The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University invites applications from recent Ph.D. graduates for a lecturer position in physics and astronomy, commencing July/August 2021. Familiarity with and/or interest in physics education research, undergraduate teaching at the introductory level, pedagogy, and curricular issues is preferred. This is a non-tenure-track position for a two-year term with the possibility of reappointment for additional three-year terms. This is a full-time, 9-month academic calendar position. There would also be opportunities to develop innovative teaching methods and pursue independent research or collaborations with existing research programs (see web page https://physics.rice.edu/ ). Evaluation of applications will begin May 15 and continue until the position is filled. Applications for this position must be submitted electronically at https://jobs.rice.edu/postings/26670. Applicants should submit (1) a curriculum vitae, (2) a statement of teaching interests, (3) a statement on diversity and outreach, (4) a list of publications, and (5) the names, affiliations, and email addresses of three professional references. Applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. Rice University is committed to a culturally diverse intellectual community. In this spirit, we particularly welcome applications from all genders and members of historically underrepresented groups who exemplify diverse cultural experiences and who are especially qualified to mentor and advise all members of our diverse student population.
Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
What are your thoughts about these short-term lecturer type positions? Often, I hear that these are dead-ends for scientists, but I wonder how much that is actually true
ReplyDeleteWith respect to this particular position, it's not a priori short term. Our university is expanding its undergrad enrollment, so instructional needs are growing in what is likely an irreversible way.
ReplyDeleteI also think you have to be careful about your definition of "dead-end". If someone is an experimentalist (who needs a lab and) who wants to end up as tenured faculty doing research at a major university, then this is not the best route to take. If someone wants to spend a large fraction of their time as an active researcher including major sponsored research support, then this is also not the best route. If someone is more interested in a long-term career at a teaching-focused institution, then this might work well in terms of building up experience and learning new things. I should also point out that more universities (including ours) now have teaching faculty ranks - these are NTT positions that are constructed to have more stability than ad hoc short-term positions as well as a well-defined path for advancement.
I can tell that this role is to ease the teaching loads for the tenured/tenure track professors, but Rice has not enough money to open up more tenure track positions. These teaching non-tenure-track positions are just more and more these years. As a postdoctoral researcher, I agree with the first comment. I should also emphasize that academia with more and more these contractor roles with low salaries and no job securities makes itself a less favorable place than it was 10 or 20 years ago.
ReplyDelete