Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØ

If you are applying to the 2025-2026 tenure-track faculty search, we encourage you to please review theÌýTenure-track faculty application guidance.

If you are applying to one of the 2025-2026 teaching faculty searches, we encourage you to please review theÌýTeaching faculty application guidance.

Tenure-Track positions:

The standard Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS) faculty appointment divides time between research (40%), teaching (40%), and service (20%). The standard teaching load is one course per semester (there are two semesters in the 9-month academic year). The position also allows up to three summer months of self-supported salary from research grants.

Faculty are initially hired for four years, and during the fourth year are evaluated for reappointment for an additional three years. The standard time to tenure is seven years; tenure review occurs during the seventh year and is based on the first six years’ performance. The tenure clock may be temporarily stopped (for example, for parental leave), and tenure review may be requested prior to the seventh year. A sabbatical semester can be requested after six years of service to the University.

Standard research expectations for faculty include publishing research in peer-reviewed journals, acquiring research grants, and advising students and postdocs in research. Startup packages are provided to enable new faculty to jump-start their research group in advance of winning research grants.

In addition to being members of the APS department, faculty will have a research home inÌý°ä´¡³§´¡,, or. Typically, CASA faculty engage in observational and theoretical astrophysics and instrumentation, JILA faculty are focused on astrophysical theory and simulation, and LASP faculty work in planetary science, heliophysics, and space physics. These divisions are not rigid. New faculty, in consultation with APS and the directors of the research organizations, will pick a research home that is the best fit to their interests and plans.

Teaching-Track positions:

For Teaching faculty positions, the standard approach divides time between teaching (80%) and service (20%). The standard teaching load is four courses per semester (some course reduction may be available based on large-enrollment courses or other departmental service.) The positions also allow up to three summer months of self-supported salary from research grants.

All positions:

Faculty are expected to continuously improve their teaching, and Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder offers ample teaching development resources through theÌýCenter for Teaching and Learning. APS faculty routinely share teaching materials and ideas, as well as offer peer visits to classrooms to provide detailed teaching evaluations and suggestions for improvement. Education researchers in APS and in theÌýPhysics Education ResearchÌýgroup in the Physics DepartmentÌýconduct STEM education research that is routinely incorporated into APS teaching practices.

Service duties include departmental committee work (colloquium organizing, graduate student admissions, faculty hiring, equity and inclusion efforts, student curriculum and concerns, etc.), service to the university, service to the community, and national service to research and education infrastructure. Faculty often serve on national review panels, referee journal articles, and engage in public education and outreach.

The above are general descriptions, and the details of any individual appointment may vary.

New Faculty Support

The APS department supports incoming faculty with an array of professional development support and encourages junior faculty to develop independent research programs while promoting an inclusive and supportive climate. APS first matches all incoming faculty with a senior faculty member who serves as a mentor. Faculty mentors provide guidance on navigating the pre-reappointment and pre-tenure periods (if appropriate), including development of a teaching plan, recruiting and retaining graduate students, and balancing teaching and service duties while developing an independent research program. The mentoring process lasts as long as the junior faculty member desires support. Junior faculty are also supported by prioritization of teaching assignments, and the development of a well-rounded teaching portfolio, including opportunities for teaching at the introductory, majors, and graduate level. The department and university provide funding to participate in programs for new faculty through theÌýNational Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, including theÌý. The faculty in the department have a culture of supporting each other professionally and personally.

The APS Department

APS Department includes about 30 faculty, about 30 affiliated postdocs, about 65 graduate students, and more than 350 undergraduate majors. Research areas include heliophysics, space physics, planetary and exoplanetary science, Galactic and extragalactic astrophysics, cosmology, and instrumentation. Faculty are generally expected to teach at a range of levels, including introductory and/or non-major undergraduate (1000-2000), upper-level undergraduate (3000-4000), and graduate (5000-6000). Recently taught classes can be found under ASTR in the universityÌý, as well as our current undergraduate and graduate course pages.Ìý Faculty education and public outreach opportunities and programs are supported by theÌýFiske PlanetariumÌýand the Sommers-Bausch Observatory.

Scientific Resources

The APS department and its affiliated research units (CASA, JILA, LASP) offer ample resources for teaching and research, including access to observational, instrumental, and theoretical facilities. The University of Colorado is a member of the 3.5 meter andÌý0.5 meter­ telescopes in Sunspot, NM, and has two 0.5m and one 0.6m telescopes locally on campus at theÌýSommers­-Bausch Observatory. Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder is an institutional member of theÌýandÌýSurveys and has institutional access to the. Members of APS also have access to the Â鶹Ãâ·Ñ°æÏÂÔØBoulder facility for high­-performance computing and facilities for the development of space­borne and ground-­based hardware. The headquarters of the, which operates the 4mÌý, is located on the Boulder campus.

Other Resources

CUÌýHuman ResourcesÌýprovides information on employee benefits, support, resources, perks, and programs.ÌýInternational Student and Scholar ServicesÌýoffers support and consultation about visas and other issues for international faculty. The Office of Faculty Affairs provides information forÌýdual-career academic couples. Additional questions about the department or university can be directed to the APS Business Manager Adele Labrador Ronen (adele.ronen@colorado.edu).ÌýMs. Labrador is not involved in the evaluation or selection of candidates.Ìý