About Occidental College
Founded in 1887, Occidental is a nationally recognized, private college of the liberal arts and sciences, dedicated to providing a gifted and diverse group of students with a total educational experience of the highest quality -- one that prepares them for leadership in an increasingly complex, interdependent and pluralistic world.
What makes Occidental special? An intellectually rigorous academic environment. Small classroom settings where students collaborate with professors and their peers while pursuing or discovering their passion. A beautiful residential campus that offers students hands-on engagement with the cultural and intellectual resources of Los Angeles. A community open to stimulating conversation and divergent points of view. Some 2,100 students from 46 states and 28 countries choose from 41 majors and minors and participate in one the country’s top undergraduate research programs. Oxy students routinely win top awards and fellowships; its first Rhodes Scholar was named in 1907. Dedicated to excellence and equity, Occidental also is one of the country’s most economically diverse campuses, according to the New York Times. Some 71 percent of Oxy students receive some form of financial aid; 20 percent are Pell Grant recipients; and 19 percent are the first in their family to attend college
Visiting Assistant Professor
Department of Physics
POSITION SUMMARY
The Department of Physics at Occidental College invites applications for a part-time Visiting Assistant Professor of Physics with appointment to begin January 2027 for the Spring 2027 term. The Visiting Assistant Professor will teach up to 2.5 courses, including General Physics I, General Physics II and one associated lab, with the possibility of renewal of the position for the Fall 2027 term. We are seeking applicants who have a PhD in Physics and experience teaching introductory calculus-based physics classes and laboratories.
“Visiting Professor” is a faculty category bargained between the College and the non-tenure track faculty union. Visiting faculty are hired to replace permanent faculty w ho are on leave and to meet other short-termcurricular needs. Visiting faculty may engage in scholarly activities, but scholarship is not a responsibility of the position.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Qualifications
MS or PhD in Physics or a related field. Applicants must hold an MS by the position start date, January 19, 2027.
Ability to teach introductory physics with calculus and the associated labs.
Demonstrated commitment to and excellence in undergraduate teaching
Demonstrated commitment to working effectively with students from minoritized and marginalized communities
Demonstrated commitment to the mission of the College
Preferred Qualifications
PhD in Physics or a related field.
One or more years of experience teaching at the college-level and record of pedagogical success
Experience and record of success teaching at a liberal arts college
SALARY RANGE
EXPECTED SALARY RANGE: $8,354.00 for each 4-unit lecture and $4,177.00 for the lab
If you are offered this position at Occidental College, your final base salary compensation will be determined based on factors such as skills, education, experience, and/or geographic location. In addition to those factors, Occidental complies with applicable pay equity laws and considers internal equity among current employees when developing the final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range would not be typical in order to allow for future and continued salary growth.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Application Deadline and Instructions
To be assured of full consideration, your application materials must be received by Monday, October 19, 2026.
Applicants must submit a complete application package to mailto:jscheel@oxy.edu
A complete application includes all of the following:
Cover letter in which you describe your interest in the position, as well as the education, experience, and/or skills you possess that are relevant to the required and preferred qualifications listed above. In your cover letter, please also explain how your teaching aligns with the mission of Occidental College.
Curriculum Vitae
Applicants who advance to the finalist phase of the search will be asked for a letter of reference and they will be invited for an interview.
If you have any questions about the position, the application materials, or the application instructions, please contact: Janet Scheel at jscheel@oxy.edu or call 323-259-2777.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This position is included in the NonTenure Track Bargaining Unit, and the successful applicant employee, subject to the terms of the College’s Collective Bargaining, will be a bargaining unit Agreement with SEIU Local 721.
Occidental is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate against employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, breastfeeding or related medical condition, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability,medical condition, genetic characteristic or information, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. Occidental is strongly committed to increasing the diversity of the campus community and the curriculum, and to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and just environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Candidates who can contribute to this goal through their work are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area. Individuals advancing the College’s strategic equity and justice goals and those from groups that are underrepresented in the field are particularly encouraged to apply.
Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. A comprehensive benefits package is available that includes: excellent health, dental, life, and retirement benefits; tuition benefits for the employee, spouse, domestic partner, and dependents; additional extras including use of gym facilities and the College Library. For a detailed description of benefits, please visit https: //www.oxy.edu/offices-services/humanresources/benefits-information. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
Occidental College is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with qualifying disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the application or employment process, please contact Human Resources (hr@oxy.edu). As a condition of hire for a staff position and for appointment to a faculty position, Occidental College requires that all candidates who have received a conditional offer of employment complete an application form (if they have not already done so) and consent to a background check. Satisfactory completion of a background check, along with pre-employment verifications and references are required as a condition of employment, but only as permitted by federal, state, and local law, including the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
