Queen's National Scholar (QNS) Assistant Professor

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Tuesday, December 1, 2026.

Position Summary

The Faculty of Arts and Science at Queen’s University invites applications for a Queen’s National Scholar (QNS) tenure track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy.

Candidates are expected to establish an independent, internationally competitive research program with demonstrated leadership in theoretical quantum optics, complementing existing quantum optics, and nanophotonics research in the department. The position also involves teaching at both undergraduate and graduate levels. We are targeting an outstanding theorist or computational physicist; however, we will also consider exceptional experimentalists whose focus strongly compliments existing quantum optics and nanophotonics research within the department. This QNS position comes with yearly research funds and a teaching reduction for five years.

The appointment is expected to begin July 1, 2027. This posting is for a new position within the University.

Further information about the Queen’s National Scholars Program is available through the Office of the Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic).

Qualifications

Candidates must have a PhD or equivalent degree in Physics or a related field completed at the start date of the appointment. As a Queen’s National Scholar, the successful candidate will demonstrate excellence and leadership in research and will clearly demonstrate the following attributes:

Be an innovative researcher whose accomplishments are recognized internationally and who has made a notable impact in their field, as demonstrated through peer-assessed publications and diverse forms of scholarly impact (e.g., invited presentations at international conferences, research awards, a track record of attracting external funding, and scientific collaborations).
Have a vision of a clear, original, innovative research program of the highest quality with evidence of strong collaborations and interdisciplinary scholarship.
Evidence that the research program aligns with institutional and faculty priorities in quantum optics and nanophotonics. Further information on research priorities at Queen’s is available in the Queen’s Strategy and the Queen’s Strategic Research Plan.
Have an ability to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers.
Demonstrated commitment to advancing Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility (I-EDIAA) in teaching and research.

The diverse backgrounds of applicants and the type of scholarship appropriate to their research areas, as well as the diverse range of scholarly methodologies and ways of measuring impact will be considered when assessing the quality of the scholarly or creative work. Candidates will be evaluated using the principles of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and with attention to the diverse ways excellence can be demonstrated. The successful candidate will also be expected to make contributions through service to the department, the Faculty, the University, and/or the broader community. The annual salary for this appointment is expected to be between $150,000 and $175,000. Actual Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The successful candidate for this position, an emerging leader in theoretical quantum optics, will join and amplify a thriving optics and photonics cluster at Queen’s. The candidate is expected to have a track record of research excellence, and a vision for future directions in areas related to quantum optics or quantum photonics with a focus on areas that include, but are not limited to, fundamental quantum optics, light-matter interactions, quantum related protocols, artificial intelligence, quantum sensing and quantum computing. This physics-based research position should synergize and complement that of the existing groups at the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy, which already have a strong track record of collaborative work in quantum optics, including waveguide QED, quantum dot photonics, squeezing, photonics for quantum, AI, and related fields.

Photonics and quantum optics is an established area of strength at Queen’s, with current groups leading large national and international. This directly reflects the strategic importance of these fields, which closely align with both the Canada’s National Quantum Strategy (with $360M in funds committed over 7 years) and the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy (with over $440M committed over 10 years). The successful candidate will have the opportunity to join and lead initiatives in these areas, supported by access to major shared infrastructure at Queen’s. This includes access to advanced computing facilities through the Centre for Advanced Computing, access to clean-room facilities through NanoFabrication Kingston, and access to a photonic testbed including ultrafast laser sources, a closed-cycle cryostat and detectors (including superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors) and a state of the art quantum optics modelling lab at the Centre for Nanophotonics.

Vaccination Requirements

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.

Institution

From Nobel Prize-winning research exploring the building blocks of the universe to cancer care and treatment to sustainable technologies, Queen’s University is tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges.

A member of the U15 group of Canadian research universities, Queen’s is home to a vibrant research community that includes 46 Canada Research Chairs, two Canada Excellence Research Chairs, and over 20 research institutes who work in partnership with communities, governments, and industry to advance research and innovation, making a measured impact on Canada and the world.

Queen’s is in the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings. In 2025, for the fifth straight year, Queen’s ranked among the global top 10 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. THE Impact Rankings, an international ranking of universities that are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals within and beyond their local communities. Queen's placed sixth worldwide and first in Canada out of over 2,300 universities in more than 120 countries.

