Department Chair and Assistant Professor Positions in Chemical Engineering
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) at Vanderbilt University invites applications for two open faculty positions: the first at the level of Chair and Professor, and the second at the Assistant Professor level. These two positions are part of the School of Engineering’s announced commitment to establishing an interdisciplinary Energy Cluster aimed at addressing grand societal and scientific challenges (https://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/2025/10/06/school-of-engineering-launches-global-search-for-10-new-faculty-members/). This hiring focus reflects our dedication to strengthening collaboration across disciplines within the School of Engineering. Our goal is to train the next generation of engineering leaders to uncover new insights and identify solutions to the key challenges as outlined in our strategic plan: improving health for all humans, ensuring a sustainable planet, enhancing national security, and innovating beyond Earth (https://indd.adobe.com/view/697a5c8d-09f9-4270-802d-890ea98422f0).
Department Chair and Professor. This position seeks an accomplished visionary leader dedicated to overseeing a department committed to impactful research and innovative educational programs. A strong record in research, education, mentorship, and service is required. The next Chair is expected to direct ChBE during a time of historic growth and expansion for both ChBE and the School of Engineering at Vanderbilt. This search is open to all areas; however, candidates with research interests applied to areas of energy storage and conversion, catalysis and separations, electrochemical engineering, advanced materials, and manufacturing are of particular interest. Application materials including cover letter, complete curriculum vitae, and a statement that addresses the applicant's leadership experience/philosophy and vision for the future of ChBE are to be submitted to https://apply.interfolio.com/174359. Applicants for this tenured Professor position will be eligible for the endowed John R. Hall Chair in Chemical Engineering at Vanderbilt.
Assistant Professor. The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) at Vanderbilt University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position from candidates with expertise in artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML), foundation models, multiscale modeling, and optimization as applied to challenges in energy and advanced chemical processing. We particularly encourage applicants whose computational research addresses critical materials for energy, data-driven approaches for manufacturing, electrochemical engineering, and the integration of AI/ML with chemical engineering to accelerate the design, discovery, and deployment of next-generation materials and technologies. Application materials including cover letter, complete curriculum vitae, statements of research and teaching, and names and contact information of at least three professional references are to be submitted to https://apply.interfolio.com/174347. Applicants must have conducted prior research work and have a record of impactful scholarly publication. Experiences with artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer simulation are preferred.
Review of applications for both positions will begin upon receipt with those received by November 15, 2025 undergoing priority review. All applications received by December 1, 2025 will receive full consideration. Questions about either position maybe be sent to Professor Paul Laibinis, Chair of ChBE, by email to paul.e.laibinis@vanderbilt.edu.
Requirements. All candidates must hold a Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering or a closely related engineering or scientific discipline and have research and teaching goals strongly aligned with the fields of chemical and biomolecular engineering.
Vanderbilt University. Housed in the School of Engineering, the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Vanderbilt (http://engineering.vanderbilt.edu/chbe/) includes 14 primary faculty (11 tenured/tenure-track of which 3 are PECASE awardees and 6 are NSF CAREER recipients) serving over 130 undergraduate students and more than 50 graduate students. The department maintains a vibrant research environment with annual research expenditures in excess of $11M and has steadily climbed the USNWR graduate rankings. Our department is consistently ranked as one of the top five chemical engineering departments in the U.S. with fifteen or fewer faculty.
Our department is located a short walk from Vanderbilt's other engineering and science departments and is adjacent to the Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE), a nucleus for nanoscale materials research at Vanderbilt. It is one of numerous interdisciplinary centers and institutes on campus (https://research.vanderbilt.edu/centers-institutes/) that offers comprehensive and state-of-the-art core facilities and means for engagement across departments. ChBE also maintains a close affiliation with the Vanderbilt School of Medicine (VUSM), which is ranked fifth by the U.S. News & World Report’s annual ranking of top medical schools for research, and is co-located on the same campus. The highly collaborative environment at Vanderbilt is additionally supported by three new interdisciplinary centers within the School of Engineering: the Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Climate and Energy (https://www.vanderbilt.edu/climate/), the Vanderbilt Lab for Immersive AI Translation (https://www.vanderbilt.edu/valiant/), and the Vanderbilt Institute for National Security (https://www.vanderbilt.edu/national-security/).
Ranked #17 nationally, Vanderbilt University is a private, internationally recognized research university located on 330 park-like acres 1.5 miles from downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Its 11 distinct schools share a single cohesive campus that values collaboration. The university enrolls over 13,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, including more than 25% minority students and over 10% international students from 84 countries. The School of Engineering and College of Connected Computing together comprise nearly 120 tenured and tenure-track faculty, with a total research expenditure of $90 million, 1500 undergraduates, and over 700 graduate and professional students across all programs.
Nashville is Tennessee’s capital, with a metro population of over two million people. It is an international destination for the arts, entrepreneurship, and scientific research, thereby attracting world-renowned scholars to Vanderbilt and the broader community. Nashville has been named one of the 15 best U.S. cities for work and family by Fortune magazine, was ranked as the #1 most popular U.S. city for corporate relocations by Expansion Management magazine, and was ranked in the top tier as best performing cities in 2024 for sustainable growth and resilience by the Milken Institute. Nashville’s top 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, the greater Nashville area is a technology center with a considerable pool of health care, AI, EV, and defense-related jobs available. The city has experienced an influx of major office openings by some of the largest global tech companies and prime Silicon Valley startups attracted by its quality of life. Nashville is home to more than 100 stand-alone parks and is a quick drive away from the Great Smoky Mountains, offering many opportunities for enjoying the outdoors. In addition to the nearby greenways, scenic hiking routes, and historic riverfront, Vanderbilt’s park-like campus is an accredited arboretum with more than 200 different species.
