• Teaching and supporting General Education courses

• Contributing to AI-enabled and technology-enhanced instructional practices that improve learning across in-person, online, and other modalities

• Advising students

• Fulfilling other department and university assignments

Throughout their careers, all BYU-Idaho faculty are expected to actively pursue professional development opportunities in learning and teaching and ongoing scholarly development within their discipline.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

Advanced degree required (master's or doctorate) in astronomy, astrophysics, physics, or a closely related field. Professional, teaching, and industry experience-particularly in astronomy and/or astrophysics-is highly valued. Applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to and potential for excellence in teaching.

Work Schedule

Full-time faculty members teach 36 load hours annually, across Fall, Winter, and Spring Semesters; this total includes up to 6 load hours of professional development. In the days immediately preceding and following semesters, faculty members attend meetings, grade papers, perform professional development activities, etc. Semesters last approximately 14 weeks, and annual faculty contracts cover 47.5 weeks.

Courses, and other department responsibilities, are assigned by the department chair. See additional information here.

Contact Information

Faculty Employment - Human Resources

Brigham Young University-Idaho

226 Kimball Building

Rexburg, Idaho 83460-1670

(208) 496-1716

facultyemployment@byui.edu