Career Center

Department/Organization
214211 - Aerospace and Engineering Mechanics

Rank
Professor

Position Summary
The Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics (AEM) department is recruiting a tenured faculty position at the rank of Professor. The following areas of research expertise are to be emphasized in the search:

          1. Aerospace Structures and Materials

          2. High Speed Aerodynamics

          3. Space Systems/Flight

Detailed Position Information
The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics (AEM) and the College of Engineering at The University of Alabama invite applications for multiple tenure-track and tenured faculty positions at all ranks, including Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor levels, within the department. Candidates applying to this particular posting should be intending to apply for a position at the rank of Professor. Applications from candidates who would seek appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor are encouraged to apply through related postings at those other positional levels. Candidates from under-represented groups in engineering are strongly encouraged to apply.

Candidates with prestigious achievements in their field and exceptional national and international reputations will be eligible for consideration for significant endowment support through appointment as a Endowed Shelby Distinguished Associate Professor (www.provost.ua.edu/Shelby/ ).

Candidates with research interests across all domains relevant to aerospace engineering and mechanics are encouraged to apply. Candidates with particular research emphasis and interests in the areas of aerospace structures & materials, high speed aerodynamics, space systems/flight, hypersonic systems, and additive and advanced manufacturing (including in-space and point-of-need manufacturing) are of particular interest for one or more of these positions and thus are strongly encouraged to apply. The AEM department and College are looking to both: (1) add faculty who will build upon existing strengths in the Department, College, and University and (2) add faculty who will expand the scope of research here within the department, College, and UA as a whole. (https://eng.ua.edu/departments/aerospace-engineering-and-mechanics/ ).

The AEM Department has a sustained enrollment of 500 BSAE students and has recently appeared on the ASEE list of the top 20 BSAE producers in the nation. The Department also has an active MS and PhD program in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics supporting both residential and distance education students with a total graduate enrollment of over 150 students. Major research facilities in the Department include a $2M commitment for a new 8” X 8” cross-section Aerolab tunnel that can operate at Mach 1.3 to 3.8 range equipped with a 10” Schlieren system and 2 axis sting balance, and $3M mechanical fatigue testing laboratory with mutliaxial, thermomechanical fatigue, high/low temperature, and component testing facilities.

The Department of Aerospace Engineering Mechanics and the College of Engineering consider teaching, research, and service as the three critical and complimentary portions of their overall mission. Candidates must demonstrate a clear potential to successfully develop, lead, and extramurally fund a highly productive research group with significant scholarly impact in a focus area with long term potential to further build upon the rapid rise and great success of the AEM department and the UA College of Engineering. An ability to collaborate with existing faculty in the key focus areas both within the AEM Department and the College of Engineering, as well as potential colleagues across the campus, is also highly desirable. The College of Engineering and the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics also pride themselves on the outstanding educational experience provided to their students, and thus faculty candidates must demonstrate an ability to develop and teach classes at both the undergraduate and graduate level in the faculty member’s area(s) of expertise as well as to teach courses that support the delivery and accreditation of the Department’s core degree programs.

Minimum Qualifications
Applicants must have an earned doctorate in Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or a closely related field from an accredited institution. Applicants must have conducted prior research work and have a record of impactful scholarly publications in refereed and other professional journals and venues.

Preferred Qualifications
Have a demonstrated record of high-quality research and scholarly publications that is recognized nationally and/or internationally. Significant record of scholarship in an engineering department with undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Required application documents include a: (1) cover letter that includes both the department name and rank of position for which the candidate is applying, (2) resume/curriculum vitae, (3) 5 to 10 page statement of research interests and plans, (4) one to two page statement of teaching interests and plans, and (5) the names and contact information for at least four references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the positions are filled.

About the College of Engineering
As the premier flagship university for the state of Alabama and as one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering instruction, The University of Alabama has more than 175 years of proud engineering history. UA’s College of Engineering is committed to conducting leading-edge basic research that advances the frontiers of science and engineering, translating fundamental advancements through applied research into impactful solutions for many of the challenges facing humankind, providing unparalleled educational experiences and opportunities for our students at both the undergraduate and graduate level, producing the next generations of engineering and computer science scholars and professionals who will positively shape the future around us, and providing service to our many professional disciplines and to the community, state, and nation to continue to advance our professions, the economy, and opportunities and lives of all those whom we impact.

