College/School/Unit: College of Natural Sciences
Department: Department of Astronomy
Posted: Sep 8, 2026
Apply By: Nov 10, 2026
Description
The Department of Astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level, with an anticipated start date of August 2027. We welcome applications from candidates in all areas of astronomy and astrophysics. We are particularly interested in candidates working in stellar astrophysics, time-domain and transient astrophysics, the Milky Way, the Local Group, and related areas that can take advantage of UT Austin's exceptional observational resources, including McDonald Observatory and the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). Candidates in other areas that complement or expand the department's existing research strengths are also strongly encouraged to apply. The search is primarily at the Assistant Professor level, although exceptional candidates at more senior ranks may be considered.
Information on departmental and McDonald Observatory resources and research programs can be found at: https://astronomy.utexas.edu.
UT Austin offers exceptional access to observational, computational, and collaborative resources. The University is a major founding partner in the next-generation 25-m GMT (http://www.gmto.org). Major new facilities are also being developed at the West Texas McDonald Observatory site. UT Austin faculty have access to the 10-m HET, the 2.7-m HJST, the 2.1-m and 0.8-m telescopes, and a node for the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) network. Faculty participate in major astronomical surveys and observing programs using facilities including SDSS, JWST, HST, Roman, TESS, and other national and international observatories. UT Austin also provides exceptional computational resources through the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC: https://www.tacc.utexas.edu), a world leader in high-performance computing, large-scale data analysis, visualization, and machine learning.
UT Austin hosts a broad range of centers and interdisciplinary initiatives that provide opportunities for collaboration across astronomy, physics, planetary science, computational science, and artificial intelligence. These include the Center for Planetary Systems Habitability (CPSH), Cosmic Frontier Center (CFC), Wootton Center for Astrophysical Plasma Properties (WCAPP), Weinberg Institute for Theoretical Physics, and the NSF-Simons AI Institute for Cosmic Origins (CosmicAI).
The Department of Astronomy is a highly collaborative and collegial community, with a strong culture of mentorship, scientific exchange, and support for early-career faculty. Our faculty, researchers, and students interact across traditional subfield boundaries, and new colleagues are encouraged to develop ambitious new research directions and collaborations across the University. Beyond campus, Austin offers an exceptional quality of life for individuals and families alike, combining the cultural and culinary opportunities of a major city with abundant green space and easy access to the outdoors. Ranked among the top U.S. cities for raising a family, Austin is known for its extensive parks and trail systems, neighborhood pools and swimming holes, family-friendly restaurants and outdoor gathering spaces, and year-round cultural and recreational activities. UT Austin also offers significant resources for faculty with families, including three university Child Development Center locations. Seventy-six percent of Austin residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, in which the city supports an extensive network of public pools and splash pads. Austin offers an unusually rich quality of life for faculty and their families.
Qualifications
Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Physics, Planetary Science, or related fields. The primary selection criteria will be excellence and leadership in astrophysics research, teaching, and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students. We particularly seek candidates who will lead transformational science with next-generation observational and computational facilities and creatively utilize the resources of the Astronomy Department and McDonald Observatory. Applicants are encouraged to highlight throughout their application their relevant experiences and skillsets in supporting academic success of all students (e.g., their specific approaches for teaching, mentoring, research and /or scholarly work).
Application Instructions
Applications must be submitted electronically via Interfolio and should include:
- Cover letter.
- Statement of research accomplishments and current and future research plans (5 page limit). Candidates should describe how they envision developing their research program at UT Austin, including potential use of relevant university and departmental resources, facilities, observational capabilities, computational resources, and opportunities for collaboration.
