Job Details

Position: Assistant Professor – Physics (Germanium Science & Technology)
Type: Full-Time, Tenure-Track
Location: Vermillion, South Dakota
Department: Physics, University of South Dakota (USD)
Start Date: Fall 2026
Salary: Not specified
Application First Review Date: 12/01/2025
Application Deadline: Open until filled

Position Overview

• Part of the NSF EPSCoR Ge-STAR Project (Germanium Science and Technology for Advanced Research).

• Focus on Ge-based science and technology, with research in:

  • High-purity germanium (HPGe) detectors for rare-event physics (dark matter, neutrino properties)

  • Medical imaging using Ge-based sensors

  • AI/ML applications in materials science, detector development, and data analysis

• Responsibilities:

  • Develop an externally funded research program aligned with Ge-STAR goals

  • Teach graduate and undergraduate courses in Physics and AI/ML in Data Sciences

  • Contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations within USD and the Ge-STAR project

Unique Resources at USD

• World’s only public high-purity germanium crystal growth facility

• Collaborations with international rare-event physics experiments: LEGEND, SuperCDMS, COHERENT

• Infrastructure and expertise for AI/ML research in materials informatics and detector optimization

Minimum Qualifications

• PhD in Physics, Computational Physics, Medical Physics, Materials Science, or a closely related field by the time of appointment

• Potential for high-quality research and effective teaching

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience with:

  • Ge detector technology

  • Low-background experiments

  • Medical imaging systems or related areas

Application Materials

• Cover letter

• Curriculum vitae (CV)

• Statement of research interests and future plans (max 3 pages)

• Teaching philosophy statement (max 2 pages)

• Contact information for at least three references

Apply Online: USD Job Portal

Equal Opportunity

• USD is committed to a dynamic, inclusive, and welcoming environment.

• Provides equal employment opportunities regardless of protected status.