Assistant Professor of Practice - Materials and Optics

Working Title: Assistant Professor of Practice - Materials and Optics

Department: Electrical & Computer Engineering-1063

Requisition Number: F_260130

Posting Open Date: 10/22/2026

Application Review Date: (To ensure consideration, please submit all application materials before review date): 11/30/2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Description of Work

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL), a land grant, Big Ten, and R1 institution, invites applications for a Professor of Practice faculty position at the assistant professor rank. ECE fosters a collegial, collaborative culture, supporting broad interdisciplinary research with other units across our campus. We invite applicants who can establish a strong scholarly teaching program in materials and optics. The position begins Fall 2027.

Position Description

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering invites exceptional candidates with teaching expertise in materials, optics, electromagnetics, and photonics. This is a 9-month, full-time, non-tenure track, career-oriented position with the initial appointment for a term of up to three years, with the opportunity for future multi-year renewals.

Department Overview

Across its two campuses, City Campus in Lincoln and Scott Campus in Omaha, the ECE department boasts over 30 faculty members, more than 500 undergraduate students, and nearly 100 graduate students. Faculty are engaged in a wide range of research areas, including embedded systems, microelectronics and integrated circuits, etchable and flexible electronics, computer vision, AI/ML, cybersecurity, robotics, wireless communication and networks, image/signal processing, nanotechnology, bioinformatics and biomedical engineering, power and energy systems, and electromagnetics and optics. ECE has been an educational leader within the COE and in the state of Nebraska, with two ABET accredited undergraduate degree programs in electrical engineering and computer engineering, four graduate degree programs, as well as two interdisciplinary graduate degree programs. ECE is also a contributor to the $25 million Heartland Robotics Cluster.

College Growth

The ECE department plays a key role in advancing COE's ambitious research goals, supported by cutting-edge facilities, including a $75M research building and a $115M engineering education building opened in 2024. COE is dedicated to delivering a world-class engineering education, including its unique Complete Engineer® Program. Additionally, UNL COE was one of the first three institutions in the nation to receive the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program Silver Award. We are seeking an innovative leader with a vision for growth and a strong commitment to advancing research, education, and engagement in the ECE department.

About UNL, Lincoln, and Omaha

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is Nebraska's land-grant research university, is a member of the Big Ten, and ranks among Doctoral Universities with the Highest Research Activity [Carnegie CIHE]. As the state's flagship institution, UNL plays a key role in the research and innovation landscape within the region and leverages the department's co-location in Lincoln and Omaha. The city of Omaha, the largest metropolitan area in Nebraska, is a rising tech hub in the Midwest. Lincoln, the state capital, is also part of a growing high-tech region known as the 'Midwest Silicon Prairie'. Taking advantage of both communities, UNL offers a vibrant, welcoming, family-friendly community with a strong economy, excellent public-school systems, a modest cost of living, and a high quality of life. Learn more about life in Lincoln and Omaha at placetobelnk.com, aboutlincoln.unl.edu, and visitomaha.com.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field by the start date of the appointment.
• At least five years of prior teaching experience.
• A demonstrated excellence in undergraduate teaching and previous effective teaching experience in courses related to materials and optics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the development and offering of innovative undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to curriculum innovation and program development in our undergraduate materials and optics program and the Nano-engineering Research Core Facility (NERCF).
• Advising and undergraduate research mentoring experience.

Work Location (City, State): Lincoln, NE

Criminal History Background Check Required: No

How to Apply

Rolling reviews will continue until the position has been filled. Interested applicants are encouraged to continue to apply after the review of applications date.

Click “Apply for this Job,” complete the faculty information form, and attach the following:

1. Cover letter explaining your interest in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. A statement describing your research and scholarly activities, future directions, and broader impacts.
4. A statement describing your teaching and mentoring practices.
5. A statement of how your combined professional and academic experiences have equipped you to make a valuable contribution to the COE Complete Engineer Program (engineering.unl.edu/complete-engineer).
6. A list of at least three (3) professional references including contact information.

The statements for items 3, 4, and 5 together should total no more than six (6) pages. Please combine them into a single document and attach as “Other Document.”

For questions or accommodations related to this position contact: Associate Prof. Craig Zuhlke, czuhlke@unl.edu, (402) 472-3771.

Job Category: Faculty Non-Tenure Leading

Job Type: 9 Month

Position funded by grant or other form of temporary funding?: No

Planned Hire Date: 08/16/2027