Assistant Professor – AI & Computational Photonics - Ph.D. Program in Physics
FACULTY VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
Performs teaching, research and guidance duties in area(s) of expertise. Shares responsibility for committee and department assignments including administrative, supervisory, and other functions.
CAMPUS SPECIFIC INFORMATION
The Graduate Center (GC) of the City University of New York (CUNY) is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor to join the Ph.D. Program in Physics in Fall 2027. This position is part of the CUNY Martin S. Spergel Initiative in the Computational Sciences supported by the Simons Foundation. The successful candidate will join the CUNY Photonics Initiative, a multi-campus research effort building on research excellence in optics and photonics, and leverage the computational resources of Empire AI in their research.
The Graduate Center, a Carnegie R1 Institution, is the focal point for advanced teaching and research at the nation's largest urban public university system. With over 35 doctoral and master's programs of the highest caliber, the CUNY GC fosters pioneering research and scholarship in the arts and sciences and prepares students for careers in universities and the private, nonprofit, and government sectors. The GC's commitment to research and scholarship for the public good is exemplified by its more than 30 centers, institutes, and initiatives, including its Advanced Science Research Center (CUNY ASRC), a 200,000 square-foot facility in upper Manhattan, designed to promote collaboration among scientists in five areas of global research and innovation: nanoscience (including a nanofabrication facility), photonics, structural biology, neuroscience, and environmental sciences.
We seek an outstanding scientist with a record of significant research promise and accomplishments in theoretical and computational photonics, with expertise in areas such as (but not limited to) modeling light-matter interactions, metamaterials and/or complex photonic systems, light-based computing, first-principles/DFT calculations of the optical and electronic properties of materials, and/or condensed matter theory for photonics. This faculty position is poised to enhance CUNY's research portfolio and leadership in photonics by integrating advanced theoretical and computational research activities within its experimentally focused research in photonics.
Building on the success of the GC’s Photonics Subprogram, and leveraging partnerships with the CUNY ASRC, and the world-class computational resources of Empire Al consortium, this effort will accelerate breakthroughs in quantum photonics, nanophotonics, metamaterials, and other fields broadly related to photonics and electromagnetics.
The successful candidate will engage in research, teaching and mentorship of students and group members; develop new educational and research initiatives at CUNY; and initiate new AI-relevant collaborative projects and activities across CUNY and other research institutions. The successful candidate will also be expected to develop an externally funded research program and pursue competitive federal and other extra- and intra-mural funding opportunities.
This position will begin in Fall 2027. The incumbent will report to the Executive Officer of the Ph.D. Program in Physics at GC CUNY and will require the incumbent to work in person.
QUALIFICATIONS
Ph.D. degree in area(s) of experience or equivalent. Also required are the ability to teach successfully, demonstrated scholarship or achievement, and ability to cooperate with others for the good of the institution.
A preferred candidate will have a Ph.D. degree in a photonics-related area, postdoctoral work or equivalent, a record of several years of productive research experience, and a willingness to perform research independently and collaborate on research projects. The incumbent will have demonstrated achievements in extra-mural funding, high-impact published scholarship, and conducting productive research using modeling or computational approaches. We encourage applications from candidates with a collaborative spirit, an innovative research plan that complements current GC CUNY and CUNY-wide Photonics efforts, and ability to base their research at GC CUNY (which does not have wet-lab facilities).
COMPENSATION
$102,460-$114,091 (9 month contract payable over 12 months). Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
CUNY offers faculty a competitive compensation and benefits package covering health insurance, pension and retirement benefits, paid parental leave, and savings programs. We also provide mentoring and support for research, scholarship, and publication as part of our commitment to ongoing faculty professional development.
HOW TO APPLY
Please click on "Apply Now" which will bring you to the registration screen. If you are a new user, you must register to apply. If you already have a user ID, please use your existing ID to apply.
Applicants should upload, in a single file .pdf format:
- Academic Curriculum Vitae
- Cover Letter (2 page maximum)
- Research Statement (3 pages maximum)
- Teaching, Mentoring, and Service Statement (2 pages maximum)
- Contact information for three professional references (name, title, email, and organization)
CLOSING DATE
Open until filled with review of applications to begin on November 2, 2026
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.
