The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking applicants to participate in a college-level cluster of tenure-eligible faculty members in Electrochemical Energy Storage in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Biomedical Engineering.  This position is for an associate professor to collaborate in promoting research leadership and will be supported by two additional new hires at the full professor and assistant professor ranks.  The departmental affiliation of the successful applicants will be based on the background and preferences.  This inititiative is in response to substantial growth in the battery manufacturing sector statewide, encompassing both large and small businesses.  Successful applicants for appointments in the cluster are expected to contribute to the teaching mission of the university in their discipline.  For applicants to senior level positions, commitment to mentoring junior investigators is critical and demonstrated experience is highly desirable. The Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee is seeking candidates who have the ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and intercultural goals of the University.

The successful applicants at each rank will have complimentary skills within the cluster and to those present in the UTK community.  They will have knowledge of battery-related science and/or engineering, notably testing and electrochemical characterization or material preparation, or in important areas that are synergistic with conventional battery work, such as recycling or manufacturing of batteries. The work of the candidate can be focused on any combination of conventional batteries or redox flow batteries, including work focused on components of such devices.  In addition, a connection to advanced manufacturing of batteries is of interest given the strengths of the university in this area and the strong regional interest in battery manufacturing. We seek collaboration-oriented faculty.

The Tickle College of Engineering is undergoing an unprecedented period of growth and success and anticipates adding over 30 new faculty over the next three years as part of ambitious cluster hiring campaigns lead by Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench. The college has set records in research expenditures, enrollment, incoming student GPA, diversity, and intellectual property development for two years running. 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 UT?s Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF). TCE currently has 185 T/TT and 67 NTT faculty in its seven academic departments and offers 12 undergraduate, 16 MS, and 15 PhD 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 eight research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 3,800 undergraduate and 1,150 graduate students, the college sits 31st among public universities in the most recent U.S. News and World Report graduate rankings. Faculty in the college have won 21 early career awards (NSF, DoE, DARPA, AFOSR, and ARO) since 2016. In FY22, the college had NSF HERD research expenditures of $109 million.

A Ph.D. in a related Engineering or Science discipline is required; appropriate experience is desired. Candidates for appointment at the associate professor level must have an established research program and a record of securing external research funds to maintain and grow their program. 

Applications should be submitted to the online listing and include: (1) a cover letter articulating the applicant?s interest in and qualifications for this position, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a select subset of publications, (4) a research statement outlining previous and future directions, (5) a teaching and mentoring statement, and (6) the names of three to five references. Review of applications will begin January 1, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. Any additional questions may be sent to the search committee chair, UTK-ORNL Governor?s Chair Professor Tom Zawodzinski at tzawodzi@utk.edu.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Requests for accommodations of a disability should be directed to the Office of Equity & Diversity, 1840 Melrose Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3560 or oed@utk.edu or (865)974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color and national 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 the Office of Investigation & Resolution 216 Business Incubator Building 2450 E.J. Chapman Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 or (865)974-0717 or investigations@utk.edu.

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