Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace Structures)

Universities of Wisconsin•Madison, WI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in aerospace structures, dynamics, and resilience. Priority areas include nonlinear structural dynamics, aircraft design and multidisciplinary optimization, aeroelasticity and flutter, stability, noise and vibration suppression, reduced-order and high-fidelity modeling, and structural health monitoring for next-generation aircraft, rotorcraft, and space vehicles, addressing emerging challenges in sustainable aviation, high-speed flight, and space exploration. We seek faculty who can bridge computational methods, experimentation, and data-driven approaches, enabling advances in lightweight aerospace structures, morphing systems, and robust dynamic response prediction under uncertainty. Successful candidates will be able to contribute to teaching and research efforts of the new Aerospace Engineering program within the Department of Mechanical Engineering. The department welcomes candidates who transcend the traditional boundaries of Mechanical Engineering and can incorporate insights from Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Materials Engineering or related disciplines to holistically address high impact societal problems related to the areas described above. Candidates should articulate how their research will engage and attract Mechanical Engineering students from all backgrounds. The Department of Mechanical Engineering advances the mission of the College of Engineering to foster a respectful and inclusive environment for all members of our community. The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is rapidly expanding, with growing student enrollment and a dynamic wave of faculty hires, making it one of the university’s most vibrant and fast-evolving departments. The Department offers and fosters a transdisciplinary research and educational environment and provides the infrastructure to address grand technological challenges. The Department also strives to create a culture of belonging for all members of our growing department. Candidates who can contribute to these priorities are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in these areas in their cover letter, research statement, and/or teaching statement. Current research areas in the ME Department include aerospace, energy systems and storage, electrochemical systems, and sustainability; robotics, bio robotics, sensing and autonomous systems; computer-aided engineering, data-driven approaches, AI/ML and design; fluid and solid mechanics; renewable energy, aerodynamics, extreme mechanics, biomechanics; and advanced materials design and manufacturing. New research directions will continue to be launched and nurtured to facilitate creative solutions to transformative technical challenges.

Requirements

A demonstrated record of academic achievement such as peer-reviewed publications and grant awards appropriate for the early career
Exceptional potential in establishing a world-class research program
A demonstrated commitment to high-quality and inclusive undergraduate and graduate instruction
PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering or a closely related field

Nice To Haves

Candidates who can contribute to priorities of fostering a respectful and inclusive environment
Candidates who can contribute to priorities of creating a culture of belonging

Responsibilities

Teaching and developing inclusive undergraduate and graduate courses for a diverse student body in the Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, and Engineering Mechanics degree programs
mentoring graduate students and supervising their research
developing and directing a successful, extramurally funded research program
participating in departmental and university faculty governance
contributing to professional and public service