Description
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), is seeking qualified candidates for one tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with an emphasis on advanced manufacturing.
The University of Tennessee has established a leadership position in the field of advanced manufacturing and has collaborated closely with the nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory to create a world-class ecosystem for the advancement of cutting-edge manufacturing innovations. The east-Tennessee region boasts unparalleled expertise and research facilities across a broad range of manufacturing technologies, which has attracted the active involvement and co-location of several industrial partners. Vibrant research programs have been established with major investments through the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, Manufacturing USA Institutes, and industrial collaborators.
For this position, the University is seeking an established leader in the field of advanced manufacturing who recognizes the value of this ecosystem and can enact a vision for taking it to new heights. The topic of advanced manufacturing is broadly defined, but is envisioned to include such areas as: machining, machine tools, automation, robotics, casting, forging, metal-based additive manufacturing, metrology, industry 4.0+, artificial intelligence, machine learning, welding, design, simulation, smart manufacturing, or advanced materials. Given the opportunity for defense-related activities in each of these areas, preference will be given to US citizens who can hold a security clearance.
The faculty member would be expected to engage fully on major initiatives in the area of advanced manufacturing within the local ecosystem while performing their faculty duties within the Tickle College of Engineering. The successful candidate will pursue and leverage opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration and funding across the college, the university, and with regional partnering organizations such as the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF), the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), the Institute for Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (IAMM), the University of Tennessee - Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII), and the Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Graduate Education (Bredesen Center), among others. There may also be an opportunity for joint faculty appointment(s) between the university and regional partners.
The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) is in the midst of an unprecedented period of growth and success, including adding over 30 new faculty to the college as part of ambitious hiring campaigns led by Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench. The college has set records in research expenditures, enrollment, incoming student GPA, diversity, intellectual property development, and USNWR rank in the past three years. New facilities include the state-of-the art Zeanah Engineering Complex, the University of Tennessee Manufacturing and Design Enterprise (TN-MADE) facility, and the Innovation South building now under construction that will house UTK’s Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF).
TCE currently has 203 tenure/tenure track and 79 non-tenure track faculty in its nine academic departments and offers 11 undergraduate, 16 MS, and 15 PhD/DE degree programs. Affiliated with TCE and located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the UT Space Institute is a hub of aerospace and defense research. The college is also home to eight research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 4,300 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students, the college sits 29th among public universities in the most recent U.S. News and World Report graduate rankings. Faculty in the college have won 29 early career awards (NSF, DOE, DARPA, AFOSR, and ARO) since 2016. In FY24, the college had annual research expenditures of $113.6M.
Knoxville, TN is a vibrant city with a beautiful and walkable downtown, active neighborhoods, an effervescent nightlife that includes numerous theaters and museums, a rich live music scene across all genres, and eclectic restaurants. Knoxville is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, surrounded by lakes and the Tennessee River, providing amazing access to various outdoor activities. Knoxville is within easy driving distance of four major metropolitan areas that regularly host larger cultural and entertainment events.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
All applicants must have a PhD (or equivalent) in a science or engineering field at the time of appointment with a research emphasis on advanced manufacturing.
Candidates for the rank of Associate Professor must have at least eight years of post-PhD (or equivalent degree) experience in the relevant field at the time of appointment.
Candidates for the rank of Full Professor must have at least ten years of post-PhD (or equivalent degree) experience in the relevant field at the time of appointment.
Preferred Qualifications:
Full professor - Primary consideration will be given to those applicants that have established a successful research program with international stature, a successful record of teaching and mentoring students, and a compelling vision for future research at UTK. The candidate should demonstrate a record of publishing in relevant journals, of securing and executing externally funded research with federal and industrial sponsors, and internal and external service to their professional community. Demonstrated potential for leadership in large university research initiatives is also highly desired.
Associate professor - Primary consideration will be given to those applicants that have established a successful research program with national stature, a successful record of teaching and mentoring students, and a compelling vision for future research at UTK. The candidate should demonstrate a record of publishing in relevant journals, of securing and executing externally funded research with federal and industrial sponsors, and internal and external service to their professional community.
All candidates are expected to demonstrate strong communication skills and potential for multi-disciplinary, collaborative research across diverse technological and social ecosystems. All candidates should demonstrate a strong track record of working with industry.
US citizenship with potential for obtaining, or currently holding, a security clearance is preferred.
Applicant Instructions:
Priority will be given to applications received on or before October 1, 2025 and review will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date of the new position is August 1, 2026. Salary is commensurate with the position and experience of the applicant. Applications must include (1) a letter of intent stating the position and level the applicant is applying for, and concisely outlining the applicant’s research and teaching experience and future goals; (2) a comprehensive curriculum vitae; (3) a research statement, (4) a teaching statement; and (5) the names and contact information for three to five references. The application package must be submitted through the position listing on Interfolio (apply.interfolio.com/172273). Other inquiries should be addressed to the Search Chair, Professor Chad Duty at [email protected].
