Tenure Track Position in Physics Pedagogy

Located in downtown Toronto, the largest and most culturally diverse city in Canada, and situated on the territory of the Anishinaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Mississaugas of the Credit and the Wendat Peoples, the Department of Physics, in the Faculty of Science at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) (formerly Ryerson University), invites applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of Physics Pedagogy. The appointment shall be effective July 1, 2027, subject to final budgetary approval. 

This position is an integral part of the Faculty of Science’s commitment to create a world-class group in Science Education Research. Presently, the Faculty of Science houses a cluster in Science Education Research with researchers in each of the Computer Science, Chemistry and Biology, Mathematics and Physics departments. In addition to being part of the cluster in Science Education, the successful candidate will join the current strong core of physicists in the Department of Physics with research interests in Medical Physics and Complex Systems. With this position, the Department is expanding its commitment to Physics Education Research (PER). As such, we invite applicants with expertise in PER who have demonstrated excellence in teaching science courses as well as the development of novel undergraduate laboratories and curricula grounded in current Physics Education Research. 

The successful candidate will: contribute to our undergraduate and graduate programs through teaching physics and/or astronomy courses at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels; mentor and supervise undergraduate and graduate students; contribute to the development of curricula and course design; develop a strong and innovative research program in Physics Education Research that is externally funded and that produces cutting-edge, high-quality results; and engage in the life of the Department, Faculty and University through service activities while maintaining an inclusive, equitable and collegial work environment across all activities.

Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in one of the following:

• Physics or a closely related field, or

• Science education with a specialization in physics pedagogy. 

The application materials may include any of the following: 

• strong emerging scholarly research and/or creative activity that is current, innovative and impactful as evidenced by, but not limited to, peer-reviewed publications, working papers, public policy contributions, presentations at academic conferences, community and professional work, grants, research-related awards and other writing or creative production that contributes to the visibility and prominence of the discipline; 

• practical experience in research, applications and development of materials related to PER; 

• meaningful engagement of undergraduate and/or graduate students in the applicant’s proposed research; 

• demonstrated potential for teaching excellence at all levels of the undergraduate curriculum, as evidenced by a teaching dossier that includes: 

  • a teaching philosophy statement, 

  • experience with course and curriculum review and/or development, 

  • examples of best practices in pedagogy, including familiarity with a variety of contemporary, research-based teaching practices and techniques, as well as emerging technologies for instruction, 

  • evidence of effective use of classroom technology and any experience with experiential learning, 

  • sample syllabi, 

  • strong teaching evaluations, teaching awards and other relevant achievements in teaching;

• strong communication and expository skills and a demonstrated ability to supervise undergraduate students; 

• enthusiasm for teaching physics and/or astronomy classes at the undergraduate and/or graduate level, including general education courses and physics majors’ courses;

• experience and interest in upper-division PER and/or educational technologies, as they apply to online and remote teaching and learning as well as the development of online (virtual) undergraduate laboratories;

• commitment to our values of equity, diversity and inclusion as they pertain to service, teaching, and scholarly research or creative activities, including a demonstrated ability to make learning accessible and inclusive for a diverse student population; 

• an ability to contribute to the life of the Department, Faculty and the University through collegial service. 

In addition, candidates must submit the names and contact information of three academic referees.

TMU recognizes that scholars have varying career paths and that career interruptions can be part of an excellent academic record. Life circumstances such as illness, disability, family and community responsibilities (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, sick leave, leaves due to caring for family members, or slowdowns due to chronic illness or disability) are expected to have an impact on a candidate’s record of research achievement. Candidates are encouraged to provide any relevant information about their experience and/or career interruptions to allow for a fair assessment of their application. Hiring committee members have been instructed to give careful consideration to diverse experiences and knowledge, and to be sensitive to the impact of career interruptions in their assessments. All eligible leaves will be credited at twice the amount of the actual leave taken.

This position falls under the jurisdiction of the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA). The TFA collective agreement can be viewed here, and a summary of TFA benefits can be found here.

