The Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking applications to fill a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level starting on or around August 1, 2024. Duties will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in nuclear engineering-related subjects, generating externally funded research, advising graduate students, writing scholarly journal articles, and providing service to the department, college, university, and community. Applicants must have a doctorate in Nuclear Engineering or a closely related field by the effective date of appointment.

Applicants should be able to contribute to existing courses and research activities in nuclear engineering, as well as to develop new avenues of research and teaching. The focus area for this search is on nuclear fission engineering. Relevant research includes the areas of nuclear power, with an emphasis on nuclear thermal hydraulics, instrumentation and control, and/or thermal-fluid sciences. An opportunity exists for development of computational and/or experimental research programs. Researchers who have a coherent vision to apply artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytics to thermal hydraulics and/or instrumentation and control are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrated research success that complements existing University of Tennessee strengths and with the vision to develop collaborative and sustainable funded research activities. In addition to demonstrated excellence in research and the potential for developing a highly visible, externally funded research program, successful candidates will also be committed to high-quality undergraduate and graduate teaching.

The University of Tennessee Nuclear Engineering Department is part of the Tickle College of Engineering, which has the fastest growing PhD program among the Top 40 public colleges of engineering.  The department has a diverse research portfolio and is the largest Nuclear Engineering PhD program in the United States with over 120 PhD students and over $15M in annual research expenditures.  According to ASEE, it also has the second largest undergraduate program.  In 2021 we moved into a new $129M building that houses more than 23 new nuclear engineering laboratories. UTK has close collaborations with ORNL and Y-12 and is located close to the beautiful Smoky Mountains. The Nuclear Engineering Department is committed to cultivating work/life balance and a family-friendly work environment for faculty, staff, and students.

Knoxville, TN is a vibrant city with a beautiful and walkable downtown, active neighborhoods, an effervescent nightlife that includes numerous theaters and museums, a rich live music scene across all genres, and eclectic restaurants. Knoxville is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, surrounded by lakes and the Tennessee River, providing an amazing access to outdoor activities of all kinds. Knoxville is within 200 miles of four major metropolitan areas that regularly host larger cultural and entertainment events.

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 University welcomes and honors people of all races, genders, creeds, cultures, and sexual orientations; and values intellectual curiosity, pursuit of knowledge, and academic freedom and integrity.

Applicants must have a doctorate degree in a related field and relevant experience to be hired at the Assistant Professor level. Applicants must be able to contribute to existing courses in the chosen TCE department, advise/train graduate students in the areas of nuclear power, with an emphasis on nuclear thermal hydraulics, instrumentation and control, and/or thermal-fluid sciences, provide service to the university and community, contribute to current research activities in thermal hydraulics, and develop new avenues of research and teaching. 

Candidates for Assistant Professor should have a demonstrated potential to succeed as a junior faculty at a state flagship campus.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications include previous experience in graduate student advising, course instruction/development, and establishing and/or managing an isotope production facility or research center. 

Applications should include (1) a curriculum vitae, (2) a select subset of publications, (3) a research statement outlining previous and future directions, (4) a teaching and mentoring statement, (5) a letter articulating the applicant's interest in and qualifications for this position, and (6) the names of three to five references. Applications will be reviewed continuously, but those received by October 31, 2023 will receive priority. Any additional questions may be sent to Dr. Nick Brown at nbrown49@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. 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 Equity and Diversity, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, telephone 865-974-2498. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity.

About University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Our primary mission is to move forward the frontiers of human knowledge and enrich and elevate the citizens of the state of Tennessee, the nation, and the world. As the preeminent research-based, land-grant university in the state, UT embodies the spirit of excellence in teaching, research, scholarship, creative activity, outreach, and engagement attained by the nation’s finest public research institutions.

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