Working/Functional Title
Assistant/Associate/Full Professor Tenure System
Position Summary
The College of Engineering at Michigan State University (MSU) invites applications for a tenure-system faculty position in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME). We encourage applications for appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor and will consider exceptional candidates for appointment at the rank of Associate or (Full) Professor.
Candidates must have an earned PhD in Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline at the time of appointment, with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2027. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a sustainable, externally funded, and internationally recognized research program; contribute significantly to their discipline through scholarly work; demonstrate effective teaching and mentorship of both undergraduate and graduate students; and participate in institutional and professional service. Candidates are encouraged to discuss how their research could have an impact and complement the department's existing strengths.
All areas of Mechanical Engineering will be considered, with particular interest in:
- Artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced/autonomous advanced manufacturing
- Process engineering, design and optimization assisted by AI
- Smart materials and medical devices/systems
Preference will be given to candidates who can develop a sustainable, externally funded, and internationally recognized research program; contribute significantly to their discipline through scholarly work; demonstrate effective teaching and mentorship of both undergraduate and graduate students; and participate in institutional and professional service. Candidates are encouraged to discuss how their research could impact and complement the strengths within the department.
Other qualifications include strong leadership and interpersonal skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, and an ability to work in a collaborative research environment. Joint appointments with other engineering departments are possible, considering existing strengths and capabilities and the candidate’s preferences. Successful candidates will be appointed to an academic-year position in the tenure system, with tenure, if appropriate. Successful candidates are expected to elevate MSU's reputation through their professional activities.
This is a union position represented by the Union of Tenure System Faculty (UTSF). The university is working with the union to establish a collective bargaining agreement.
Community of Respect and Innovation At Michigan State University’s College of Engineering, we believe that education and innovation are strongest when built on mutual respect. Guided by MSU’s land-grant mission, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge, expanding access to education, and creating solutions that serve the common good. We are committed to a community where each person is respected, supported, and empowered to thrive—engineering with respect, innovating with purpose, building with trust, and growing through resilience. Learn more about our Community of Respect and Innovation.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Degree
Doctorate -Mechanical Engineering or closely related
Minimum Requirements
- Have an earned PhD in Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline at the time of appointment
- Potential for high-quality instruction and mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels
- Demonstrated ability and/or potential to provide service to the Department, the University, and the profession, and to work with students and faculty from a variety of backgrounds
- For Assistant Professor candidates: strong potential for high-quality research likely to result in top-level publications and national recognition
- For Associate/Full Professor candidates: an established national reputation for original and influential research, with demonstrable evidence of continued growth in national status
Desired Qualifications
- Demonstrated leadership ability, with strong interpersonal skills and the capacity to build effective working relationships across diverse teams
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly to varied audiences
- Proven ability to thrive in a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment
Required Application Materials
- A detailed CV
- A cover letter summarizing your qualifications
- A one-page statement of teaching and mentoring philosophy
- A one-page statement of research philosophy and vision
- Names and contact information for at least three professional references
In your application, please describe the potential impact of your work and how it aligns with the existing strengths of the Department, College, or other programs at MSU.
Special Instructions
Review of applications will begin on 12/1/2026, and continue until the position is filled. Please direct questions about this position to the search committee chair by email at at chunghas@egr.msu.edu.
Review of Applications Begins On
12/01/2026
Website
https://engineering.msu.edu/departments/me
Department Statement
The Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineering currently has the largest student enrollment in the College of Engineering and offers strong interdisciplinary research and educational programs. Its faculty engages in vibrant research across a broad range of areas, including advanced manufacturing, aerospace, combustion, control, design, dynamics, energy and sustainability, fluid dynamics, biomechanics, machine learning, robotics, solid mechanics, and thermal transport.
About The College of Engineering
For more than 130 years, the MSU College of Engineering has advanced, shared, and applied engineering knowledge to tackle society's most pressing challenges. Guided by MSU's land-grant mission, we prepare exceptional graduates, conduct breakthrough research, and drive innovations that improve lives locally and globally. As an R1 institution, we support our faculty and students with world-class facilities and robust infrastructure for discovery and application, underscored by the college's $87.2 million in annual research expenditures.
Our eight departments span computational sciences, energy, health, manufacturing, materials, mobility, security, and sustainability. Through strong collaboration and mentorship, the college provides an environment where faculty can thrive, lead transformative research, and help shape the technologies and solutions of the future.
MSU Statement
Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.
