Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Positions in Physical Sciences

The Department of Liberal Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) invites applications for tenure- track Assistant Professor positions in the physical sciences, beginning in August of 2025. Salary is competitive with peer institutions and commensurate with quality of academic research, extent of teaching experience, other relevant professional practice and current professional standing.

Program Profile

The Department of Liberal Arts is one of 22 academic departments at SAIC. Liberal Arts provides the academic foundation for student success at SAIC by exposing students to the critical tools, knowledge and context needed to be citizens in an interconnected world. The Department is chaired by a full-time faculty member with 12 full-time faculty and over 100 part-time faculty. Liberal Arts at SAIC consists of seven main content areas with area coordinators that include: First Year Seminar, Humanities, Natural Science, Social Science, Languages, English for International Students, and the Academic Access Program. Our faculty offers over 400 courses each academic year, mostly to undergraduate students pursuing the BFA in Studio art or design. Increasingly, we will be offering graduate-level courses broadening the educational experience of MA, MS, MArch, MDes and MFA students.

Natural science faculty within the Department of Liberal Arts are a tight-knit community expressly dedicated to inspiring wonder and curiosity about the natural world, while advancing literacy in scientific methodologies. At SAIC, faculty embrace science as a way of knowing, as much as a way of doing. In addition, SAIC provides a unique setting for its scientists to explore the potentials of "science in action", connecting science to the major social and political debates of our times in creative ways. Increasingly, and along these lines, science faculty and our diverse student body are interested in Indigenous Knowledge Systems and community-based science (e.g., citizen science) amongst other emerging science discourses.

Our science faculty are committed to interdisciplinary approaches to teaching in the subject areas of mathematics, biology, earth science, physics, and chemistry, offering courses from geology to genetics. In their teaching and scholarship, science colleagues frequently but not always engage their art and design colleagues and students through shared interests in topics like climate change, sustainability science (e.g., the Anthropocene concept), and data visualization.

Beyond SAIC, science faculty have access to a number of academic and scholarly institutions in Chicago like the Art Institute of Chicago, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Adler Planetarium, the Argonne National Lab, and Fermilab, as well as connections to the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Further information about the department can be found at:

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will design and teach physical science courses as well as conduct research in their area(s) of expertise. The faculty member will teach in areas that contribute to the learning goals and objectives of the department as well as in their area of specialization; take a leadership role in forging the future of the department; participate in student advising, admissions events, committee work, and special projects; contribute to the SAIC community through ongoing curricular development; and participate in departmental administration and school governance.

Qualifications

A PhD or ABD in a physical science (e.g., Astrophysics, Chemistry, Earth Science, Geophysics, Physics, etc.), or related fields of study, is required. For ABD candidates, a clear path to PhD completion prior to joining the School must be evident. Candidates must have experience teaching at the college/university level within their area of study, as well as an active research agenda.

Ideal candidates will contribute to the diversity of the School by bringing a perspective, way of thinking, and/or a unique set of experiences that expand the intellectual conversations and practices in the field.

Successful applicants must demonstrate outstanding communications skills and a talent for teaching the non-scientist. Relatedly, we seek candidates with the knowledge and aptitude to teach and mentor students from diverse backgrounds.

Application Procedures

Applicants are encouraged to apply by Monday, September 16, 2024 for full consideration. Please submit application materials via You will be asked to create an account after which time you may complete the application, which consists of fill-in fields and required documents to upload. You are encouraged to begin the application well before the priority deadline.

Complete the fields for educational background; current position; and contact information for three professional references.

Please convert all word documents into PDFs before uploading. Required files to upload include:

• cover letter stating your interests and qualifications
  
• resume or curriculum vitae
  
• statement of teaching philosophy including details on how your teaching has supported the success of students from racial, ethnic, gender, and/or socio-economic backgrounds that are underrepresented in your academic field
  
• statement of research and practice
  
• writing sample(s) (not to exceed a combined maximum of 30 pages)
  
• 2 examples of course syllabi
  
• other evidence of professional practice, if any, appropriate to the position
  
  All applicants for this position must complete and sign a Prior Workplace Conduct Declaration as part of their initial application materials in order to be considered as a candidate and sign a release authorizing SAIC to conduct a misconduct reference check should the candidate ultimately be selected as a finalist for the position.
  
  

  Questions
  
  

  Questions regarding the School and its open positions, application procedures, or the search process may be emailed to Please consult for information on the School and its programs, or for open positions and application procedures.
  
  

  About SAIC
  
  

  A leader in educating artists, designers, and scholars since 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs to students from across the globe. Located in the heart of Chicago, the School is one of the largest and oldest private schools of art and design in the country with programs reflecting current practices in art. SAIC's educational philosophy is built upon a transdisciplinary approach to art and design that provides unparalleled opportunities for students to develop their creative and critical abilities with renowned faculty who are leading practitioners in their fields. SAIC's resources include the Art Institute of Chicago and its Modern Wing, and numerous special collections and programming venues that provide students with exceptional exhibitions, screenings, lectures, and performances. The campus is located on Chicago's magnificent lakefront amid the city's cultural and architectural treasures.
  
  

  Degree tracks include the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Studio; BFA with Emphasis in Art Education or Writing; BA degrees in Art History and Visual and Critical Studies; Master of Architecture; Master of Design (MDes) in Designed Objects; MFA in Fashion, Body, and Garment; MFA in Studio or Writing; MA degrees in Arts Administration; Art Education; Art History, Theory, and Criticism; Art Therapy; Teaching; Visual and Critical Studies; and a Master of Science in Historic Preservation.
  
  

  Equal Opportunity Employer
  
  

  The Art Institute of Chicago, including both the school and the museum, is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students, visitors, faculty, and staff, and to ensuring that educational and employment decisions are based on an individual's abilities and qualifications. The Art Institute of Chicago does not tolerate unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or former military status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, in its programs and activities, public accommodations or employment practices. The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
  
  

  Title IX Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator
  
  

  Lakeview Building, 116 S. Michigan Ave., 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60603, ,
  
  

  For further information on notice of nondiscrimination, see the Office for Civil Rights Discrimination for the address and phone number of the office that serves your area, or call
  
  

  Requests for Accommodations
  
  

  SAIC provides reasonable accommodations during the interview process for candidates with disabilities in adherence with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Should you need an accommodation to participate in an interview, please contact Molly Roth Scranton, Associate Director of Faculty Affairs, at