Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering

The Goddard School of Deerfield; Chattanooga (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc. is inviting applications for multiple tenure-track Assistant Professor positions in the Mechanical Engineering Department at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, beginning Fall 2026. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a related field and demonstrate a commitment to teaching and research.

The successful candidates will develop strong research programs, assist in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, and engage in departmental collaboration. Full consideration will be given to applications submitted by January 5, 2026.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field is required.
• Undergraduate degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Aerospace preferred).
• Demonstrated research in thermal-fluid science or similar areas.

Responsibilities

• Develop and sustain an externally funded research program.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Collaborate with faculty and research centers.

Skills

Research interest in thermal-fluid science

Experience in AI-assisted modeling

Strong teaching competency

Collaboration in research initiatives

Education

Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field

Undergraduate degree in Engineering

Job description

Description

The Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineeringand Computer Science at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga invites applications for multiple tenure-track Assistant Professor positions beginning Fall 2026.

Qualifications

Applicants must have an undergraduate degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering preferred). Additionally, applicants will have a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field. The successful candidates should have the following attributes:

• Demonstrated research interest in one of the following areas:
  • Thermal-fluid science
  • Advanced material science and mechanics
  • Energy conversion and storage systems
• Experience in modeling and simulation or a combination of experimental and computational methods, with preference given to those with expertise in AI-assisted, data-driven modeling, such as scientific machine learning.
• Be able to teach existing undergraduate- and graduate-level courses and potentially develop new courses within their field of expertise.
• Expected to establish strong externally funded research programs, be committed to scholarly publication activity, and be engaged in service to the profession and the university.
• Collaborate with existing faculty members within the department and across campus, including various research centers such as the UTC Quantum Center and convergent research initiatives within the UTC Research Institute, such as Nanotechnology in Engineering.

Application Instructions

Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their teaching competency and articulate their plan for developing and sustaining an externally funded research program. Review of candidates will begin immediately, with full consideration given to those who apply by January 5, 2026. Applications must include a cover letter, a teaching statement, a research statement, and a curriculum vitae, including names, title, and contact information of at least three references.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Tennessee is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution in the provision of its education and employment programs and services. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to, and will not be discriminated against on the basis of, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), ADEA (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Accessibility at [phone]. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Accessibility at [phone].