Associate or Full Professor of Aerospace Engineering
Tenured Faculty Opening
in Mechanical Engineering at Rice University
https://mech.rice.edu/
https://engineering.rice.edu/
https://www.rice.edu/
Position Description
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rice University, located in Houston, TX, seeks applications for one tenured Associate/Full Professor position with a research focus on Aerospace Engineering, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2026. We seek a candidate who represents any subspeciality within aerospace engineering (aerodynamics, propulsion, structures, control, design, mechanics, and systems engineering), and who also complements the department’s core expertise in mechanical engineering, including controls, dynamics, robotics, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, computational engineering, design, and solid mechanics. We seek faculty who will develop a dynamic and innovative independent research program and show distinction in teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels while embracing Rice’s culture of excellence and inclusivity. Strength and scholarship in research and teaching are the primary selection criteria.
This recruitment effort marks the launch of Rice University’s Aerospace Initiative. Housed within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, this initiative will build on our existing expertise and deepen our impact in both research and education as we develop a modern aerospace engineering program to address current and future opportunities. The initiative comprises an expansion of our faculty size, with a total of five tenure-track positions approved by the university, which will be filled over the next several years. The initiative will also expand educational opportunities in aerospace engineering at the undergraduate and graduate level and provide increased opportunities for engagement with industry and governmental partners across the aerospace sector. The candidate for this initial search, the first of those five positions, will take a leading role in shaping the strategy of the initiative and future hiring.
The selected candidate will be expected to teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses within their expertise; perform high-quality research in their specialized area and present findings from their research in peer-reviewed publications and conferences; establish a strong research program supported by extramural funding; be involved in service to the university and broader scientific community; and collaborate with faculty in diverse disciplines. The successful candidate will be required to have a strong commitment to teaching, advising, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students from diverse backgrounds.
We welcome the fullness of diversity to Rice. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Also, in our candidate pools, we seek to attract greater representation of women, scholars of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and others who have historically been underrepresented in mechanical or aerospace engineering; attract students from a wide range of countries and backgrounds; accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff varied in background and thought; and maintain an environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our community.
About the Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering is one of nine academic departments in the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing, which generates over $110 million in annual research expenditures. The department has seventeen tenure-track faculty conducting innovative research in areas such as robotics, biomedical systems, thermal fluids, mechanical design, tribology, and dynamics and controls to address a range of societal issues and challenges. The department and school are in a period of growth, and investment in engineering is a priority for the university. Faculty are engaged in a range of external collaborations, due in part to our close proximity to NASA, the Texas Medical Center, and the energy industry.
About the School of Engineering and Computing
Rice University's George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing is a top-ranked program that empowers the next generation of leaders with strong technical and communication skills, creative problem solving and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams.
About Rice University
Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of Houston’s dynamic Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students. Rice consistently ranks among the top 20 national universities and the top 10 in undergraduate teaching (US News & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 of US universities.
