Job Details

Assistant Teaching Professor

Position Number: 6852576
Location: Boulder, CO
Position Type: Science - Astronomy and Astrophysics

Assistant Teaching Professor

Requisition Number: 69334
Location: Boulder Colorado
Employment Type: Faculty
Schedule: Full Time
Posting Close Date: 01-Feb-2026
Date Posted:

Job Summary

The Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences (APS) Department at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder) is conducting a search for two new Assistant Teaching Professor positions. We are interested in candidates with a strong background and interest in teaching and/or mentoring undergraduate non-science majors, undergraduate science majors, and astronomy graduate students. These positions require a commitment to the development and testing of high-quality teaching and learning in lecture, laboratory, and planetarium settings, collaboration with other faculty on best practices in teaching, and commitment to supporting diverse student populations within our department. The APS department recognizes that contributions from a broad range of perspectives strengthen the effectiveness and creativity of a group. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. The anticipated appointment effective date for this position is August 2026. For consideration, please submit applications by February 1, 2026.
The APS Department will also be coordinating an internal search for a teaching faculty to support instructional activities at Sommers-Bausch Observatory (SBO), which includes a laboratory classroom, a classroom with ~36 computer workstations, two 0.5-meter telescopes, and one 0.6-meter telescope. The Department plans to arrange a ~50% course release to one teaching faculty to support technical and educational needs associated with the observatory. Job duties include: continual lab curriculum development/improvement, coordinating class usage of SBO, leading/supervising outreach activities, participating in telescope training activities, providing on-call telescope support, and addressing additional tasks as needed.
If you are interested in this hybrid teaching/observatory support role, please indicate this in your cover letter and address qualifications for this role in addition to the traditional teaching roles indicated above.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The APS Department has 30 faculty in research areas covering a broad range of astrophysical and planetary sciences as well as astronomy education research. Faculty are affiliated with one several leading research centers including CASA (theoretical, observational, and instrumental astrophysics), JILA (theoretical, computational, and observational astrophysics), or LASP (planetary science, solar and space physics, and space-flight instrumentation). The Department and these institutes offer ample resources for supporting undergraduate and graduate astronomy education. Observational facilities include the ARC 3.5-meter and ARCSAT 0.5-meter telescopes. In addition, CU Boulder is an institutional member of the SDSS IV and V surveys and has access to the Las Cumbres Observatory. The successful candidate would also have access to the CU Boulder facility for high-performance computing and world-class facilities for the development of spaceborne and ground-based hardware. CU Boulder has provided space-flight instruments on over a dozen NASA flagship missions. Several APS department members are active users of JWST and other space telescopes. The headquarters of the National Solar Observatory is located on the Boulder campus. The APS Department has one of the largest undergraduate and graduate programs in the country, with over 450 undergraduate astronomy majors and over 60 graduate students. Teaching facilities include Fiske Planetarium, an on-campus world-class planetarium and educational facility. The department also maintains one 0.6-meter and two 0.5-meter telescopes on-campus at the Sommers-Bausch Observatory. Graduate course offerings cover a wide range of astrophysical and planetary science topics and include the use of the 3.5-m ARC telescope. The successful candidate can expect to join an inclusive department that strives to value and support all members of our community.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

The key responsibilities associated with these teaching faculty positions involves teaching undergraduate astronomy courses to astronomy majors, science majors, and non-science majors.
Class sizes range from 20 to 200 and teaching at all levels (early undergraduate, mature undergraduate, and graduate level) is anticipated.
Some departmental service activities will also be expected.

Additional information about faculty life and expectations in APS and at CU Boulder can be found at https://www.colorado.edu/aps/tenure-track-faculty-job-description-and-duties.

What We Can Offer

The hiring range for this position is $74-80k per year. Relocation assistance is available per departmental guidelines of up to $6,000 for qualified candidates.

Benefits

At the University of Colorado Boulder, we are committed to supporting the holistic health and well-being of our employees. Our comprehensive benefits package includes medical, dental, and retirement plans; generous paid time off; tuition assistance for you and your dependents; and an ECO Pass for local transit. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU Boulder offers an inspiring academic community and access to world-class outdoor recreation. Explore additional perks and programs through the CU Advantage program.

Be Statements

Be ambitious. Be pioneering. Be Boulder.

What We Require

Candidates for this position must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in astrophysics, planetary science, solar science, astronomy education research, or a related field conferred before the first date of employment.
Candidates must also have at least 2 semesters of experience teaching astronomy to undergraduate and/or graduate students as the instructor of record.

What You Will Need

This position requires experience and skill in engaging undergraduate and graduate students in active learning and research-based pedagogy.
The position requires dedication to teaching in undergraduate and graduate programs and commitment to supporting the diverse student populations in our department.
Strong organizational and time management skills are also required.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

Resume/CV
Cover Letter
Generic File 1: Teaching and Mentoring Statement

You can find guidance on attachments at https://www.colorado.edu/aps/faculty-application-guidance
During the application process you will need to enter contact information for three references who may be contacted to provide letters of recommendation later in the recruitment process.
Please apply by February 1st, 2026 for consideration.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.
In compliance with the Colorado Job Application Fairness Act, in any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

To apply, visit https://jobs.colorado.edu/jobs/JobDetail/Assistant-Teaching-Professor/69334