Description
The Department of Astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin invites applications for an open rank (assistant, associate, or full professor) faculty position in Astronomical Instrumentation. We welcome applications from candidates with an emphasis on Instrumentation in any field of astronomy, however we will favor applicants planning to contribute to our resources at McDonald Observatory (including the GMT). The search will begin with a target start as early as August 2027 but will continue until the position is filled. Information on departmental and McDonald Observatory resources and research programs can be found at: https://astronomy.utexas.edu.
UT Austin is a major founding partner in the consortium for the next-generation 25-m Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT: http://www.gmto.org). Major new facilities are also being developed at the West Texas McDonald Observatory site. UT Austin faculty members have access to the 10-m Hobby-Eberly Telescope equipped with instruments such as the VIRUS wide-field integral field spectrograph, the Low Resolution Spectrograph (LRS2), and the Habitable-zone Planet Finder (HPF) precision-RV spectrograph. McDonald also hosts the HJST 2.7-m telescope with high and low resolution spectroscopic capability spanning the optical (including integral field units) to near infrared; the 2.1-m and 0.8-m telescopes; and a node for the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) network.
The UT Astronomy Program provides vibrant collaborative opportunities on large astronomical surveys taking place at McDonald Observatory, and many staff play leading roles in surveys using JWST, Roman, HST, TESS, and other national/international facilities. For instrument/technology development, MDO offers easy access on the Austin campus to machine shops, Class-100 clean room spaces, electronics benches, mechanical assembly areas, and optical/photonic test facilities including fiber IFU labs. The in-house large machine shops are equipped with multiple CNC and manual machines and a wire-EDM machine for complex part fabrication, aided by several precision metrology machines. 3D printing machines are available to aid rapid prototyping. MDO's highly experienced Austin-based instrument scientists/engineers are available for collaboration and support for instrument projects.
Campus-wide, UT Austin hosts micro-photonics/electronics fabrication/metrology facilities at the Texas Material Institute (https://tmi.utexas.edu/facilities) and the Micro Electronics Research Center (https://mrc.utexas.edu/facilities). Computational resources include the Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC: https://www.tacc.utexas.edu), which designs and operates some of the world’s most powerful computing resources, and is known for its leadership in high performance computing, visualization, big data analytics, and machine learning. UT Austin hosts a broad range of Centers and interdisciplinary initiative, including the Center for Planetary Systems Habitability (CPSH), Cosmic Frontier Center (CFC), Wootton Center for Astrophysical Plasma Physics (WCAPP), Weinberg Institute of 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 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.
Qualifications
Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Astronomy, Physics, Planetary Science, or related fields, or an equivalent engineering degree with demonstrated interest in astronomical research. The primary selection criteria will be excellence and leadership in astronomical research with instrumentation as a primary component, as well as a commitment to excellence in teaching and supervision of undergraduate and graduate students. Potential applicant profiles include candidates who will lead development, construction, and/or transformational science with next-generation instrumentation at McDonald Observatory, GMT, and other national/international ground and space-based observational facilities, and candidates who develop technologies for next-generation astronomical facilities. 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
Application materials must be submitted electronically via Interfolio. Submissions should include: a cover letter, a description of research accomplishments and current and future research plans (limited to 5 pages total), a statement of teaching interests, experience, pedagogical methods, and goals (limited to 2 pages), a Curriculum Vitae, and a list of publications. Candidates are also required to arrange for 3 letters of recommendation to be submitted to the interfolio site. Complete applications will be reviewed starting Nov 16, 2026, and we will consider applications after that date on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The start date could be as early August 2027. For further information about the position, please contact the search committee at astro_inst_search2026@utlists.utexas.edu or the Department Chair, Professor Karl Gebhardt (chair@astro.as.utexas.edu).
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.
