Assistant Professor - Aerospace Propulsion

18145BR

Aerospace Engineering

Position Overview

The Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Kansas is seeking nominations and applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of aerospace air-breathing or air-cooled propulsion. The Aerospace Engineering faculty are currently engaged in numerous externally funded research programs, with support from Federal (NASA, NSF, ONR, AFRL, ARL), Industry (Lockheed, GE, Microsoft Research), Private (Heising-Simons Foundation) and other sources. We are seeking to expand in the area of aerospace propulsion including but not limited to gas-turbine engines, turbomachinery, hybrid electrics, hydrogen fuel cells, hypersonics, technologies to improve fuel efficiency, propulsion systems for unmanned aerial systems and advanced air mobility systems, environmentally friendly propulsion, or related areas. The ideal candidate will have experience and interest in both teaching and research aspects of aerospace propulsion system design and development. The department encourages interdisciplinary research, and the new hire will collaborate with many faculty in Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, and others to advance research and education, and build a sustained externally funded research program.

Applications are sought from candidates with earned doctorates in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field in Engineering by the time of appointment. Candidates should demonstrate a sustained commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching, scholarly research, local and international service, departmental and student advising. The successful candidate will be results-oriented, have a record of superior scholarship, have a promising vision for externally funded research, have experience in externally funded research, develop or maintain an externally funded research program, and teach high-quality courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The department values diversity in pedagogy, in the curriculum, in outreach to students, and in research.

The University of Kansas School of Engineering has embarked on a strategic plan that leads to significant expansion while taking explicit care to maintain and improve the high-quality student programs for which the university is known. This is a multi-faceted approach that drives growth in facilities, faculty, leadership, research and, most important, students, as it helps industry partners find the new talent, designs, and techniques they need to fuel economic growth and business success. Special consideration will be given to applicants committed to excellence, who can contribute to the University's innovative, collaborative, and multidisciplinary initiatives to educate leaders, build healthy and vibrant communities, and make discoveries that will change the world. The University of Kansas School of Engineering (SOE) and the Department of Aerospace Engineering strongly value Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.   KU SOE is one of only 29 universities to achieve the exemplar, inaugural ASEE Diversity Recognition Bronze Award https://diversityrecognition.asee.org/award-recipients/ .  In a continuing effort to enrich its academic environment and provide equal educational and employment opportunities, the university actively encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups in higher education.

Job Description

The Department of Aerospace Engineering currently has 11 tenured/tenure-track faculty, with programs leading to bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral degrees.  KU is a comprehensive educational and research-intensive AAU institution that operates through a diverse, multi-campus system, with 27,600 students and 2,800 faculty members. Opened in 1866, KU’s main campus is considered one of the most beautiful in the nation, occupying 1,000 acres on Mount Oread in Lawrence, a thriving city of 97,000, located 30 minutes west of Kansas City in the forested hills of eastern Kansas. All qualified (including international) candidates are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate must receive valid U.S. work authorization prior to the specified start date.

Job Duties:
40% Teaching - Develop curriculum and teach undergraduate and graduate courses, in-person and virtually in Aerospace Engineering and associated disciplines. Participate in undergraduate and graduate student academic advising. Mentor graduate students in research and serve as the major advisor and chair of master’s and doctoral level thesis committees.

40% Research/Scholarship - Develop and direct a sustainable research program that includes directing students, establishing a strong externally-funded research program, and disseminating findings through peer-reviewed manuscripts and/or issued patents. Collaborate with internal and external research constituents.

20% Service - Participate in University, School, Departmental and professional service activities, including service committees, technical committees, industry boards, or other programs related to the field. Foster a positive relationship with industry and the community. Perform other duties as assigned by the Department Chair.

Required Qualifications

Evaluation of these requirements will be made through (a) your letter of application describing your work and educational experiences, including your commitment in working with diverse groups or how your teaching, service and/or scholarship has supported the success of students from racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds that are underrepresented in your academic field; (b) record of accomplishments and productivity in research and teaching as addressed in the c.v., including research publications and conference presentations; c) a statement addressing your vision for a sustainable program of funded research; (d) a statement addressing your teaching philosophy and commitment/approach in the use or development of inclusive teaching/advising practices, pedagogical techniques and course materials, and  (e) information provided from three professional references.

Additional Candidate Instruction

Screening of applications will begin on February 1, 2021 and continue until the position is filled. The target starting date is August 18, 2021.  Only complete applications will be considered.
Complete applications will include:

In addition to the materials above, learning about each applicant's contribution and engagement in areas of diversity is an important part of KU's mission. As a result, applicants will be presented the following question at the time of application. The response must be within 4,000 characters or less.

• Describe your experiences working with people from diverse backgrounds, and explain how those experiences reflect your commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion? 

Application Review Begins

01-Feb-2021

Anticipated Start Date

18-Aug-2021

Primary Campus

University of Kansas Lawrence Campus

Advertised Salary Range

commensurate with experience

Disclaimer

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, and genetic information in the university's programs and activities. Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity & Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 West Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS 66045, 785-864-6414, 711 TTY 9for the Lawrence, Edwards, Parsons, Yoder, and Topeka campuses); Director, Equal Opportunity Office, Mail Stop 7004, 4330 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Fairway, KS 66205, 913-588-8011, 711 TTY (for the Wichita, Salina, and Kansas City, Kansas medical center campuses).