The University of North Carolina at Charlotte seeks a Klein Distinguished Professor in Optical Science
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Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
The Position:
The Department of Physics and Optical Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte invites applications for the endowed Klein Distinguished Professor in Optical Science. This position is for an internationally recognized researcher with a demonstrated record of scholarship and leadership in applied optics. Candidates must hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in physics, optics or a closely related field. The position is available at either the associate professor rank (“Distinguished Scholar”) or the full professor rank (“Distinguished Professor”).
The selected candidate will establish and lead a cutting-edge research program in applied optics, fostering collaboration within the department and across the Klein College of Science and beyond in alignment with key UNC Charlotte research areas, including optics and optoelectronics, advanced manufacturing and metrology, and nanoscale science and materials. The department has active research programs in nanoscale device fabrication, metamaterials, advanced microscopy, low-dimensional materials, freeform optics, materials for high-energy-laser applications, optoelectronics, optical coherence and interferometry, and biomedical optics. We especially seek candidates who will build on the department’s existing strengths and lead expansions into emerging areas in applied optics and photonics. Candidates are encouraged to elaborate their vision.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will have:
- A record of groundbreaking results and an outstanding publication record, including patents where applicable;
- A proven track record of securing major external research funding;
- Experience leading high-impact research programs in collaboration with academic institutions, national labs, and/or industry; and
- A proven history of mentorship of students, postdocs and/or junior faculty.
About the Ishwar Aggarwal Department of Physics and Optical Science:
The Ishwar Aggarwal Department of Physics and Optical Science offers BA and BS programs in Physics, an MS in Applied Physics, and MS and PhD programs in Optical Science and Engineering. Researchers have access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities, including the Center for Optoelectronics and Optical Communications (OPTO) and the Center for Precision Metrology (CPM). In addition, the department has leadership roles in two NSF-supported Industry-University Collaborative Research Centers: the Center for Metamaterials (CFM) and the Center for Freeform Optics (CeFO). These centers facilitate close collaborations with industry and government labs. Department faculty also participate in the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science (CBES).
About the Klein College of Science:
The Klein College of Science (KCOS) drives excellence in research, education, and community engagement to shape scientific discovery and cultivate global leaders. As one of UNC Charlotte’s newest colleges, it unites four dynamic academic departments—Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Mathematics and Statistics, and the Ishwar Aggarwal Department of Physics and Optical Science—with the Botanical Gardens, interdisciplinary research centers, and innovative programs. KCOS combines state-of-the-art resources with a highly collaborative environment, empowering faculty to push the boundaries of research, deliver transformative learning experiences, and partner with leaders across the Charlotte region and beyond.
Today, KCOS is home to more than 2,600 undergraduate and graduate majors and plays a crucial role in the education of all UNC Charlotte students with specialized science and mathematics training. KCOS is among UNC Charlotte’s top colleges in research, with four doctoral programs, seven interdisciplinary research centers directed or co-directed by KCOS faculty, an impressive external funding portfolio, and notable success in patents and innovation.
Discovering What’s Next: The Inaugural Strategic Plan of the Klein College of Science acknowledges KCOS’s critical role in contributing to the elevation of UNC Charlotte’s reputation as a recently designated R1 institution on the rise. The plan also recognizes the college’s shared ambition to elevate KCOS as a nationally and internationally recognized leader in research, education and public engagement.
About the University of North Carolina at Charlotte:
As a recently designated R1 doctoral research university, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte) combines rapid institutional growth with top-tier academic ambition. Serving over 33,000 students as the third-largest UNC System campus, UNC Charlotte holds national recognition as a Carnegie Community Engagement campus and an APLU Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. The institution directly supports faculty excellence through competitive internal grants, comprehensive professional development, and generous family leave policies. Set in the nation’s 14th-largest city, UNC Charlotte offers faculty an extraordinary environment to build a career while enjoying one of America's vibrant, top-ranked places to live. As Charlotte’s only R1 research university, UNC Charlotte drives innovation, fuels discovery and prepares students to lead in a rapidly evolving world.
To Apply:
For full consideration, apply by January 4, 2027. A confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled. Please submit a Curriculum Vitae and a Letter of Interest that addresses your reasons for interest and related qualifications/experience. References and additional materials will be sought later for those who advance in the process.
Note that the anticipated start date is August 11, 2027. The candidate chosen for this position will be required to provide an official transcript of their highest earned degree and submit to a criminal background check. More details about the department are available at physics.charlotte.edu.
This position is subject to research-security screening. As part of the application, applicants must disclose, either in their CV or in a separate document submitted with the application, all current appointments or affiliations with foreign institutions or organizations, foreign research support, and ongoing research collaborations with foreign institutions, organizations, or their personnel. Before candidates advance to an on-campus interview, the university will review this information and other publicly available information for relationships involving institutions on the current Section 1286 list and any other applicable U.S. restricted-party lists. A disclosed or identified relationship does not automatically disqualify a candidate. As a condition of employment, a selected candidate must resolve any relationship the university determines would violate applicable law or sponsor requirements or materially impair the candidate’s or the university’s eligibility for federal funding.
Please Note: Any interested candidates should contact Summit Search Solutions directly. Contacting the University of North Carolina at Charlotte will only delay consideration of your qualifications.
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Andrea Martinez, M.Ed.
Senior Consultant
Summit Search Solutions, Inc.
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