Assistant Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Job Title :

Assistant Professor in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Requisition Number : FE04640

Department Name :

8H700 : Mechanical Engineering

Work Location : Lexington, KY

Type of Position : Faculty

Position Time Status :

Full-Time

Tenure Track Status :

Tenure Track

Required Education :

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or computer engineering, or a closely related field.

Required Related Experience :

The successful candidate will have a strong record of academic scholarship, excellent potential for conducting high-impact research, and the capability to develop a nationally recognized research program. The successful candidate must also demonstrate a strong commitment to advising graduate students and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in mechanical and aerospace engineering, electrical and computer engineering, or the online master’s program in manufacturing systems engineering (https : / / mae.engr.uky.edu / graduate-programs / mfs).

Required License / Registration / Certification :

N / A

Job Summary :

The University of Kentucky’s Pigman College of Engineering seeks to expand faculty expertise in manufacturing. The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (https : / / www.engr.uky.edu / mae) and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (https : / / ece.engr.uky.edu / ) invite qualified candidates to apply for a 9-month (Regular Title Series) tenure-eligible faculty position in manufacturing engineering at the assistant-professor level with an anticipated start date of fall 2026. Exceptional candidates at the associate- or full-professor level may also be considered.

We invite qualified candidates with a promising program of research in any area of manufacturing such as circular / sustainable product design, additive and subtractive manufacturing processes, circular / sustainable manufacturing systems and supply chains, and AI / sensing / robotics for advanced manufacturing. Applicants should hold a Ph.D. degree in mechanical, aerospace, electrical, or computer engineering, or a closely related field. The successful candidate will have a strong record of academic scholarship, excellent potential for conducting high-impact research, and the capability to develop a nationally recognized research program. The successful candidate must also demonstrate a strong commitment to advising graduate students and teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in mechanical and aerospace engineering, electrical and computer engineering, or the online master’s program in manufacturing systems engineering (https : / / mae.engr.uky.edu / graduate-programs / mfs). Candidates must also be committed to providing service to the departments, professional organizations, and the community. Significant investment in both research and instruction will be expected in the initial year of the appointment, with time allocation in future years to be adjusted as appropriate.

This position will have a primary appointment in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering with a secondary appointment in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The successful candidate will be a core member of the Institute of Sustainable Manufacturing (ISM), an internationally recognized interdisciplinary research center with significant infrastructure and participating faculty from multiple engineering departments (http : / / www.engr.uky.edu / ism). ISM faculty, staff and affiliates, from different departments in the Pigman College of Engineering and beyond, coordinate a portfolio of active research projects in various areas related to sustainable manufacturing in excess of $10 million / year. ISM boasts high industry engagement that translates research advances to industrial applications. The successful candidate must actively collaborate with faculty and staff to advance ISM’s mission aimed at research and technology development to advance sustainable manufacturing.

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is the largest in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering with 41 faculty members, over 1,200 undergraduate students, and over 140 graduate students. The Department offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering, and a master’s degree program in manufacturing systems engineering. The Department is engaged in federally funded research projects from agencies such as NSF, NIH, NASA, DOE, DOD, DARPA, FAA, NIST, and USDA. In addition, the Department houses the NASA Kentucky Space Grant and EPSCoR programs and has research centers and consortiums that collaborate extensively with industry. The Department’s externally funded research currently averages over $17M / year in new awards.

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering is home to 29 faculty members, over 450 undergraduate students, and over 50 graduate students. The Department offers undergraduate degrees in electrical and computer engineering and graduate degrees in electrical engineering. Faculty are engaged in research supported by agencies such as NSF, DOE, DOD, and NASA, as well as a wide range of industry sponsors. Major research areas include power and energy systems, computer engineering, electromagnetics, microelectronics and nanotechnology, signal processing, and controls and manufacturing.

The city of Lexington is ranked #3 Best City to Raise a Family, #21 Best Places to Live in America, and #31 Most Educated City in America. The University of Kentucky is the flagship university for the Commonwealth and is one of only eight universities in the United States that house colleges of agriculture, law, business, engineering, medicine, and pharmacy on a single campus.

Employment at UK is subject to fund availability and comes with comprehensive rewards, focusing on your total well-being and career development, with leadership striving to provide a strong work-life integration. The university generously contributes to employees’ retirement plans, medical coverage, and life insurance. In addition, UK offers optional benefits such as dental and vision insurance, additional retirement plans and much more. To learn more about these benefits, please visit : https : / / hr.uky.edu / employment / our-benefits.

To apply, please visit the UK Jobs site at : https : / / ukjobs.uky.edu / postings / 597998. Applicants should submit a cover letter, a full curriculum vitae, a research statement (3-page limit, upload under Specific Request 1 ), a teaching statement (2-page limit, upload under Specific Request 2 ), and contact information for 5 references ( upload under Specific Request 3 ). We request that the teaching statement specifically address undergraduate and graduate teaching interests in different engineering programs indicated above.

The priority application deadline is November 7, 2025 . Review of applications will begin shortly thereafter and will continue until the position is filled. The desired starting date for this position is August 1, 2026. Requests for further information regarding application procedures may be directed to Mr. Troy Howell (Senior Business Officer) at (859) 218-0650 or troy.howell@uky.edu. Questions for the chair of the search committee can be directed to Dr. Fazleena Badurdeen (Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering) at badurdeen@uky.edu

Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? :

No

Open Until Filled : Yes

Our University Community :

We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.

The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status or whether the person is a smoker or nonsmoker, as long as the person complies with University regulation concerning smoking.

Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and / or drug screen.