Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics - Full Professor - 530190
Job no: 530190
Work type: Regular Full-time (Benefits eligible)
Location: Tuscaloosa
Categories: Tenure/Tenure-Track Faculty
Department/Organization
214211 - Aerospace and Eng Mechanics
Rank
Professor
Position Summary
The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics (AEM) and the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering (SCoE) at The University of Alabama (UA) invite applications at the rank of Full Professor within the department. Candidates with research interests across all domains relevant to aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics are encouraged to apply. Candidates with research emphasis and interests in the areas of (1) fatigue and fracture mechanics and (2) solid mechanics and materials are strongly encouraged to apply.
Detailed Position Information
The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics (AEM: https://aem.eng.ua.edu) and the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering (SCoE: https://eng.ua.edu) at The University of Alabama (UA: https://ua.edu) invite applications for a tenured faculty position at the rank of Full Professor level within the AEM department.
Candidates with research interests across all domains relevant to aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics are encouraged to apply. Candidates with research emphasis and interests in the areas of (1) fatigue and fracture mechanics and (2) solid mechanics and materials are strongly encouraged to apply.
Candidates with prestigious achievements, significant impact in their fields, and exceptional national and international reputations will be eligible for consideration for significant endowment support through appointment as an Endowed Shelby Distinguished Professor (https://provost.ua.edu/the-shelby-endowment-for-distinguished-faculty/). These Shelby Distinguished Professor positions are one of the highest honors bestowed upon faculty at The University of Alabama, and candidates who feel their record and accomplishments warrant consideration for this additional honor should indicate this in their cover letter.
Towards achieving excellence in all our efforts, the AEM department and the SCoE seek to hire faculty that can contribute to both (1) build upon existing strengths and (2) expand the scope of research within the department, college, and university as a whole during a period of record growth and success.
This is a very exciting time to join the AEM Department at The University of Alabama. The Styslinger College of Engineering has experienced tremendous growth in its faculty, facilities, student populations, and research enterprise over the past decade. The Styslinger College of Engineering currently has more than 4,800 undergraduate students and almost 800 graduate students, making it one of the largest engineering colleges in the nation. The AEM department has also seen significant growth in recent years, with undergraduate program enrollment of 570 students in the fall of 2025 and graduate enrollment of nearly 200 students. The department currently offers three degrees: a BS in Aerospace Engineering, an MS in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics. The two graduate programs are offered both on-campus and through distance education. The department is currently on a multi-year effort to significantly expand its faculty size to help better serve its students and educational mission and to add both depth and breadth to the range of research activities represented across the department and its faculty.
AEM and the SCoE consider teaching, research, and service as the three critical and complementary portions of their overall mission. Candidates must demonstrate experience and the ability to successfully lead and extramurally fund a highly productive research program with significant scholarly impact in an area with long-term potential to further build upon the rapid rise and success of the AEM department and the SCoE. An ability to collaborate with existing faculty in the key focus areas both within the department and college, as well as with potential colleagues across the campus, is highly desirable. The department and college also pride themselves on the outstanding educational experience provided to their students, and thus faculty candidates must demonstrate an ability to develop and teach classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the faculty member's area(s) of expertise as well as to teach courses that support the delivery and accreditation of the Department's core degree programs.
The department, college, and university are also notable for the collegial, welcoming, and supportive spirit built into the fabric of who we are and how we interact across our family of students, faculty, and staff. It is therefore expected that candidates will demonstrate an ability to support this important aspect of our community.
Appointments to the faculty of The University of Alabama are based on the personnel requirements of the University's academic programs and on the goal of achieving and maintaining excellence in its teaching, research, and service/academic citizenship activities.
Minimum Qualifications
• • Earned PhD in Aerospace Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, or a closely-related discipline from an accredited institution. • Demonstrated interest and record in aerospace engineering or engineering mechanics education and professional service. • Demonstrated record of prior research work and sustained scholarly publications in refereed journals, conference proceedings, and similarly impactful venues. • Demonstrated ability of excellent teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. • Show the ability to develop and sustain a quality research program at The University of Alabama. • Demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills. Applicants must also meet all university criteria for appointment to the rank of Full Professor.
Preferred Qualifications
• • Have 10+ years of experience as a tenure-track/tenured faculty member at a leading peer R1 institution. • Demonstrated record of high-quality and impactful research and scholarly publications that is recognized nationally and/or internationally and appropriate to the position. • Show a significant record of outstanding teaching, curriculum development, and scholarship in an engineering department with both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. • Exhibit exceptional communication, advising, mentoring, and interpersonal skills.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Required application documents include: (1) a cover letter that includes both the department name and rank of position for which the candidate is applying, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) a two-to-four page statement of research interests and plans, (4) a one-to-two page statement of teaching interests and plans, and (5) the names and contact information for at least four references. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications are preferred on or before September 30, 2026, to receive fullest consideration, but the search will continue until the positions are filled. A position start date of August 16, 2027, would be typical, but flexibility with respect to start date is possible. Questions about the position can be directed to aem-search@eng.ua.edu.
