Assistant Professor of the Practice Faculty Position

Description

Assistant Professor of the Practice Faculty Position

Mechanical Engineering

Vanderbilt University

 

Vanderbilt University (VU) Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) seeks candidates for the position of Assistant Professor of the Practice, in the areas of design, manufacturing or robotics. The target start date is fall 2026. The primary responsibilities of this position will be teaching core and/or elective courses that would strengthen and broaden our undergraduate curriculum, with additional efforts to mentor ME student organizations and MS Students. Applicants should hold a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering discipline. Candidates with a M.S. degree and extensive teaching and/or industrial experience will also be considered.  Candidates with professional licensure are encouraged to apply.

Devoted, creative, and highly effective undergraduate education is a VU priority and support for impactful initiatives is an ongoing institutional focus. The Department of Mechanical Engineering shares this institutional commitment to undergraduate teaching. Our department has 16 tenured/tenure-track (TTK) faculty members with reputations for excellence in research fields including nanoengineering, rehabilitation engineering, and medical robotics, with an annual research expenditure of $8.3 million.  The Department also has 5 Professors of Practice who are an important part of the teaching staff and make valuable contributions to our educational mission, in addition to leading or participating in many other departmental/school activities.

Ranked #14 nationally, Vanderbilt University is a private, internationally recognized research university located on 330 park-like acres 1.5 miles from downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Its 10 distinct schools share a single cohesive campus that nurtures interdisciplinary activities. The university has a student body of over 13,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, including 36% minority students and over 1,100 international students from 84 countries. The School of Engineering is on a strong upward trajectory in national and international stature and prominence, and has built infrastructure to support a significant expansion in faculty size. In the rankings of graduate engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report, the school ranks in the top 20 private, research-extensive engineering schools.

With a metro population of approximately 1.9 million people, Nashville has been named one of the 15 best U.S. cities for work and family by Fortune, was ranked as the #1 most popular U.S. city for corporate relocations by Expansion Management, and was named by Forbes as one of the 25 cities most likely to have the country's highest job growth over the coming five years. The top major industries by employment include trade, transportation and utilities; education and health services; professional and business services; government; and leisure and hospitality. Other industries include manufacturing, financial activities, construction, and information. Long known as a hub for health care and music, Nashville is a technology center with a considerable pool of health care, AI, and defense-related jobs available. In recent years, the city has experienced an influx of major office openings by some of the largest global tech companies and prime Silicon Valley startups.

Qualifications

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering discipline. Candidates with a M.S. degree and extensive teaching and/or industrial experience will also be considered.Candidates with professional licensure are encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions

Application materials must include: 1) cover letter, 2) CV, 3) teaching statement that describes teaching and mentoring experience in addition to philosophy and teaching interests and 4) names and contact information of three professional references

Vanderbilt University has a strong institutional commitment to recruiting and retaining an academically and culturally diverse community of faculty. Minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups, in particular, are encouraged to apply. Vanderbilt is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Vanderbilt University shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and s