Full-time Lecturer - Physics

Job Summary

The Physics Department in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo is seeking to hire full-time lecturers for two-year contracts, with appointment beginning August 17, 2026 and ending approximately May 19, 2028. Appointment at Lecturer Range B is expected and salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. The anticipated hiring range for this role is $78,432 - $89,772 annually. 

Primary duties and responsibilities are to teach undergraduate physics (and possibly astronomy) lecture and lab courses. Candidates in all stages of their career are encouraged to apply.

Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Physics, Physics Education, or Astronomy (or a closely related field with a strong physics background) is required.
• Ph.D. must be conferred and official transcripts received before August 17, 2026.

Preferred Qualifications

• Preference will be given to candidates with evidence of (or potential for) excellence in teaching.

Special Conditions

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. It is also expected that faculty establish an on-campus presence to fulfill their responsibilities. At Cal Poly, tenure-line faculty are expected to establish an on-campus presence.   Cal Poly's ability to sponsor employment-based visas will depend on institutional priorities, budget availability, and current federal regulations. Cal Poly SLO does not commit to providing visa sponsorship for this position, and applicants should not expect that such sponsorship will be offered.

About the Department

The Physics Department has approximately 50 faculty, whose primary function is teaching undergraduate physics courses to students in technical disciplines. We offer programs of study leading to Bachelor's Degrees in Physics, with approximately 200 majors currently enrolled. We also offer courses in astronomy, geology, geophysics, and oceanography. For more information about the Physics Department, please see https://physics.calpoly.edu/. 

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Ri