Associate Professor - Materials Engineering - Next Generation Materials for Advancing Health

Department: ENGR-Chem Material & Biomed

About the University of Georgia

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department

About the School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering

The College of Engineering is one of the nation’s fastest-growing public colleges of engineering, with nearly 5,000 engineering and computing students since its founding in 2012. Within it, CMBE fosters engineering education in a liberal arts setting and research that meets critical societal needs. The School offers ABET-accredited B.S. degrees in Biochemical Engineering and Biological Engineering, along with M.S. and Ph.D. programs and has grown rapidly to over 500 undergraduate and graduate students and 20 faculty members. Faculty expertise spans biomaterials, therapeutic devices, diagnostics, biochemical engineering, biomanufacturing, and sustainable materials.

Additional information is available at https://engineering.uga.edu/schools/school-of-chemical-materials-biomedical-engineering/

About the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

The Franklin College of Arts and Sciences is the heart of UGA’s learning environment, advancing knowledge, research, and creative activity across more than 40 departments, schools, and institutes. Within it, BCMB is a multidisciplinary, research-intensive department of over 60 affiliated members who lead innovative programs across the spectrum of biochemistry, including bioinformatics, structural biology, enzymology, epigenetics, cancer biology, glycobiology, science education, infectious disease, and molecular medicine. Faculty have access to extensive resources in genomics, bioinformatics, cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, NMR, cell production, and mass spectrometry.

Additional information is available at https://www.bmb.uga.edu

College/Unit/Department website:

https://engineering.uga.edu/schools/school-of-chemical-materials-biomedical-engineering/

Posting Type: External

Retirement Plan: TRS or ORP

Employment Type: Employee

Benefits Eligibility: Benefits Eligible

Anticipated Start Date: 08/01/2027

Job Posting Date: 10/22/2026

Open until filled: Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Applicants are asked to submit the following information along with their application:

• A cover letter (not to exceed two pages) addressing the candidate’s experience relative to the responsibilities of the position.
• A detailed curriculum vita
• A research plan not to exceed three pages.
• A combined teaching and mentoring statement not to exceed two pages.
• The names, titles, and contact information for three professional references.

All these materials should integrate ideas and efforts that support UGA’s values and enrich our missions of teaching, research, and service (https://uga.edu/about/mission).

Questions related to the position may be directed to the Search Committee member, Dr. Hitesh Handa (hhanda@uga.edu) or to Dr. Robert Woods (rwoods@ccrc.uga.edu). Applications received by December 01, 2026, will receive full consideration; review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. References will be contacted only after initial screening.

Location of Vacancy: Athens Area

EEO Statement:

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement:

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Classification Title: Associate Professor

Faculty Rank: Associate Professor

Contract Type: Academic (9 mo.)

Tenure Status: Tenure Track or Tenured

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, or another field closely related to the position.

Position Summary:

The University of Georgia invites applications for an academic-year (9-month), tenured or tenure-track Associate Professor position in Materials Engineering to begin August 1, 2027, with the opportunity to supplement salary during the summer. The position is part of the 2026–2027 President’s Strategic Faculty Hiring Initiative (PHI), which invests in interdisciplinary faculty clusters addressing problems of state and national importance. This position will hold a joint appointment with the School of Chemical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering (CMBE) in the College of Engineering as the primary unit and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB) in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences as the secondary unit. The successful candidate will be a member of both units and will be assigned Graduate Faculty Status in both units upon appointment. This position will be supervised by the Chair of the School of CMBE and the Department Head of BCMB.

This search is part of UGA’s broader Next-Generation Materials for Advancing Health initiative.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish and sustain an internationally recognized, externally funded research program; build strong collaborations across CMBE, BCMB, and related materials and health-science programs at UGA; mentor undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers; and contribute to undergraduate and graduate education. The successful candidate will also teach core engineering courses and participate in the School’s curriculum and program-assessment work, given that CMBE’s undergraduate programs are ABET-accredited.

UGA has substantial interdisciplinary strengths in materials, including expertise within CMBE, BCMB, Chemistry, Physics, and the New Materials Institute, together with growing connections to health-related research and the Victoria Kay Ivester School of Nursing. The successful candidate will have opportunities to help strengthen these connections and contribute to the continued development of materials education and research across the University.

Additional Requirements:

• Candidates considered for the associate professor rank must have qualifications and academic credentials that are commensurate with promotion guidelines at the University of Georgia.
• Tenured candidates must satisfy University of Georgia requirements for tenure.
• For information about the requirements for each faculty rank, please see the UGA Guidelines for Appointment, Promotion and Tenure.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies:

We seek an accomplished scholar whose research develops innovative materials at the interface of engineering, materials science, biology, and human health.

Areas of particular interest include:

• Biomimetic and bio-responsive materials;
• Antimicrobial materials and strategies for preventing implant-associated infections;
• Materials and interfaces for medical implants and devices;
• Biosensors and responsive diagnostic materials;
• Bio-interfaces and the interactions among materials, cells, proteins, and microorganisms;
• Advanced material platforms that address clinically important challenges in infection, tissue integration, sensing, or therapeutic delivery.

Outstanding candidates whose research complements these areas and strengthens interdisciplinary materials research at UGA are also encouraged to apply.

Additional Qualifications:

• A sustained record of high-quality scholarly research and peer-reviewed publication, success in obtaining extramural research support, and effective teaching and graduate mentoring.
• Ability to contribute effectively to interdisciplinary research and education spanning engineering and the molecular and biological sciences.
• Ability to teach core undergraduate engineering courses in ABET-accredited programs and to contribute to curriculum development and program assessment.
• Strong record of interdisciplinary research connecting fundamental materials design with biological mechanisms and/or translational applications.
• Demonstrated success in building collaborative research programs, including multi-investigator initiatives and externally funded partnerships.
• A proven track record translating fundamental materials discoveries toward applications in human health.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.

Is this a Position of Trust?: No

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources?: No

Does this position require a P-Card?: No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position?: No

Is driving a responsibility of this position?: No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?: No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications): No

Credit and P-Card policy:

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy:

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.