About the role
The Department of Physics at the University of South Florida, Tampa, invites applications for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-earning faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor. We seek a theorist or computational physicist developing innovative methods and applications in quantum information science, artificial intelligence and machine learning for physics, data-driven physics, or closely related areas. The anticipated starting date is August 7, 2027. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Candidates working in one or more areas—including quantum computation and algorithms, quantum simulations, quantum many-body theory, quantum machine learning, physics-informed machine learning, computational quantum science, and data-intensive approaches to physical systems—are encouraged to apply. Candidates whose research is at the intersection of these approaches or develop their applications to important problems in physics are welcome.
The successful candidate will have opportunities to collaborate with research groups and interdisciplinary initiatives within the Department of Physics and across USF. Areas of potential synergy include quantum materials, nanomagnetism and spintronics, ultrafast dynamics, quantum optics, quantum sensing, biomedical physics, computational and data-driven materials physics. Research connecting fundamental advances in quantum information science or AI/ML with applications in healthcare, environmental sensing, secure communications, and information science is also of interest.
The successful candidate will be expected to conduct high-impact research, pursue extramural funding, teach effectively at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and mentor students in research at all levels.
Minimum Qualifications: Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in physics or a closely related field from an accredited institution by the time of appointment. Postdoctoral or equivalent research experience in academia, a national laboratory, or industry is required. Applicants must demonstrate a strong record of research accomplishments and the potential to establish an independent, externally funded, and nationally recognized research program. Must meet university criteria for appointment to the rank of Assistant Professor.
Information for Applicants:
Applicants should submit the following documents with their application:
- Cover Letter
- CV
- Teaching Philosophy
- Evidence of successful research
- Names and contact information for three (3) professional references
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for letters of recommendation at a later date.
Position is open until it is filled, with initial review of applications beginning on December 1, 2026.
Conclusion of this search is subject to final budget approval. According to Florida Law, applications and meetings regarding them are open to the public. USF is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access institution. For disability accommodations, contact Edwin Perez Jr. at edwinperez@usf.edu, a minimum of five working days in advance.
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.