Assistant Professor of Mechanical Enginnering

The Opportunity

Ohio Wesleyan Universitys newConrades School of Engineeringinvites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering beginning in August 2027. This is an opportunity to help build an undergraduate engineering program from the ground up combining rigorous technical education with the breadth of the liberal arts. We seek a collaborative colleague committed to excellent teaching student mentorship and research involving undergraduates. Candidates from all areas of mechanical engineering are welcome.

This job is part of a cluster of positions focused on flexibility interdisciplinarity and inclusivity. The faculty cohort will join an educational community that values interdisciplinarity and fosters close working relationships with students through our signature program in experiential learning theOWU Connection. Incoming faculty will be provided with mentoring professional development startup funds and opportunities to connect with faculty across theOhio 5andGLCAconsortia. For more information about the cluster please visit the Conrades School of Engineering

Supported by $17 million in alumni contributions the Conrades School of Engineering represents a sustained investment in engineering education grounded in the liberal arts. The school will welcome its first mechanical engineering majors in fall 2027 offering aBachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineeringand complementary minors in Engineering Science and Science and Engineering in the Public Interest. Its approach brings technical depth together with ethical reasoning creative problem-solving and an understanding of how engineering serves people and communities.

Working closely with the Founding Dean the successful candidate will help shape the curriculum establish teaching laboratories develop student research and design experiences and prepare for ABET accreditation. The schools location in Central Ohio offers opportunities to build relationships with employers in advanced manufacturing technology and related fields. We seek a colleague who brings initiative and enjoys building connections across disciplines and between classroom learning and engineering practice.

Faculty support includes start-up funding a pre-tenure sabbatical student-faculty research opportunities through theSummer Scholarship & Research Programand theOWU Connection and mentoring and professional development through the endowedSmith Center for Faculty Excellence.

Responsibilities

• Teach six courses per academic year (3/3) including first-year engineering and foundational courses such as Statics Dynamics and Mechanics of Materials. Upper-level courses will be added as the program grows aligned with the candidates expertise and program needs.
• Teach courses that contribute to the general education curriculum including First Year Seminar.
• Assist in curriculum development revision and evaluation with the Founding Dean including lecture courses laboratory courses and engineering design experiences.
• Help establish teaching laboratories including developing experiments and identifying equipment needs.
• Advise students in their academic journey and mentor their professional development.
• Engage in a consistent and focused line of research that involves undergraduate students. Pursuit of external funding is encouraged.
• Contribute to student recruitment experiential learning opportunities and relationships with external partners.
• Support preparation for ABET accreditation by developing assessment tools evaluating student learning and documenting continuous improvement.
• Provide service to the department university and profession.

Qualifications

Required

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field by the start of the appointment.
• Experience teaching undergraduate engineering courses including laboratory instruction.
• Interest in or experience with mentoring undergraduate students including undergraduate research.
• Experience with curriculum or laboratory development student learning assessment or ABET accreditation.

Preferred

• Engineering experience in industry.
• Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from an ABET-accredited program.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following:

Please submit all materials preferably in pdf format via where you will find additional information about working at OWU. To be considered for the initial round of review you must submit your cover letter CV teaching and student engagement statement research statement and contacts for three professional references. Official transcripts reference letters and additional materials may be requested at a later time and can be sent directly to.

Questions about the position may be directed to Paul Slaboch Founding Dean of the Conrades School of Engineering and Search Chair at. For questions including difficultywith uploading materials contactand include the search number in the subject line.

Review of applications will begin on December 1 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

About Ohio Wesleyan University

Located in the Columbus Ohio metropolitan area Ohio Wesleyan is a selective residential liberal arts college enrolling approximately 1600 students from across the nation and around the world. The colleges signature program theOWU Connection empowers students to complete research community service careers and study abroad teaching students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book Colleges That Change Lives and was recently listed as the No. 1 liberal arts college in Ohio for social mobility by U.S. News and World Report. OWU is located in Delaware OH a lively college town just 30 minutes from Columbus the 14th most populous city in the United States and part of the fastest growing most economically vibrant areas of the Midwest. Columbus known increasingly as the Silicon Midwest was named by LinkedIn as one of the top 10 U.S. cities in which to launch your career.

To achieve our mission we continually strive to foster a campus community where every individual is respected supported and able to flourish. We affirm the worth of all persons and welcome people of all backgrounds perspectives and experiences. Ohio Wesleyan University is an equal opportunity institution and seeks applications from individuals who will contribute to and help strengthen our commitment to academic excellence mutual respect and the shared pursuit of knowledge.