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Northern Illinois University

Department of Physics

Chair for Department of Physics

Northern Illinois University is seeking a Chair of its Physics Department. The position is at the senior rank, either full professor or senior associate professor (with promotion to full professor anticipated in the near future).

Qualifications: PhD in physics with a well-established research record and a record of success in obtaining peer-reviewed grant support. Candidates must also have demonstrated excellence in teaching. Candidates must possess dynamic leadership and people skills and must be able to work in the multi-disciplinary environment of the department and in cooperation with various NIU units. Prior administrative experience will be preferred. Candidates must have a comprehensive and clear vision for the maintenance and enhancement of the department’s reputation both within Northern Illinois University and nationally. The department has faculty in four main areas of specialization: materials physics, beams physics, elementary particle physics, and medical physics. A candidate with a specialization in one of these areas will be preferred.

Duties: The Chair, in collaboration with the Assistant Chair, Director of Graduate Studies and Department staff;

  • must be a person of vision who possess leadership qualities that will advance the excellence and reputation of the department;
  • is responsible for promoting and encouraging studies of physics, including the recruitment of undergraduate majors and graduate students seeking degrees related to physics;
  • is responsible for ensuring active and thoughtful efforts to seek external grants for department programs, projects and activities;
  • oversees the daily management of the department, including the preparation and allocation of its budget and direction of its staff;
  • is responsible for the department’s instructional effort, including oversight of the curriculum, scheduling, hiring of instructional staff, monitoring of teaching effectiveness, and assessment;
  • will be involved in fund raising, improving contacts with alumni and promoting the visibility of the department;
  • and is responsible for promoting the public outreach of physics in the greater community.

The department offers academic programs leading to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Master of Science (M.S.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. It has four research specializations, materials physics, beams physics, elementary particle physics, and medical physics. In addition there are two research centers associated with the Department: the Northern Illinois Center for Accelerator and Detector Development (NICADD) and the Institute for Nano-Science and Engineering (InSET). The department has close relationships with two nearby national laboratories, Argonne National Laboratory located approximately 50 miles southeast of NIU and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, located approximately 25 miles east of NIU. The department maintains a fully equipped machine shop and electronics shop. Located 65 miles west of Chicago, Northern Illinois University is a comprehensive undergraduate and graduate university with approximately 25,000 students. NIU is included in the Doctoral/Research Universities-Extensive category of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and is a member of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. The department is a unit within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Chair reports to the dean of the college.

Application Process: Candidates must send their statement of interest and curriculum vitae to Professor David Hedin, Chair of the Search Committee. Electronic submissions are preferred and must be sent to hedin@nicadd.niu.edu Applications may also be submitted by mail to the Department of Physics, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115. Complete applications must be received by November 6, 2009. NIU values diversity in its faculty, staff and student body. In keeping with this commitment, our academic community strongly encourages applications from diverse candidates and candidates who support diversity. NIU is an AA/EEO institution.