Job Details

Research Assistant Professor, Non-Tenure Track, Mechanical Engineering

Position Number: 6654591
Location: Waco, TX
Position Type: Engineering - Mechanical

Research Assistant Professor, Non-Tenure Track, Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering

Location: Waco, Texas
Open Date: Sep 30, 2025
Deadline: Dec 31, 2025 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Description:
We are seeking an innovative and motivated individual to join our faculty as a non-tenure track Research Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering, contributing to the development and success of Baylor University's new multidisciplinary Ph.D. program in Materials Science and Engineering. This position reflects our ongoing commitment to advancing research and education in advanced manufacturing and materials-areas that have experienced substantial growth in recent years. The successful candidate will join the Mechanical Engineering Department starting in August 2026 and will play a key role in enhancing the depth and impact of our research in Materials Science and Engineering.

The position is open to candidates with research interests including but not limited to: (1) corrosion behavior of structural materials, (2) materials for extreme environments, (3) non-destructive evaluation, (4) metal additive manufacturing, (5) experimental and computational physical metallurgy, (6) modeling and simulation of materials processing, and (7) solid-state material processing.

Required qualifications include an earned doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field, excellent communication skills, demonstrated research achievement and publication record commensurate with appointment at the rank of assistant professor, and a committement to professional activites. Application consideration will also include 1) post-doctoral experience or other industrial experience, and 2) applicant's research topics complementing existing areas of departmental expertise and intersecting the strategic areas identified in Baylor University's strategic plan.

The Materials Sciences and Engineering Program: Faculty from the Department of Mechanical Engineering actively contribute to Baylor's recently established MS and PhD programs in Materials Science and Engineering, which promote interdisciplinary collaboration across multiple departments. These research-intensive programs are strategically aligned with national priorities in areas such as Advanced Structural and Multifunctional Materials, as well as Optical and Quantum Materials. Participating faculty mentor masters and doctoral students, engage in cross-disciplinary research teams, and play a key role in advancing this rapidly growing field of scholarship at Baylor. The program is supported by Baylor's advanced research infrastructure and reflects the university's commitment to expanding its research footprint in emerging advanced materials technologies. Currently, there are 30 PhD seeking graduate students enrolled.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering: Baylor's ABET-accredited ME program currently has 19 tenured/tenure-track faculty members including the Kenneth and Celia Carlile Endowed Chair, two clinical faculty members, and five lecturer faculty members. The faculty are internationally recognized in research areas including Biomechanics, Biomedical Sensors, Additive and Advanced Materials, Ceramic and Polymeric Composites, Sustainable Energy and Power Systems, Combustion, Aerodynamics and Thermophysics, and Interfacial Fluid Mechanics. The department is housed within the Rogers Building and the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) (see www.baylor.edu/bric). The department offers BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering and jointly with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering oversees the Pre-Engineering program and offers BS in Engineering, BS in Aerospace Engineering, MS in Biomedical Engineering, and Master of Engineering degrees. Current enrollment is 201 pre-engineering, 216 undergraduate, and 47 full-time graduate students.

About Baylor University: Baylor University is the oldest college in Texas. With a population of around 21,000 students, Baylor is one of the top universities in the nation, having just been named an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification in 2022. Baylor is also on the honor roll of the "Great Colleges to Work For" from The Chronicle of Higher Education, Baylor offers competitive salaries and benefits while giving faculty and staff the chance to live in one of the fastest-growing parts of the state. Baylor seeks faculty who share in our aspiration to advance as a tier one research institution while strengthening our distinctive Christian mission as described in our strategic vision Baylor In Deeds (https://strategicplan.web.baylor.edu). Our strategic plan guides the University as we continue to live up to Baylor's mission of educating men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.

Qualifications:
Required:

Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field
Demonstrated research achievement and publication record
Commitment to professional activities
Excellent communication skills

Preferred:

Post-doctoral experience or other industrial experience
Research record complementing existing areas of departmental expertise

Application Instructions:
To apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/173909

Please provide the following documents through Interfolio:

Cover letter
CV (Curriculum Vitae)
Individualized statement of research plans
Contact information for at least three professional references
Academic transcript of highest degree earned (official transcripts will be required of finalists)
Religious Affiliation Form (Found in Interfolio)

Materials must be submitted by December 31, 2025.

Baylor University, a private not-for-profit university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, is committed to compliance with all applicable anti-discrimination laws, including those regarding age, race, color, sex, national origin, military service, genetic information, and disability. Baylor complies with statutory Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity requirements. Baylor's full official Notice of Non-Discrimination may be read online.