Asst/Assoc/Full Teaching Professor - Mechanical Engineering
Position Overview
The Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Kansas is seeking a highly motivated and skilled Assistant/Associate or Full Teaching Professor in the area of Mechanics, Structures, Mechatronics, Controls, or Electric Vehicle Design. The successful candidate will be responsible for teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, as well as developing and implementing innovative teaching approaches to enhance student learning outcomes.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering currently has 17 tenured/tenure-track faculty members, approximately 500 undergraduate and 60 graduate students, with programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. KU is a comprehensive educational and research-intensive AAU institution that operates through a diverse, multi-campus system, with approximately 29,000 students and 2,800 faculty members. Opened in 1866, KU’s main campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation, occupying 1000 acres on Mount Oread in Lawrence, a thriving city of 96,000, located 30 minutes west of Kansas City in the forested hills of eastern Kansas.
The University of Kansas is a major public research and teaching institution that operates through a diverse, multi-campus system. KU's many parts are bound together by a mission to serve as a "center for learning, research, scholarship and creative endeavor" in the state of Kansas, the nation and the world. An ideal campus, historic and wireless at the same time, KU is home to one of the top public-university library systems in the nation. The university fosters a multicultural environment in which the dignity and rights of individuals are respected. In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education.
In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education. KU’s vision is to be an exceptional learning community that lifts each other and advances society. The Jayhawks Rising Strategic Plan was developed around three Institutional Priorities: creating a clear and ambitious direction to fulfill our mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world. Additional information is available at https://jayhawksrising.ku.edu/.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering currently has 17 tenured/tenure-track faculty members, approximately 500 undergraduate and 60 graduate students, with programs leading to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. KU is a comprehensive educational and research-intensive AAU institution that operates through a diverse, multi-campus system, with approximately 29,000 students and 2,800 faculty members. Opened in 1866, KU’s main campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation, occupying 1000 acres on Mount Oread in Lawrence, a thriving city of 96,000, located 30 minutes west of Kansas City in the forested hills of eastern Kansas.
The University of Kansas is a major public research and teaching institution that operates through a diverse, multi-campus system. KU's many parts are bound together by a mission to serve as a "center for learning, research, scholarship and creative endeavor" in the state of Kansas, the nation and the world. An ideal campus, historic and wireless at the same time, KU is home to one of the top public-university library systems in the nation. The university fosters a multicultural environment in which the dignity and rights of individuals are respected. In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education.
In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education. KU’s vision is to be an exceptional learning community that lifts each other and advances society. The Jayhawks Rising Strategic Plan was developed around three Institutional Priorities: creating a clear and ambitious direction to fulfill our mission to educate leaders, build healthy communities, and make discoveries that change the world. Additional information is available at https://jayhawksrising.ku.edu/.
Job Description
Teaching (80%):
Service (10%):
- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Mechanics, Structures, Controls, Mechatronics, or Electric Vehicle Design, including courses such as statics, dynamics, strength of materials, mechanics of materials, vehicle dynamics, automatic control systems, and electric vehicle design.
- Develop and implement innovative teaching approaches to enhance student learning outcomes, such as active learning techniques, problem-based learning, and flipped classroom models.
- Work with other faculty members to develop and update course content and curricula to ensure that they are current and relevant to industry trends and practices.
- Faculty members are expected to remain current in the research and scholarly literature in their field, as evidenced in an active and productive research program but also in the development of pedagogical projects, curriculum development, including creation of open-access materials, up-to-date course syllabi and in the participation in research conferences.
Service (10%):
- Mentor and advise undergraduate and graduate students, including serving on thesis and dissertation committees.
- Participate in departmental and university service activities, such as committee work, recruitment events, and student organizations.
- Engage in professional development activities, such as attending conferences, workshops, and seminars to stay current in the field of Mechanical Engineering.
Required Qualifications
For appointment at the rank of Assistant Teaching Professor:
For appointment at the rank of Associate Teaching Professor:
For appointment at the rank of Full Teaching Professor:
- PhD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
- A minimum four years of experience (including graduate school) in Mechanics, Structures, Controls, Mechatronics, or Electric Vehicle Design, with a focus on both theoretical and practical applications.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
- Evidence of the ability to teach effectively.
For appointment at the rank of Associate Teaching Professor:
- All of the above requirements for the Assistant level.
- A minimum of 10 years of experience (including graduate school) in Mechanics, Structures, Controls, Mechatronics, or Electric Vehicle Design, with a focus on both theoretical and practical applications.
For appointment at the rank of Full Teaching Professor:
- All of the above requirements for the Assistant level.
- A minimum of 15 years of experience in Mechanics, Structures, Controls, Mechatronics, or Electric Vehicle Design, with a focus on both theoretical and practical applications.
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to bring real-world applications into the classroom.
- Experience in working collaboratively with other faculty members and university administrators.
- Experience in engineering project management.
- Demonstrated commitment to innovative teaching approaches and student-centered learning.
- Evidence of some scholarly activity, such as publications, conference presentations, or grants.
Additional Candidate Instructions
A complete online application will include the following PDF files: a letter of application, curriculum vita, a teaching statement and diversity statement, and the names and contact information for at least three references.
In addition to the materials above, learning about each applicant's contribution and engagement in areas of diversity is an important part of KU's mission. As a result, applicants will be presented the following question at the time of application. The response must be within 4,000 characters or less.
Review of application materials will begin June 28th and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
In addition to the materials above, learning about each applicant's contribution and engagement in areas of diversity is an important part of KU's mission. As a result, applicants will be presented the following question at the time of application. The response must be within 4,000 characters or less.
- Describe your experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds, and explain how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Review of application materials will begin June 28th and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
Advertised Salary Range
Commensurate with Experience
Application Review Begins
Wednesday June 28, 2023
Anticipated Start Date
Friday August 18, 2023