Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Synthesis and Processing Science of Ceramics, Fall 2026

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) in the Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) at the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the general area of experimental synthesis and processing science of ceramics.

The MSE Department at UTK is a vibrant and rapidly growing academic unit with internationally recognized strengths in ceramics metals and alloys polymers composites and electronic materials. Our faculty bring world-class expertise in computational modeling AI / ML for materials informatics advanced and automated synthesis and characterization in-situ and ex-situ probes of nano- and microstructures and physical and mechanical testing of materials. Leveraging close partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and access to state-of-the-art facilities the department offers an unparalleled environment for impactful research and education. Visit the department website for more information : Areas of Interest

We seek candidates with experimental research expertise in the synthesis and processing science of ceramics. The successful candidate is expected to advance fundamental understanding of how processing routes control structure chemistry and performance in bulk and thin-film ceramics with potential applications in structural functional energy or extreme-environment ceramics. Areas of particular interest include but are not limited to :

Advanced ceramics synthesis and processing including the design and development of new ceramic compositions and architectures.

Traditional ceramic processing and fabrication such as powder synthesis forming densification and sintering.

Solution- and colloidal-based sol-gel processing of bulk and thin-film ceramics for structural and functional applications.

Ceramic phase equilibria and thermodynamics with emphasis on developing and applying ternary and higher-order phase diagrams to guide synthesis and processing.

In-situ experimental characterization using X-rays electrons and neutrons to probe reaction pathways phase transformations kinetics and thermal expansion during processing.

Grain boundary chemistry microstructure evolution and interface science of ceramics particularly in linking processing conditions to microstructural control and material performance.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish a vigorous externally funded research program in ceramic materials collaborate with MSE faculty and across disciplines within UTK and ORNL and contribute to the broader ceramics and materials communities through high-quality scholarship and professional service.

Candidates whose research is primarily computational or theoretical will not be considered.

Teaching Areas of Interest

The successful candidate will contribute to the departments undergraduate and graduate teaching mission in ceramics. Teaching areas may include but are not limited to :

• Principles and Processing of Ceramic Materials
• Materials Chemistry of Ceramics
• Ceramic Phase Equilibria
• Kinetics of Materials
• X-ray Diffraction and Characterization Methods

The ability to develop new graduate-level courses in areas aligned with the candidates research is strongly encouraged.

About the Tickle College of Engineering

The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) is in the midst of an unprecedented period of growth and success including adding over 30 new faculty to the college as part of ambitious hiring campaigns led by Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench. The college has set records in research expenditures enrollment incoming student GPA intellectual property development and U.S. News & World Report rank in the past three years. New facilities include the state-of-the-art Zeanah Engineering Complex the University of Tennessee Manufacturing and Design Enterprise (TN-MADE) facility and the Innovation South building now under construction that will house UTKs Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF).

TCE currently has 203 tenure / tenure-track and 79 non-tenure track faculty in its nine academic departments and offers 11 undergraduate 16 M.S. and 15 Ph.D. / DE degree programs. Affiliated with TCE and located in Tullahoma Tennessee the UT Space Institute is a hub of aerospace and defense research. The college is also home to eight research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 4300 undergraduate and 1500 graduate students the college sits 29th among public universities in the most recent U.S. News and World Report graduate rankings. Faculty in the college have won 29 early career awards (NSF DOE DARPA AFOSR and ARO) since 2016. In FY24 the college had annual research expenditures of $113.6M.

About Knoxville

Knoxville TN is a vibrant city with a beautiful and walkable downtown active neighborhoods an effervescent nightlife that includes numerous theaters and museums a rich live music scene across all genres and eclectic restaurants. Knoxville is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains surrounded by lakes and the Tennessee River providing amazing access to various outdoor activities. Knoxville is within easy driving distance of four major metropolitan areas that regularly host larger cultural and entertainment events.

Key Skills

Client Server,Abinitio,Marketing and Merchandising,LMS,Bakery

Employment Type : Full Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1