Open Rank Professor of Aerospace Engineering

Rice University; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Rice University in Houston, Texas invites applications for an open-rank Professor of Aerospace Engineering in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The appointment may be at Assistant, Associate, or Professor level with anticipated start date July 1, 2027.

The successful candidate will build a high-impact, externally funded research program and contribute to teaching and mentorship. We seek candidates advancing sustainable and AI-enabled aerospace systems, autonomous flight, and related

Qualifications

• PhD required by appointment.
• Strong candidate in aerospace engineering with a record of research impact.
• Commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching excellence.

Responsibilities

• Establish or sustain a nationally and internationally recognized research program.
• Contribute to undergraduate and graduate education through teaching and mentorship.
• Foster collaborations within Rice and with external partners, including industry and government.
• Engage in service to department, school, and profession.

Education

PhD in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Job description

Open Rank Professor of Aerospace Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rice University

https://mech.rice.edu/

https://engineering.rice.edu/

Position Description

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rice University inHouston, Texas, invites applications for a tenure-track or tenuredfaculty position in aerospace engineering. The appointment may bemade at the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professorlevel, commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications andexperience, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027. As partof Rice University’s ongoing investment in aerospace engineering,the department is strengthening its research and educationalprograms through strategic faculty hiring and expanded engagementwith industry and government partners. The successful candidatewill have opportunities to contribute to the continued growth ofaerospace engineering at Rice while developing collaborationsacross the university and Houston’s broader aerospacecommunity.

We seek candidates whose research advances the future of aerospaceengineering, particularly in areas aligned with sustainable andresilient aerospace systems and/or AI-enabled physical andautonomous systems. Areas of interest include but are not limitedto autonomous flight and space systems; sustainable aviation andadvanced propulsion technologies; computational, data-driven, andAI-enabled aerospace engineering; resilient aerospace structuresand materials; technologies for space exploration and in-spaceoperations. Exceptional candidates whose research expands thefrontiers of aerospace engineering in other areas are alsoencouraged to apply.

Rice seeks faculty who embrace a culture of excellence, innovation,collaboration, and inclusive mentorship. Excellence in research andteaching will be the primary criteria for evaluation.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to establish or maintaina nationally and internationally recognized research program,contribute to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education,and strengthen collaborations across the George R. Brown School ofEngineering and Computing and Rice University. Opportunities forcollaboration with NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Houston’srapidly growing aerospace ecosystem, including leading aerospacecompanies, startups, and research organizations provide a uniqueenvironment for impactful research, technology development, andtranslation.

In support of these expectations, the successful candidate willdevelop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses aligned withtheir expertise; establish and sustain a vigorous, externallyfunded research program; conduct innovative research anddisseminate results through high-impact publications, conferences,and other scholarly activities; advise and mentor undergraduate,graduate, and postdoctoral researchers; contribute to departmental,school, university, and professional service; and fosterinterdisciplinary collaborations within Rice and with externalpartners. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strongcommitment to teaching, advising, and mentoring students from abroad range of backgrounds and experiences.

We welcome the fullness of diversity at Rice. Qualifiedapplicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion,age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnicorigin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteranstatus. In our candidate pools, we seek to increase therepresentation of women, scholars of color, people withdisabilities, veterans, and others who have historically beenunderrepresented in mechanical and aerospace engineering; attractscholars and students from a wide range of countries, backgrounds,and experiences; accelerate progress toward building a faculty andstaff community with diverse perspectives and expertise; andmaintain an environment that fosters interaction, understanding,and belonging throughout our community.

About the Department of Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is one of nine academicdepartments in the George R. Brown School of Engineering andComputing. The department includes 18 tenure-stream faculty andfour teaching faculty with research and educational strengthsspanning mechanics, materials, fluids, thermal sciences, controls,robotics, biomedical engineering, aerospace engineering, andcomputational methods.

The department and school are undergoing a period of strategicgrowth, creating opportunities for collaboration across RiceUniversity and with Houston's aerospace, energy, and healthcaresectors. The department's location provides unique proximity toNASA's Johnson Space Center and numerous aerospace companies andresearch organizations.

About the George R. Brown School of Engineering andComputing

Rice University's George R. Brown School of Engineering andComputing is a nationally recognized leader in engineering researchand education. The school prepares future leaders through rigoroustechnical training, interdisciplinary collaboration, innovation,and entrepreneurship.

About Rice University

Rice University is a private, top-tier research university locatedin Houston's Museum District, adjacent to the Texas Medical Center.Rice enrolls approximately 5,200 undergraduate students and 4,800graduate students across eight schools. The university isconsistently ranked among the nation's leading universities and isrecognized for excellence in both research and undergraduateeducation.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, AerospaceEngineering, or a closely related field by the time of appointment.Candidates will demonstrate excellence in research and scholarshipappropriate to rank; a commitment to excellence in undergraduateand graduate teaching; the potential to establish or sustain ahighly impactful, externally funded research program; and acommitment to mentoring students and contributing to acollaborative academic community. For appointment at the AssociateProfessor or Professor rank, candidates should have a distinguishedrecord of scholarly achievement, sustained external funding, andnational or international recognition in their field.

Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer withcommitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employmentqualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age,sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnicorigin, genetic information, disability or protected veteranstatus.

Rice Mission and Values

Mission and Values | Rice University