Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

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.

Application Instructions: 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 bonin@wfu.edu or to Wake Forest University Human Resources at askhr@wfu.edu. Wake Forest University conducts background investigations for all final faculty candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact AskHR@wfu.edu or (336) 758-4700.

About the Organization

Wake Forest University, formed in 1834, has experienced decades of growth and innovation. WFU is a distinctive university that combines a liberal arts core with graduate and professional schools and innovative research programs. The University embraces the teacher-scholar ideal, which prizes the personal interaction between students and faculty. It is a place where exceptional teaching, fundamental research and discovery, and the engagement of faculty and students in the classroom and the laboratory are paramount.

Wake Forest University is a community that seeks the enlightenment and freedom which come through diligent study and learning. Its higher goal, however, is to give life to the University motto “Pro Humanitate,” as members translate a passion for knowledge into compassionate service. The community shares a tradition that embraces freedom and integrity and acknowledges the worth of the individual. The heritage, established by the school’s founders and nurtured by succeeding generations, promotes a democratic spirit arising from open-mindedness and discourse. Wake Forest fosters compassion and caring for others. Its collective strength and character are derived from the values and distinctive experiences of each individual; therefore, it affirms the richness of human intellect and culture and its contribution to knowledge, faith, reason, and dialogue. Furthermore, it strives toward a society in which good will, respect, and equality prevail. To that end, Wake Forest University rejects hatred and bigotry in any form and promotes justice, honor, and mutual trust.

The University is comprised of: the undergraduate college, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Divinity, School of Law, and School of Medicine (located on the Bowman Gray campus with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center) and today enrolls about 4,846 undergraduates and 2,823 students in graduate programs at its principal location, the Reynolda campus. Students at Wake Forest University enjoy a great deal of access to and interaction with world-class faculty both in and out of the classroom setting with a student-faculty ratio of 11:1. Wake Forest employs approximately 2,772 full and part-time faculty and staff.

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 fifteen-team 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. Wake Forest has a strong commitment to holistic, eight-dimensional well-being for students, faculty and staff as evidenced in the Thrive initiative.

Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest is located in Winston-Salem, NC, a beautiful, mid-sized city centrally located in the Piedmont-Triad region of North Carolina. Winston-Salem is a family-friendly city with high quality schools, numerous outdoor recreational activities and events, and is known for its vibrant and thriving arts scene.

Winston-Salem residents enjoy close proximity to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains (1.5 hours) and Atlantic beaches (4 hours), a moderate climate with four distinct seasons, a very reasonable cost of living, and an eclectic variety of restaurants, wine bars, and breweries for dining with friends and family. Winston-Salem offers many of the amenities of a large city but with the sense of community and quality of life of a smaller town (www.visitwinstonsalem.com).