Job description
WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY. The Department of Physics invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position as Assistant Professor of Physics that will start July 1, 2027.
Qualifications: A Ph. D. in Physics or a closely related field is required for the position. Qualified applicants will demonstrate their ability to teach physics courses, initiate and sustain original research and scholarship in biophysics and/or materials science, and contribute to an academic environment that fosters learning and growth for all its stakeholders. We are particularly interested in candidates conducting experimental research in biophotonics, biomaterials, or bioelectronics and in candidates pursuing AI-focused research in biophysics or materials science using computational and/or experimental approaches. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to benefit from extensive facilities (physics.wfu.edu/research/facilities) including new state-of-the-art equipment obtained through recent university investments. Ideally, the successful candidate will work at the intersection between materials science and biophysics and will strengthen the connections between those groups.
Position Summary: This individual will be expected to teach physics courses at the graduate and undergraduate level, engage in scholarly activities, participate in departmental, College, and University service, and contribute to the University’s community outreach efforts. In keeping with the Teacher-Scholar model practiced at Wake Forest University, the successful candidate will establish a vigorous, externally supported research program and create a learning environment that welcomes all students into scientific study and supports their ongoing success. Candidates whose research interests complement those of current Wake Forest Physics faculty are particularly encouraged to apply, as we seek to increase opportunities for collaborative research.
About the Department of Physics: The department offers BA, BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Physics, an MS and certificate in Quantum Information Sciences, and a BS in Biophysics. The department emphasizes interdisciplinary study and close student-faculty collaboration. Opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration include the Center for Functional Materials (cfm.wfu.edu), the Nano and Quantum Technologies Laboratory (wake-nanotech.org), the Translational Science Center (tsc.wfu.edu), the Center for Molecular Signaling (molecularsignaling.wfu.edu), and the other centers at the university (provost.wfu.edu/centers-institutes), as well as collaborations with faculty at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Additional information about the department is available at physics.wfu.edu.
About Wake Forest University: Founded in 1834, Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational institution dedicated to academic excellence in liberal arts, graduate, and professional education. With more than 5,400 undergraduates and 3,800 graduate and professional students, Wake Forest is a collegiate university offering a vibrant, intellectual community with a rich cultural life, an impressive array of facilities, and a strong athletics program competing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Since its founding, the University has adopted the motto Pro Humanitate, which is exemplified by a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world. For more information, visit: about.wfu.edu.
Wake Forest University is located in Winston-Salem, a beautiful, mid-sized city in the Piedmont-Triad region of North Carolina. To learn more about Winston-Salem, visit: www.visitwinstonsalem.com.
How to apply
Review of applications will begin November 15, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. To ensure full consideration, applications should be submitted by November 15, 2026. The application package should include a cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest in joining the Wake Forest academic community and providing the names and contact information for at least three references; a curriculum vitae; a statement of research plans (maximum 5 pages); and a statement of teaching philosophy (maximum 3 pages). To apply, visit: hr.wfu.edu/careers/. Questions about the search may be directed to the chair of the search committee Dr. Keith Bonin at [email protected] or to Wake Forest University Human Resources at [email protected]. Wake Forest University conducts background investigations for all final faculty candidates being considered for employment.
In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.
Wake Forest seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce, and encourages qualified candidates across all group demographics to apply.
