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

Role details

The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the assistant or associate professor level in Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The position is part of a college-level cluster in electrochemical energy storage and conversion and will complement additional faculty hires in related areas. This initiative responds to substantial growth in the battery manufacturing sector in Tennessee and the broader region. The successful candidate will contribute to the teaching mission of the university in their discipline.

Candidates at the associate professor level are expected to demonstrate an established record of research excellence and external funding. The successful candidate will bring expertise complementary to the cluster and the broader UTK community and should have a strong interest in collaborative research. Relevant areas include, but are not limited to, electrochemical energy storage and conversion, battery science and engineering, electrochemical testing and characterization, components, devices and systems, manufacturing, recycling, and other areas synergistic with electrochemical energy storage and conversion technologies.

Candidates whose research connects materials or electrochemistry to device performance, manufacturing, safety, or system-level engineering are especially encouraged to apply. The search is not primarily focused on standalone materials synthesis or discovery; however, materials-focused candidates whose research connects to broader electrochemical, device, manufacturing, or engineering challenges are encouraged to apply. 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, 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 214 tenure/tenure track and 79 non-tenure track faculty in its 10 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 seven research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 4,800 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students, the college sits 28th 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 FY25, the college had annual research expenditures of $113.9M.

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicants must have earned a PhD (or equivalent) in mechanical engineering or a closely related field at the time of appointment.
• All candidates must be able to teach core and elective Mechanical Engineering courses at undergraduate and graduate level.
• Candidates for the rank of Associate Professor must have at least five 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 to applicants who have established a successful research program with demonstrated national visibility, a strong record of teaching and student mentoring, and a compelling vision for future research at UTK. Candidates should demonstrate a record of publication in relevant journals, securing and executing externally funded research from federal, industrial, or other sponsors, and service to their institution and professional community.
• Assistant Professor: Applicants should have demonstrated potential to succeed as a junior faculty at an R1 university with a clear and compelling vision for future research at UTK.
• All candidates are expected to demonstrate strong communication skills and potential for multi-disciplinary, collaborative research.