Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor, Attosecond Science and Ultrafast Lasers

Unleash Your Potential With Us

As a next-generation public research institution, we are an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to shape the future and solve the world’s most challenging problems. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you become an integral part of our mission to become a university for the future. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with uniquely talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses and regional locations. That means greater challenges to tackle, more meaningful opportunities to grow, and rewarding experiences that go beyond a paycheck.

The Opportunity

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a leader in Attosecond Science and Ultrafast Laser Technology, propelled by several research groups at the Department of Physics, the College of Optics and Photonics (CREOL), and the Center for Directed Energy. It is home to many state-of-the-art major laser facilities including a high-peak power ultrafast infrared laser that is part of LaserNetUS, a high-average-power high-repetition-rate few-cycle infrared laser which is the backbone for a new User Facility for Attosecond Soft X-rays and Terahertz (UFAST) under construction, and other ultrafast lasers with wavelengths ranging from 800 nm to 10 mm which are employed for attosecond-pulse generation, time-resolved experiments, and other ultrafast and ultra-high intensity applications.

The university is seeking applicants for two faculty positions at the rank of assistant professor (tenure earning), associate professor (tenured) or professor (tenured) in experimental ultrafast laser physics and attosecond science. We seek candidates with experience in attosecond science, applications of attosecond technology, and ultrafast laser development. Specific areas of interest include but are not limited to: x-ray attosecond-pulse generation; ultrafast dynamics in atomic, molecular, and extended systems; attosecond chemistry; high-harmonic generation and attosecond spectroscopy in solids; and ultrafast dynamics at relativistic intensity. Candidates with an interest in leadership of the LaserNetUS Node and other collaborative research activities are encouraged to apply. 

The successful candidates will join a broad, diverse community of scientists pursuing the development of ultrafast laser technology, attosecond science, and their applications at national and international levels. The successful candidates will receive competitive startup funds and are expected to establish vigorous, externally funded, and creative research programs, as well as demonstrate excellence in teaching and mentoring.

The selected candidates will join one of two tenure home departments – Physics (College of Sciences) or CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics. Joint or secondary joint appointments among these departments is possible as appropriate to qualifications and interest.

Minimum Qualifications:

Doctoral degree from an accredited institution in physics or a closely related field; an established record of research; experience in attosecond science or ultrafast laser research; and a demonstrated commitment to excellence in graduate and undergraduate education.

To be eligible for appointment as a tenured associate professor or professor upon hire, the selected candidate must have a demonstrated record of teaching, research, and service commensurate with a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of associate professor or professor in the applicable tenure home.

Preferred Qualifications:

Record of independent leadership in ultrafast science and technology, and a substantial record of research funding and publications.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/ .  In addition to the online application, candidates should upload:

• a cover letter,

• a current curriculum vitae,

• a research statement,

• a teaching statement,

• a list with contact information for three (3) professional references.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

Review of applications will begin on January 16, 2024, and continue until the positions are filled.

Questions regarding this search can be directed to Professor Luca Argenti, search committee chair, at [email protected].

Job Close Date:

Open until filled.

Note to applicants: Please keep in mind that a job posted as ‘Open until filled ’ may close at any time without notice. As such, we encourage you to submit your application and all required documentation as quickly as possible to ensure consideration for the posted position.

Are Benefits Important to You?

Working at UCF has its perks!  In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, UCF offers:

• Benefit packages including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, healthcare flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid time off, including annual leave (12-month faculty) and sick leave and paid holidays.
• Retirement savings options.
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando area attractions.
• Education assistance.
• Flexible work environment.

And more…For more benefits information, go to ‘Prospective Employees’ on the UCF Human Resources website (https://hr.ucf.edu/ ).

Who Are We?

Founded in 1963 to fuel the region’s talent pipeline and support the growing U.S. space program, UCF is built to make a better future for our students and society. It’s one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the nation’s top 20 most innovative colleges, while Forbes, Kiplinger , and The Princeton Review rank us a best-value university. UCF is one of 14 universities nationwide designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Research 1 university. With 13 colleges, including a fully accredited College of Medicine, UCF offers more than 240 degree programs between its main campus, downtown campus, hospitality campus, academic health sciences campus, and 11 UCF Connect centers located throughout the region. In addition, UCF extends its reach to communities in and beyond Central Florida by offering complete online programs leading to bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, Ph.D.'s., certificates, and more.

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of higher education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to employment in research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty positions (including employed visiting positions), graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral scholar positions, and undergraduate positions.

Department

College of Sciences (COS) - Department of Physics

Work Schedule

Varies

Type of Appointment

Regular

Expected Salary

Negotiable

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Central Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer including Disabled/Vets.  Click on UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement to view the President’s Statement.

The UCF affirmative action plans for qualified individuals with disabilities and protected Veterans are available for inspection in the Office of Institutional Equity, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., upon request.

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request. 

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.