Assistant/Associate Professor in Energy Innovation - Engineering

Purdue University School of Nuclear Engineering; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Purdue Engineering invites applications for multiple tenure/tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor positions as part of a cluster hire in energy innovation at our West Lafayette location, led by Purdue’s Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI). IEI brings together faculty, students, industry, government, and community partners to develop industry-driven energy solutions.

Applicants should align with one or more IEI initiatives, including Grid of Tomorrow, Nuclear Energy, Battery and Energy

Qualifications

• PhD in one of the listed engineering disciplines by start of employment.
• Evidence of initiating independent research and ongoing scholarly activity.
• Experience in education/mentoring and student supervision.
• Ability to attract external research support and manage grants.

Responsibilities

• Conduct original research and publish in high-quality journals.
• Advise and mentor graduate students and postdocs.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses aligned with expertise.
• Engage in service to the department, college, Purdue University, and the profession.

Skills

Independent research

Graduate student mentoring

Teaching

Grant writing

Education

PhD in Chemical Engineering

PhD in Electrical/Computer Engineering

PhD in Mechanical Engineering

PhD in Materials Engineering

PhD in Nuclear Engineering

Job description

Job Summary

Purdue Engineering invites applications for multiple tenure/tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor positions as part of a cluster hire in energy innovation at our West Lafayette location, led by Purdue’s Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI). IEI brings together faculty, students, industry, government, and community partners to develop industry-driven energy solutions. IEI seeks to ensure the availability of abundant, reliable, and affordable energy; advance U.S. energy leadership and domestic supply-chain resilience; and accelerate the translation of research into technologies that are technically sound, commercially viable, and economically scalable. Its activities are organized around five major initiatives: Grid of Tomorrow, Nuclear Energy, Battery and Energy Storage, Geothermal and Natural Gas, and Critical Materials.

Job Summary

Purdue Engineering invites applications for multiple tenure/tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor positions as part of a cluster hire in energy innovation at our West Lafayette location, led by Purdue’s Institute for Energy Innovation (IEI). IEI brings together faculty, students, industry, government, and community partners to develop industry-driven energy solutions. IEI seeks to ensure the availability of abundant, reliable, and affordable energy; advance U.S. energy leadership and domestic supply-chain resilience; and accelerate the translation of research into technologies that are technically sound, commercially viable, and economically scalable. Its activities are organized around five major initiatives: Grid of Tomorrow, Nuclear Energy, Battery and Energy Storage, Geothermal and Natural Gas, and Critical Materials.

Through This Cluster Hire, Purdue Engineering Seeks Exceptional Candidates Whose Research Interests And Expertise Align With One Or More Of The Following Initiatives Or The Crosscutting Research Themes Described Below. Research Topics Include, But Are Not Limited To, The Examples Below

• Grid of Tomorrow: Power systems research to modernize the electrical grid, including grid planning and operations with large data center and industrial loads; grid data analytics and artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML); grid flexibility; large-scale integration of distributed energy resources and storage; power electronics; protection; and power system dynamics.
• Nuclear Energy: Nuclear power technologies, including small modular reactors and microreactors for distributed energy generation and industrial applications; advanced reactor technologies, nuclear materials, and the nuclear fuel cycle; fusion and plasma engineering; tritium production, handling, and management; and integration of nuclear energy with electrical grids and industrial energy systems.
• Battery and Energy Storage: Resilient and sustainable energy-storage architectures; next-generation battery chemistries, including those using earth-abundant materials; and storage solutions for electrified mobility, aviation, defense, and the electrical grid. Across these areas, topics of interest include novel metrology, characterization, analytics, predictive modeling, safety, recycling, and scalable manufacturing.
• Geothermal and Natural Gas: Technologies that provide reliable and abundant sources of electricity, industrial heat, and fuels, including geothermal resource development and energy systems; efficient utilization and catalytic conversion of natural gas and light hydrocarbons; carbon management; and engines and combined heat and power.
• Critical Materials: Materials innovation and resilient domestic supply chains for energy technologies, including the discovery, design, synthesis, characterization, recovery, separation, purification, recycling, and scalable manufacturing of critical materials used in batteries, magnets, semiconductors, nuclear systems, and other energy technologies, as well as alternatives that reduce dependence on scarce materials.

Across these initiatives, we welcome research on Energy Utilization, including heat pumps and industrial efficiency. Examples include technologies that improve energy efficiency in chemical, cement, and steel processing. We also welcome research on energy systems integration and engineering approaches that incorporate techno-economic analysis, energy markets, supply chains, and deployment. Opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and industry engagement are central to IEI’s mission.

Qualifications

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a closely related discipline by the start of employment. Early-career applicants should show evidence of initiating independent research, while mid-career applicants should demonstrate a sustained record of independent research within academic or industrial organizations, and contributions to education and/or mentoring. Successful candidates will be expected to conduct original research, attract external research support, advise graduate students, teach undergraduate and graduate courses, and contribute service to their academic unit, the College of Engineering, Purdue University, and the broader profession.

Institute and College

The Institute for Energy Innovation connects Purdue’s strengths in engineering and science with expertise in business, economics, and policy. Through interdisciplinary research, hands‑on education, and partnerships with industry, government, and national laboratories, IEI helps faculty translate fundamental discoveries into practical energy technologies. Its industry engagement brings research needs and deployment challenges into academic collaborations and prepares students to contribute to the energy workforce. Purdue Engineering is renowned for top‑notch faculty and students, unique research facilities and innovations, and a culture of collegiality and persistent pursuit of preeminence. As one of the top ranked and largest engineering colleges in the nation, we are the first among U.S. engineering colleges in annual graduates and market demand, and have 8 degree programs ranked in the top 10 nationally. Purdue Engineering is a top‑ranked college for patents and translation of our research activities to practice in the state, nation, and world. More than 70 Purdue Engineering faculty and alumni are National Academy of Engineering members, and we look to continue bringing outstanding faculty to campus, remaining the leader in affordable excellence at scale by guiding strategic growth through investment in people, exciting initiatives, and facilities.

Application Process

Applicants Should Submit The Following Materials To This Site

• A cover letter identifying the IEI initiative or initiatives, or crosscutting research themes, most closely aligned with the applicant’s expertise and the engineering school of primary interest;
• A complete curriculum vitae;
• A research statement (maximum two pages, excluding references) describing the applicant’s research accomplishments and future plans, including their alignment with IEI and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and technology translation;
• A teaching statement (maximum two pages, excluding references) describing the applicant’s interests and approach to undergraduate and graduate education and student mentoring;
• The names and contact information of at least four references.

Review of applications will begin on November 9, 2026 and will continue until the positions are filled. Questions regarding the positions or application process may be directed to Purdue Engineering Academic Affairs, [e-mail]. A background check is required for employment in these positions. Purdue University and the College of Engineering offer a Concierge Program that provides dual-career assistance and relocation services.

Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access university.