Assistant or Associate Professor Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion, Fall 2027

University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) seeks applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the assistant or associate professor level in Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion within the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. This initiative is part of a college-wide cluster in electrochemical energy storage and conversion.

The successful candidate will contribute to teaching and research, with associate professors expected to have an established record of

Qualifications

• Earned a PhD in mechanical engineering or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
• Ability to teach core and elective Mechanical Engineering courses at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Associate Professor candidates should have at least five years of post-PhD experience.

Responsibilities

• Teach core and elective Mechanical Engineering courses at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Contribute to the teaching mission of the department and participate in service and mentoring activities.

Education

PhD in mechanical engineering or closely related field

Job description

Description

The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) at the University ofTennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking applications for atenure-track faculty position at the assistant or associateprofessor level in Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion inthe Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Theposition is part of a college-level cluster in electrochemicalenergy storage and conversion and will complement additionalfaculty hires in related areas. This initiative responds tosubstantial growth in the battery manufacturing sector in Tennesseeand the broader region. The successful candidate will contribute tothe teaching mission of the university in their discipline.Candidates at the associate professor level are expected todemonstrate an established record of research excellence andexternal funding.

The successful candidate will bring expertise complementary to thecluster and the broader UTK community and should have a stronginterest in collaborative research. Relevant areas include, but arenot limited to, electrochemical energy storage and conversion,battery science and engineering, electrochemical testing andcharacterization, components, devices and systems, manufacturing,recycling, and other areas synergistic with electrochemical energystorage and conversion technologies. Candidates whose researchconnects materials or electrochemistry to device performance,manufacturing, safety, or system-level engineering are especiallyencouraged to apply. The search is not primarily focused onstandalone materials synthesis or discovery; however,materials-focused candidates whose research connects to broaderelectrochemical, device, manufacturing, or engineering challengesare encouraged to apply.

The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) is in the midst of anunprecedented period of growth and success, including adding over30 new faculty to the college as part of ambitious hiring campaignsled by Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench. The collegehas set records in research expenditures, enrollment, incomingstudent GPA, intellectual property development, and USNWR rank inthe past three years. New facilities include the state-of-the artZeanah Engineering Complex, the University of TennesseeManufacturing and Design Enterprise (TN-MADE) facility, and theInnovation South building now under construction that will houseUTK’s Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF).

TCE currently has 214 tenure/tenure track and 79 non-tenure trackfaculty in its 10 academic departments and offers 11 undergraduate,16 MS, and 15 PhD/DE degree programs. Affiliated with TCE andlocated in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the UT Space Institute is a hub ofaerospace and defense research. The college is also home to sevenresearch centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. Withapproximately 4,800 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students, thecollege sits 28th among public universities in the most recent U.S.News and World Report graduate rankings. Faculty in the collegehave won 29 early career awards (NSF, DOE, DARPA, AFOSR, and ARO)since 2016. In FY25, the college had annual research expendituresof $113.9M.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Applicants must have earned a PhD (or equivalent) in mechanicalengineering or a closely related field at the time ofappointment.


• All candidates must be able to teach core and elective MechanicalEngineering courses at undergraduate and graduate level.


• Candidates for the rank of Associate Professor must have at leastfive years of post-PhD (or equivalent degree) experience in the relevant field at the time of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Associate Professor: Primary consideration will be given toapplicants who have established a successful research program withdemonstrated national visibility, a strong record of teaching andstudent mentoring, and a compelling vision for future research atUTK. Candidates should demonstrate a record of publication inrelevant journals, securing and executing externally fundedresearch from federal, industrial, or other sponsors, and serviceto their institution and professional community.


• Assistant Professor: Applicants should have demonstratedpotential to succeed as a junior faculty at an R1 university with aclear and compelling vision for future research at UTK.


• All candidates are expected to demonstrate strong communicationskills and potential for multi-disciplinary, collaborativeresearch.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration foretployment and admission without regard to race, color, nationalorigin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexualorientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability,genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or anyother characteristic protected by federal or state law. Inaccordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil RightsAct of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans withDisabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmativelystates that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, ordisability in its education programs and activities, and thispolicy extends to employment by the university.

Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed tothe ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to [e-mail], or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, andnational origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA(disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age),sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to theOffice of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business IncubatorBuilding, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to [e-mail], or by phone at 865-974-0717.