FACULTY POSITIONS
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY
The Astronomy Department in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor to start August 16, 2026. Candidates in all areas of observational and theoretical astronomy and astrophysics will be considered, although we particularly encourage applicants who will contribute new expertise in the areas of exoplanets and/or astrophysical applications of artificial intelligence/machine learning. Successful candidates are expected to teach effectively at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, establish and maintain an active and independent research program, and provide service to the department, the university, and the profession.
Candidates must have a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Physics, or a closely related field. We seek applicants who show evidence of research productivity and demonstrate teaching and mentorship effectiveness, the potential for an externally funded research program, and the ability to lead collaborative efforts to utilize or interpret data from major current and upcoming astronomical facilities.
Candidates whose PhD may be delayed but will complete all the Ph.D. requirements within the first appointment year may be appointed at the rank of Instructor. After the Ph.D. requirement is met, the appointment will be changed to Assistant Professor.
Only applications submitted through the application web portal will be considered.
Upload the following application materials on the application: (1) one-page cover letter, (2) curriculum vitae with publication list, (3) statement of research plans (up to 3 pages), (4) teaching and mentoring statement (up to 2 pages), and (5) email addresses for three professional references who can provide letters of recommendation.
We ask that all documents be uploaded in a single .pdf file as an upload in the “Resume/CV” section. Only applications submitted through the University of Illinois Job Board will be considered. Requests for recommendation letters will be sent no more than 2 business days after submission of the online application, and thus, candidates should apply early to allow timely notification of references.
To ensure full consideration, all materials must be submitted by the closing date of November 3, 2025; letters of reference should be received no later than November 7, 2025. Although early applications are appreciated and some interviews may be conducted before the closing date, all applications submitted by the closing date will receive full consideration. For more information about the Department or the search, please email search@astro.illinois.edu or go to www.astro.illinois.edu. Questions regarding application materials should be sent to lascollegehiring@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application portal, please call 217-333-2137 or jobs@illinois.edu.
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