Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Ultra-High Temperature Alloys Materials Science and Engineering

TheUT Space Institute (UTSI) and the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) in the Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) at the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) invite applications for a tenure-track assistant professor in the area of ultra-high temperature alloys (UHTAs).

The UT Space Institute () is a hub of aerospace and defense research closely connected with NASA and DoD programs in the region. The MSE Department at UTK is a vibrant and rapidly growing academic unit with internationally recognized strengths in ceramics metals and alloys polymers composites and electronic materials. Our faculty bring world-class expertise in computational modeling AI/ML for materials informatics advanced and automated manufacturing and characterization in-situ and ex-situ probes of nano- and microstructures and physical and mechanical testing of materials. Together UTSI and UTK provide an unparalleled environment for impactful research and education. Visit the department website for more information: Areas of Interest

We seek candidates with research expertise in ultra-high temperature alloys forhigh-Mach flight and space system applications. The successful candidate is expected to advance fundamental understanding of how alloy design processing and characterization control microstructure chemistry and performance of UHTAs under extreme environments with potential applications in aerospace and defense. Areas of particular interest include but are not limited to:

Alloy design and discovery of UHTAs (e.g. refractory alloys creep- and oxidation-resistant systems).

Processing science including advanced manufacturing powder metallurgy and directional solidification of UHTAs.

Thermomechanical and environmental degradation mechanisms (creep fatigue oxidation corrosion).

In-situ and operando methods for characterizing UHTAs at high temperatures and under extreme conditions.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish a vigorous externally funded research program in ultra-high temperature alloys collaborate with UTSI and MSE faculty and with partners at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Redstone Arsenal the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) and the aerospace and defense industry and contribute to the broader materials and aerospace communities through high-quality scholarship and professional service.

Teaching Areas of Interest

The successful candidate will contribute to the educational mission of both UTSI and the MSE Department at UTK. Teaching areas may include but are not limited to:

Materials for Extreme Environments
Mechanical Behavior of Materials
Alloy Design and Processing
Advanced Manufacturing of Metals and Alloys
Materials Characterization Techniques

Candidates are expected to play an active role in curriculum development including creating innovative graduate-level courses that directly reflect their research expertise and advance the departments strategic focus on materials for extreme environments.

About the Tickle College of Engineering

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 U.S. News & World Report 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 UTKs Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF). Faculty in the college leverage the exceptional national laboratory ecosystem surrounding UT including world class neutron scattering materials synthesis/characterization and high-performance computing user facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. An initiative to develop The National Security Prototype Center for complex manufacturing challenges in partnership with the Y-12 National Security Complex was recently announced.

TCE currently has 203 tenure/tenure-track and 79 non-tenure track faculty in its nine academic departments and offers 11 undergraduate 16 M.S. and 15 Ph.D./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 eight research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 4300 undergraduate and 1500 graduate students the college sits 29th 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 FY24 the college had annual research expenditures of $113.6M.

About Knoxville

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 amazing access outdoor recreation. Knoxville is within easy driving distance of four major metropolitan areas that regularly host larger cultural and entertainment events.

About Tallahoma

Tullahoma home of UTSI offers a smaller-community setting near Arnold Air Force Base with easy access to Nashville Chattanooga and Huntsville creating a unique nexus of aerospace and defense activity.

Qualifications

A Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering or a closely related field is required.

Evidence of recent research and publications on ultra-high temperature alloys (UHTAs).

Postdoctoral or equivalent research experience is preferred.

Demonstrated potential for excellence in research and teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Evidence of commitment to excellence in teaching mentorship and service.

A record of high-impact publications and recognition in the materials community is desirable.