Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science
Overview
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is currently seeking exceptionally qualified candidates for a 9-month tenure-track Assistant Professor position with research expertise in solid mechanics and mechanics of materials, and an expected start date of August 2027. Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Mechanics of materials in extreme environments
- Nonlinear, multiscale, and multiphysics mechanics
- Mechanics of advanced composites, architected and multifunctional materials, and adaptive
- structures
- Structural integrity, reliability, and predictive lifetime modeling.
Candidates working at the intersection of mechanics and emerging technologies are particularly encouraged to apply, including those developing scientific machine learning, quantum computing algorithms, advanced numerical methods, and full-field or in-situ experimental techniques. Relevant applications may include aerospace and hypersonic structures, energy systems, materials for nuclear and fusion technologies, and materials and structures subjected to extreme loading or environmental conditions.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science (MEES) is the largest department within the William States Lee College of Engineering, staffed by 54 full-time faculty members and 16 staff members who serve about 2,000 undergraduate and graduate students. There are six active NSF CAREER awardees, and several faculty are recognized as Fellows of leading professional societies. The MEES department is internationally recognized for research programs in advanced manufacturing, precision metrology, battery research, motorsports/automotive engineering, control systems, computational mechanics, as well as emerging areas of research focus such as hypersonics and autonomous vehicles. The Department is home to the Center for Precision Metrology, the Center for Additive Manufacturing of Advanced Ceramics and the Battery Complexity, Autonomous Vehicle and Electrification Research Center. The Department has also recently launched a popular undergraduate concentration in Aerospace Engineering. The College of Engineering is home to the newly established NSF Grid Modernization Engine in the Carolinas and is leading initiatives in several areas of strategic research focus for the university, including Advanced Manufacturing and Metrology, Transformational Energy, and Transportation and Advanced Mobility.
Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in one of the following areas: Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related field by the time of appointment. Applicants should be committed to teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It is expected that the successful candidate will build strong collaborations with industry partners and national laboratories, publish in leading research journals, and establish a strong externally funded research program. Applicants should also be committed to supervising undergraduate capstone projects and graduate theses and dissertations. Priority will be given to candidates with strong research records, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, externally funded research, and a plan for future research that aligns with the university's and department's research focus in this area.
Application Documents
Applicants are required to submit the following documents for Position 001837
- One-page letter of interest.
- Curriculum Vitae.
- Research statement (up to three pages) detailing areas of expertise and research vision.
- Teaching statement (up to two pages).
- Contact information for at least three references.
About Charlotte and UNC Charlotte
UNC Charlotte, with more than 33,000 students, is a top-tier, urban R1 research university. The University is recognized for its research excellence, innovation, and student achievement that drive progress across North Carolina, the Southeastern region, and the United States. Driven by a spirit of innovation and discovery, UNC Charlotte serves as a center of research excellence that advances knowledge in areas such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, sustainability, energy, health, and urban systems—addressing challenges that shape the future of our world. The campus is located on a 1,000-acre wooded campus in the University City neighborhood of Charlotte.
The Charlotte metro area is centrally located in North Carolina’s Piedmont region, with a population of nearly three million. It is one of the fastest-growing large cities in the United States, attracting highly educated professionals and research partnerships in the field of energy, advanced manufacturing, transportation, and financial technology. Eight Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the Charlotte region, including Honeywell, Duke Energy, and Albemarle Corporation. The Charlotte airport is a major international hub and offers direct flights to most cities in the US and major destinations abroad. Charlotte offers a vibrant blend of professional sports, arts and culture, outdoor adventure, and career opportunities—making it a top destination to live. The city offers a mix of urban and natural amenities, featuring both a lively uptown area and numerous hiking trails. Within a three-hour drive, many enjoy the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains or the exciting shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Charlotte is consistently ranked among the best places to live in the country.
Learn More
This position is subject to research-security screening. As part of the application, applicants must disclose, either in their CV or in a separate document submitted with the application, all current appointments or affiliations with foreign institutions or organizations, foreign research support, and ongoing research collaborations with foreign institutions, organizations, or their personnel. Before candidates advance to an on-campus interview, the university will review this information and other publicly available information for relationships involving institutions on the current Section 1286 list and any other applicable U.S. restricted-party lists. A disclosed or identified relationship does not automatically disqualify a candidate. As a condition of employment, a selected candidate must resolve any relationship the university determines would violate applicable law or sponsor requirements or materially impair the candidate’s or the university’s eligibility for federal funding.
Interested applicants are encouraged to review the program’s website or contact the chair of the Search Committee, Professor Praveen Ramaprabhu (pramapra@charlotte.edu), with further questions. Please review the full job description at jobs.charlotte.edu for additional information, expectations, and requirements.
Review of applications will begin in November 2026. Interviews are expected to begin in December 2026 and will continue until the position is filled. The candidate selected for this position will be required to provide an official transcript of their highest degree earned and will be subject to a criminal background check.