Job Details

Physics/Astronomy Instructor (Full Time, Tenure -Track)

Position Number: 6790772
Location: Monterey, CA
Position Type: Science - Astronomy and Astrophysics

Monterey Peninsula College

Physics/Astronomy Instructor (Full Time, Tenure -Track)

Salary: $72,167.00 - $118,663.00 Annually
Job Type:
Job Number: 2025-00039
Closing: 2/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Location: Monterey Peninsula College and/or Marina Education Center, CA
Division: Physical Science

Description

Monterey Peninsula Community District is committed to educational equity for all students. As outlined in MPC's Mission, Vision, Values, and Institutional Goals as well as the District's Governing Board Goals, Equal Employment Opportunity Plan, and Student Equity Plan. We provide students with a rich and dynamic learning experience that celebrates differences - emphasizing collaboration, engaging students in and out of the classroom, and encouraging them to realize their goals and become global citizens and socially responsible leaders. When you join our team at Monterey Peninsula College, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice requiring broad collaboration among faculty, classified staff, administration, students, and community partners. MPC seeks a diverse pool of applicants interested in working in an environment which values flexibility, openness to change, collaboration, respect for others and their points of view, and involvement in College activities, all with the goal of meeting the needs of our diverse student population. The District does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. Monterey Peninsula College is designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is an affiliate of the statewide Umoja Community of California Community Colleges. Monterey Peninsula College has a diverse student population that is a reflection of the communities it serves.

We design our practices and services to meet the needs of students from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, abilities, orientations, and intersections of these identities, and others not yet identified. Therefore, we prioritize applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits diversity brings to a professional educational community. The successful candidate will be an equity-minded individual dedicated to collaborating with faculty, classified staff, administration, students, and community partners who are also committed to closing equity gaps. An equity-minded individual is a person who already does or has demonstrated the desire to:

Hold themselves accountable as educators for closing equity gaps and engaging in equitable practices;
Reframe inequities as a problem of practice and view the elimination of inequities as an individual and collective responsibility;
Implement positive race-consciousness and embrace human difference;
Reflect on institutional and teaching practices and make them more culturally responsive; and
Collaborate with colleagues on equity-related initiatives.

Monterey Peninsula College seeks employees who value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, guided by a commitment to helping all students achieve their educational or career goals. All departments value collaboration across disciplines to create inclusive, integrated, and interdisciplinary learning experiences. Therefore, faculty are expected to be willing to use different and innovative learning and teaching methods appropriate to the variety of students they serve.

Example of Duties

The Position

Monterey Peninsula College seeks a full-time, tenure-track faculty member in Physics/Astronomy. The ideal candidate for the position will share the College's commitment to educating a diverse student population.

The duties below are representative of the duties of the classification and are not intended to cover all of the duties performed by the incumbent(s) of any position. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the scope of work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this classification.

Core Instructional Faculty Functions:

Teach courses in the Physics/Astronomy disciplines in accordance with the official Course Outlines of Record and as scheduled to meet student and curricular needs and promote equitable student learning and achievement.
Design and deliver academic courses and programs that reflect relevant discipline and industry standards and support equitable attainment of learning outcomes and achievement of educational goals.
Assist with systematic review and assessment of academic courses and programs by participating in College processes, including outcomes assessment and program review, to inform improvements and advance equitable outcomes and student achievement.
Collaborate with other faculty to enhance instruction, curriculum, and student success.
Participate in the development and/or selection of course materials, equipment and technology, and online education that will enhance course offerings of the department and support student success.
Maintain expertise in current teaching methodologies, technologies, and curricula and develop new instructional materials and techniques that meet student and curricular needs and promote equitable student learning and achievement.
Provide students with support during regularly scheduled office hours.
Serve as a member of division, department, and college committees.
Perform other duties as required by contract, collective bargaining agreement, and general institutional needs in a timely manner.
Provide instruction and student support at a variety of times and locations--including day, evening, and online and at the Monterey campus, Marina campus, Seaside campus, and/or other designated locations--that meet student and curricular needs and promote equitable student learning and achievement.

Discipline-Specific Functions:

As a member of the Physical Science Division, the Physics/Astronomy Instructor will provide instruction in both Physics and Astronomy courses that could include, among others: Conceptual Physics (a one-semester, non-mathematical, introductory course with lectures and labs); General Physics (a one-year, trigonometry-based course with lectures, labs, and problem sessions); Science & Engineering Physics (a three-semester, calculus-based course with lectures, labs, and problem sessions); Introductory Astronomy (a non-mathematical course with lectures, labs, and field trips); and Integrated Physics/Chemistry (in support of elementary school teaching pathways). Special Working Conditions for the department may require lifting up to 40 lbs. and may require evening courses and/or Astronomy night labs.