The Department of Physics

The Department of Physics offers an undergraduate degree in Medical Physics and master’s and doctoral degrees in Physics in the fields of Biomedical Physics, CAMPEP-Accredited Medical Physics and Complex Systems to students of diverse backgrounds. The Department has 16 full-time faculty members, 6 postdoctoral fellows, 55 graduate students and 8 staff members. Its core group of scientists have secured substantial external peer-reviewed funding for cutting-edge research in Medical Physics, Biomedical Physics and Complex Systems. We are also committed to excellence in teaching, including the application and study of novel approaches to physics education. We seek a candidate who will enhance our teaching strengths as well as augment our existing research in Physics/Science Education, bringing innovative and diverse perspectives and experiences.

Working at Toronto Metropolitan University 

Serving a highly diverse student population of over 45,000, TMU offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs built on the integration of theoretical and practical learning. Distinguished by a professionally focused curriculum and a strong emphasis on excellence in teaching, research and creative activities, TMU is a vibrant, urban university known for its culture of innovation, entrepreneurship, community engagement and city building, reflected in its award-winning architecture. 

At the intersection of mind and action, TMU is on a transformative path to become Canada’s leading comprehensive innovation university. Our new academic plan, Transformative Futures, offers an exciting roadmap towards our ongoing pursuit of academic excellence and toward addressing the complex and evolving challenges of our time. 

At the heart of TMU’s remarkable achievements and its ambitious aspirations are its students, faculty and staff. Committed to a people-first culture, the university prides itself on offering exceptional benefits and perks, celebrating the achievements of its faculty and staff and maintaining its unwavering commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, including its ongoing commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, confronting Anti-Black Racism and accessibility for persons with disabilities. Among its many recognitions is being ranked number one on the Forbes list of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity. We invite you to explore employment at TMU as well as our diverse faculty and staff networks.  

Connect with us on LinkedIn for the latest news and opportunities at TMU. 

How to Apply

Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal [https://hr.cf.torontomu.ca/ams/faculty/] by clicking “Start Application Process”. Applications should be received by January 4, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET to be considered. The application must contain the following:

1. a letter of application that includes your interest in the position; what you would bring to the Department and Faculty; your proposed innovative research program; the impact on the field of Science Education that you foresee for your research; and what makes you a strong candidate overall as a researcher, educator and community member; 

2. a current curriculum vitae; 

3. a detailed Physics Education Research plan as well as a plan to modernize and enhance the teaching modalities and facilities in the Department (up to four pages);

4. a teaching statement (up to three pages) including a statement of teaching philosophy and a dossier of syllabi, evidence of teaching experience and teaching evaluations, if available;

5. a statement discussing your record of demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, including your record of attracting and mentoring a diverse group of students, trainees and research personnel, and establishing an equitable and inclusive learning and research environment; and

6. the names and contact information of three academic referees.

Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority, in accordance with Canadian immigration regulations.

At Toronto Metropolitan University, we believe that diversity of knowledge, worldviews and experiences that comes from membership in different groups is fundamental to innovation, teaching and scholarship and that our students are best served by faculty who reflect the diversity of TMU’s student body and the community in which TMU is situated. To ensure representation of the excellent talent across Canada, we are particularly interested in applications from members of historically disadvantaged and marginalized groups including: First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Indigenous peoples of North America, Black-identified persons, other racialized persons, persons with disabilities and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+. 

Contacts

Any confidential inquiries about the opportunity can be directed to the Department Hiring Committee Chair, Dr. Pedro Goldman (goldman@torontomu.ca). We thank applicants in advance for their applications; however, only applicants under consideration will be contacted about their candidacy.

Candidates who belong to one or more of the equity-deserving groups recognized at TMU (women, racialized people, First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) Peoples, Black people, persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ people) are welcome to connect with Debbie Thompson, Executive Director, Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion (debbie.thompson@torontomu.ca).

Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about working at TMU are welcome to contact James McKay, TMU’s Indigenous Human Resources Lead (Indigenous@torontomu.ca).  

For any confidential accommodation needs and/or inquiries regarding accessing the Faculty Recruitment Portal, please contact Michelle Gomes, HR Advisor, at michelle.gomes@torontomu.ca 

Applicants must submit their application online via the Faculty Recruitment Portal [https://hr.cf.torontomu.ca/ams/faculty/] by clicking “Start Application Process”. Applications should be received by January 4, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET to be considered.

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