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Assistant Professor - Mechanical Engineering

Job Class Code: 10031
FLSA: Exempt
Posting Number: FRGV1766
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Division/Organization: Provost - Academic Affairs
Appointment Period for Non-Tenure Position:
Tenure Status: Tenure Track
FTE: 1.0

Scope of Job:
We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's student body as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year in the area of thermal science.
The successful candidate will be expected to develop a dynamic, externally funded research program that addresses key challenges in thermal science. Successful candidates will contribute to one of more of the research centers in the College of Engineering & Computer Science and in particular to The Center for Aerospace Research.

Responsibilities will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in mechanical engineering, mentoring students, and contributing to curriculum development in areas relevant to thermal science. The candidate will also support the master's program in mechanical engineering and contribute to the PhD program in material science and engineering.

The position offers opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration, including partnerships within the department and across other research centers. The candidate will be encouraged to engage with industry partners, contribute to the university's mission of community engagement.

For priority consideration, applications must be received by December 31, 2024. Applications will continue to be reviewed until positions are filled. A complete application will include the following required documents: Curriculum Vitae, Unofficial Transcripts, List of 3 References, Letter of Interest, Research Statement, and Teaching Philosophy.

About UTRGV: UTRGV serves the Rio Grande Valley and beyond via an innovative and unique multicultural education dedicated to student access and success. By championing leading research, healthcare, and application of university discoveries, we support sustainable development, community engagement, and well-being. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) is committed to building and sustaining a highly qualified and talented faculty to pursue excellence in everything that we do, including teaching, research, and service.Drawing on our unique identity as the leading Hispanic-Serving Institution in a bilingual and bicultural environment, UTRGV will promote student access and success by building from strength in education and creating a vibrant campus experience. By 2027, we will accelerate transformation in the Rio Grande Valley and beyond by driving meaningful advancements in research and creative works, expanding access to high-quality and affordable healthcare, and fostering authentic community engagement and integration. UTRGV is a distributed campus, one university spanning four counties and multiple locations. Our purpose is to be a university for the entire Rio Grande Valley and beyond. Over 91% of the students enrolled at UTRGV identify as Hispanic, making UTRGV one of the top 3 universities with the highest percentage of Hispanic students. For additional information, please visit UTRGV website.

College Background:
The College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) hosts an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in materials science and engineering, and a Ph.D. program in computer science with interdisciplinary applications. The research centers in the college include the Center for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation and Cyber Systems (CAMICS), the Center for Nanotechnology, the Center for Aerospace Research, Industrial Assessment Center, the NSF Center for Multidisciplinary Research Excellence in Cyber-Physical Infrastructure Systems (MECIS), and the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS). For further information regarding the College, please visit our websites at http://www.utrgv.edu/cecs/.

Department Background: The Department of Mechanical Engineering at UTRGV has an enrollment of almost 1200 undergraduate and 100 graduate students. The Department offers an ABET- accredited Bachelor of Science, Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, and along with the college, a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering as well as a PhD degree in Material Science & Engineering. For further information regarding UTRGV and the Mechanical Engineering Department, please visit our websites at http://www.utrgv.edu/mece/.

Minimum Qualifications:
Applicants must have an earned Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a related field from an accredited university (at least conferred before the start date of September 1, 2025). Prospective candidates in all mechanical engineering areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

Discipline Specific Required Qualifications:
Required qualifications include: 1) evidence of high-quality research in thermal science; 2) strong potential for securing external funding and supporting graduate students; and 3) experience and/or demonstrated ability in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in mechanical engineering. Additionally, candidates are expected to contribute to the master's program in mechanical engineering and the PhD program in material science and engineering.

Preferred Qualification:
1) Demonstrated potential or experience in pursuing external research funding in areas related to thermal science; a strong foundation in publishing scholarly work, with contributions in reputable journals or conferences; experience with or a strong aptitude for using advanced computational tools, AI, or machine learning techniques to address engineering challenges; and interest or initial experience in interdisciplinary collaboration, with a willingness to engage in partnerships across academia, research centers, or industry. 2) Commitment to teaching excellence, with experience as a teaching assistant, instructor, or mentor to undergraduate or graduate students, and enthusiasm for curriculum development in areas related to thermal sciences, energy systems, or computational modeling.

Salary: Commensurate with Qualifications and Experience
License or Certification Required?: No
Number of Vacancies: 1
Desired Start Date: 09/01/2025

EEO Statement:
It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.

Open Date: 11/03/2024

Special Instructions to Applicants:
All applications must be submitted via the UTRGV application portal at http://careers.utrgv.edu. Complete all sections on the application. If you are applying for the first time, please complete all biographical information including address, email and phone number. You may update this at any time by selecting to edit your profile in the application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Security sensitive: All UTRGV employees are required to have a criminal background check (CBC). CBCs will be conducted for all candidates invited for an on-campus interview.

Additional Information:
UTRGV is a distributed institution. As such and as assigned, the position may require presence at multiple locations throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Work is performed primarily in a general office environment. This position is security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of the Texas Education Code 51.215. The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Please Note:
Texas law requires faculty members whose primary language is not English to demonstrate proficiency in English as determined by a satisfactory paper-based test score of 500 (computer-based of 173 or internet-based of 61) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a satisfactory test score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Incomplete applications will not be considered. All positions are subject to budget approval.

To apply, visit https://careers.utrgv.edu/postings/45202



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