In additional to the core full-time faculty functions, a full-time faculty member in the Physics/Astronomy Department will also

Engage in activities that enhance the department's rapport with the community to include area high schools, colleges, and businesses.
In cooperation with the Career Education division, explore Physics work-based or undergraduate research opportunities for MPC STEM Students.
Work closely with lab managers to develop and deliver quality hands-on lab experiences.
Facilitate and provide instruction for field trips in support of Physics and Astronomy.
Coordinate with dual enrollment programs and instructors to ensure compliance with course objectives and quality course delivery.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Master's in Physics, Astronomy or Astrophysics

OR

Bachelors in Physics or Astronomy and Masters in Master's in Engineering, Mathematics, Meteorology or Geophysics.

OR

The equivalent

AND

Demonstrate an understanding of, sensitivity to and appreciation for the diverse academic, socio-economic, cultural, disability, gender identity, religious, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of students attending a community college.

Desirable Qualifications

Evidence of ability to teach the variety of courses offered by the Physics/Astronomy Department;
Evidence of ability to use student-centered and culturally-relevant instructional techniques to increase student engagement and course completion;
Experience in incorporating new technology into the lecture and laboratory curriculum;
Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with colleagues on matters regarding course offerings, programs, and activities that would promote Physics as a field of study;
Experience working with programs that promote diversity such as MESA, LSAMP, TRIO, EOPS, or other experience supporting the success of students who are marginalized by persistent systemic barriers;
Experience developing and adopting low cost accessible instructional materials;
A vision for program development and long-term growth that will enrich the college and the community that it serves;
Desired but not required: Bilingual in English and Spanish.

DEGREE EQUIVALENCY
Should the applicant possess a degree(s) with similar content to those listed for the relevant discipline but the degree has a different title or area of expertise or coursework that is different than the Minimum Qualifications listed in the job announcement, please complete an Equivalency Application utilizing the link below and submit with your application.

Work Schedule / Supplemental Information

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS

Where appropriate, please highlight in your cover letter and/or resume how your experience and work has encompassed social justice or DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) principles.

All applicants are required to submit:

- A completed online District application form, submitted via our website.

- A resume/curriculum vitae that details all relevant education, training, and teaching experience (including courses taught), and other work experience

- All undergraduate and graduate academic transcripts. Unofficial copies may be submitted with the application; official copies will be required at the time of the interview. For foreign degrees, you are required to attach an evaluation for US equivalency.

- A cover letter including details of how you meet the items listed in the desirable qualifications.

- A diversity statement including a detailed response to how you have implemented or demonstrated your sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

- One recommendation letter

SUPPLEMENTAL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

A list of courses in which you served as instructor of record, teaching assistant, and/or laboratory assistant.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

A completed application and supplemental materials must be submitted online February 8, 2026 at 11:59 P.M. PST. Monterey Peninsula College reserves the right to close, continue, cancel, postpone or restart the recruitment at any time.

Only items listed above will be reviewed by the screening committee. Please upload your materials as PDF files and use file names that clearly reflect the contents of each attachment.

CANDIDATE TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT

Monterey Peninsula College will provide up to $1,000 travel reimbursement to eligible candidates. A candidate is eligible for travel reimbursement when they have participated in an in-person interview for first- and/or second-level interviews, and when they live 50 miles or more from the College.

SALARY

Initial salary placement is based on the current Full-Time Faculty Salary Schedule A. The starting annual salary range is $72,167 - $118,663, and is based on verification of education and experience for column and step placement. In addition to the base salary, the successful candidate may also earn an annual Doctoralstipend of $3,290 or an annual multiple Master's stipend of $2,332, if applicable.

BENEFITS

Monterey Peninsula College offers excellent employee benefits, including health, dental, and vision coverage, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and an employee assistance program (EAP). The College also provides sick leave and contributes to the retirement plan. For more information on current benefits, pleaseview the benefits at a glance here.

ASSIGNMENT

The assigned work year is 175.5 days per academic year. Review MPC's current 2026-2027 Academic Calendar for specific dates.

If you have any questions regarding your application, please contact: recruitment@mpc.edu

It is important to acknowledge that first-generation and underrepresented students often become first-generation and underrepresented professional staff or faculty. Transitioning into staff and faculty roles is not a seamless or intuitive process. MPC recognizes this fact and works to provide a high level of support to new first-generation and underrepresented professionals. MPC commits to supporting new professionals through mentorship and connections to help them develop a sense of belonging throughout the application, onboarding and ongoing employment phases of the process.

CANDIDATE TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT

Monterey Peninsula College will provide up to $1,000 travel reimbursement to eligible candidates. A candidate is

eligible for travel reimbursement when they have participated in an in-person interview for first- and/or second-level

interviews, and when they live 50 miles or more from the College.

To apply, visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/mpc/jobs/5170214/physics-astronomy-instructor-full-time-tenure-track