The College of Engineering is comprised of seven departments: (1) Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, (2) Chemical and Biological Engineering, (3) Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, (4) Computer Science, (5) Electrical and Computer Engineering, (6) Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, and (7) Mechanical Engineering. These seven departments deliver 15 different undergraduate degree programs and 16 different graduate degree programs. Overall the College enrolls approximately 6,000 students, making it one of the largest colleges out of the approximately 40,000 students on the UA campus.

While the university has been on a constant mission to advance in every aspect of its operations since its inception, The University of Alabama has in particular seen transformative growth in its research enterprise over the past decade. Since 2014, research activity as measured by yearly total research awards has more than tripled, growing by more than 330%. More recently, in June 2019 the UA Office for Research & Economic Development (ORED) launched its most recent five-year strategic plan. That plan for the 2019-2024 period – emanating from UA’s overarching goal to, “increase the University’s productivity and innovation in research, scholarship, and creative activities that impact economic and societal development,” – focuses on six strategic themes: (1) Research Environment, (2) Alabama Research Institutes, (3) Transformative Initiatives, (4) Translating Intellectual Property, (5) Economic and Business Engagement, and (6) Assessing Progress and Impact. The overall goal of ORED’s strategic plan when initiated in 2019 was to help the University double its research enterprise in five years and position itself firmly as one of the premier comprehensive research institutions in the southeastern United States and the country as a whole. Through the efforts of the University, ORED, and in particular the departments, centers, and faculty of the College of Engineering, UA’s research enterprise has indeed surged dramatically higher in just the last four years. In the last four fiscal years alone (2019-2022), total sponsored awards across UA have increased by more than 80% and are well on track to more than double by the end of the strategic plan period in 2024. This growth rate strengthens UA’s position as one of the two fastest growing research institutions in the nation. For the College of Engineering specifically, total research awards have more than doubled in the last five years, growing by 250% in 2023 from their level in 2018.

This constantly increasing volume of research and the educational activities of the College of Engineering are supported by both a tremendous faculty and staff and by a set of outstanding facilities that are the envy of its peers. The College of Engineering currently has more than 170 faculty members, and is in a period of rapid faculty growth having added more than 20 faculty last year and with plans to add an additional approximately 30 faculty this year. In terms of facilities, the College of Engineering has one of the largest overall footprints of any college at UA, currently occupying all or significant portions of 15 different facilities across campus. Some of the most recent additions to that space are the state-of-the-art facilities provided for many of the departments in the College by the recently completed Shelby Science and Engineering Quad that was built at a cost approaching $400 million. In addition to the traditional engineering departments, there are more than 10 different major research centers housed within the College that span research areas ranging from cybersecurity to additive manufacturing to functional polymers to water to transportation to many more. These centers bring together faculty from across the College and from around the University to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing humankind and the planet today and well into tomorrow.

Overall, with its hundreds of award-winning faculty and staff members, its outstanding and growing student body, its tremendous array of state-of-the-art facilities, its diverse offerings of nationally accredited degree programs, and the strong support of its local, state, and national partners, the UA College of Engineering has positioned itself for continued success and rapid advancement as a leader in engineering science, education, and practice. The College is looking for new faculty who want to build or continue their career in a dynamic organization with unlimited potential.

About The University of Alabama
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus.

A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. The University of Alabama has R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is among the top doctoral research universities in the United States.

As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.

About Tuscaloosa 
Tuscaloosa is so much more than a college town.

It's a vibrant community that’s filled with legendary history. Located along the Black Warrior River, the city features a walkable downtown that’s complete with live music, locally owned shops, outdoor spaces to explore and local restaurants to meet every palate. With a geography ranging from suburban to rural, the area offers a variety of housing options along with excellent public and private schools and a wealth of recreational and entertainment options.

With a metro area population of 235,000, the Druid City lies about an hour southwest of Birmingham, in west-central Alabama. It’s within a few hours’ drive of Gulf Coast beaches and major cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Atlanta, making it a great base for growing better acquainted with the South’s finest offerings.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf 

About University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

As the state’s flagship university, The University of Alabama family has always focused on being the best. After all, we are The Capstone of Higher Education. Founded in 1831 as the state’s first public college, The University of Alabama is dedicated to excellence in teaching, research and service. We provide a creative, nurturing campus environment where our students can become the best individuals possible, learn from the best and brightest faculty, and make a positive difference in the community, the state and the world. You’ll like what you find here. Become part of The University of Alabama family.

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