At Queen’s University, we are committed to advancing Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism (I-EDIAA) as core priorities that shape our workplace and research culture. We recognize that diversity drives innovation, strengthens collaboration, and helps remove barriers so that everyone can thrive. Our eight employee resource groups (ERGs) play a vital role in fostering belonging, amplifying diverse voices, and supporting employees across the university. Faculty and their dependents are eligible for an extensive benefits package that includes prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental care, long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program. Employees also participate in a pension plan, and tuition assistance is available for qualifying employees, their spouses, and dependent children. Queen’s values families and provides a "top up" to government parental leave benefits for eligible employees on maternity/parental leave, as well as partial reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses. Full details are outlined in the Queen’s–QUFA Collective Agreement, and more information on employee benefits can be found through Queen’s Human Resources.

The City

The University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Queen’s is an integral part of the Kingston community, with the campus nestled in the core of the city, only a 10-minute walk to downtown. Kingston’s residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural and creative opportunities, with access to many natural areas and proximity to vibrant First Nations Communities including Tyendinaga and Akwesasne. Kingston is a unique Canadian city of about 148,000 with a distinct blend of history, recreation, industry, and learning. Kingston offers unique waterfront living with many recreational opportunities. It is within a two-and-a-half-hour drive (two-hour train ride) to the commercial, industrial and political hubs of Toronto, Montreal, and the nation’s capital, Ottawa, and a thirty minute drive from the international bridge linking Ontario and upstate New York. The city is also the origin of the historic Rideau Canal system – a UNESCO International Heritage site, and is close to Frontenac Provincial Park, the Thousand Islands National Park, and the Frontenac Arch UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The Queen’s University Biological Station, north of the city, encompasses 34 km2 of diverse lands, affording premier learning and research opportunities. Visit Inclusive Queen’s for information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.

How To Apply

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized/visible minority, Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons.

We recognize that certain circumstances, including career interruptions, caregiving responsibilities, health conditions, or systemic barriers, may affect a nominee’s record of research achievement. Applicants are encouraged to provide relevant information to contextualize their research record.

Queen’s is committed to providing support and accommodation for applicants with disabilities at all stages of the recruitment processes. If you require accommodation for submitting your application or during the interview process, please contact Melissa Balson in the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy.

Applications from all qualified candidates will be considered in the applicant pool. The successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in Canada at the time of appointment. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and any qualified individuals who have a valid legal work status in Canada. Please indicate in your application if you have a valid legal work status in Canada.

Those interested in this position should submit a complete application package, including the following documents:

a cover letter, including information regarding your eligibility to work in Canada and whether you would require work authorization;
a current Curriculum Vitae, including a list of publications (your role should be clearly indicated), awards, grants (secured and pending), and other evidence of scholarly contributions and impact;
a 3-5 page summary (using 12 pt fonts and a broad overview introduction) of the proposed research program and research vision for the next 5 years, including how equity, diversity and inclusion has been incorporated into the research design and research team, and the ways in which the program will contribute to the field through, for example, a clear track record of successful student and postdoc supervision, community partnerships, policy influence, knowledge mobilization, industrial partnerships, and/or the program’s potential connection to Canada’s National Quantum Strategy.
A statement of teaching interests and experience, including a summary of HQP supervision and mentorship, and a statement describing your experience with, and commitment to Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility (I-EDIAA), including how these principles have informed your teaching, research, and/or scholarly activities; and,
Please arrange to have three letters of recommendation sent directly to Professor Lawrence Widrow at physhead@queensu.ca.

The deadline for applications is December 1, 2026.

Applicants are encouraged to send all documents in their application packages electronically as PDFs to Professor Lawrence Widrow at physhead@queensu.ca, although hard copy applications may be submitted to:

Lawrence Widrow, Head
Department of Physics, Engineering Physics, and Astronomy
Stirling Hall
64 Bader Lane
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario
CANADA, K7L 3N6

Academic staff at Queen’s University are governed by a Collective Agreement between the University and the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA), which is posted at www.queensu.ca/facultyrelations/ and www.qufa.ca.

Appointments are subject to review and final approval by the Provost. Candidates holding an existing tenure-track or continuing-adjunct appointment at Queen’s will not be considered.

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