Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics

Lehigh University • Bethlehem, PA

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics at Lehigh University invites applications for a tenured Associate Professor specializing in plasma control, with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2027. The successful candidate will teach Thermodynamics/Nuclear Fusion courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels, engage in scholarly activities, participate in departmental, college, and university service, and contribute to an academic environment in which all students, faculty, and staff can thrive. The candidate is expected to develop a vigorous research program and demonstrate excellence in teaching at both graduate and undergraduate levels.

Multidisciplinary research is an important priority at Lehigh University, including collaboration with government agencies, industry, and campus interdisciplinary research institutes. The ideal candidate’s research will be synergistic with research thrusts in the Lehigh Institute for Functional Materials and Devices (I-FMD) and/or the Lehigh Institute for Cyber Physical Infrastructure and Energy (I-CPIE).

The Department of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics is a dynamic, collaborative academic community committed to excellence in research, education, and innovation. Its research spans energy and sustainability, fluid and thermal sciences, mechanics and materials, manufacturing, robotics and autonomous systems, and data-driven and AI-enabled engineering. Faculty and students benefit from interdisciplinary collaboration, research infrastructure, and opportunities to work across the university, with industry, and with national laboratories. Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley, near New York City and Philadelphia.

Requirements

• Earned Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field by the date of employment.
• Track record of publishing in top-tier journals related to nuclear fusion or physics.
• More than 6 years of experience teaching courses on thermal or fusion systems at the university level.
• Specialization in plasma control.

Nice To Haves

• Research synergistic with the Lehigh Institute for Functional Materials and Devices (I-FMD) and/or the Lehigh Institute for Cyber Physical Infrastructure and Energy (I-CPIE).

Responsibilities

• Teach Thermodynamics/Nuclear Fusion courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
• Engage in scholarly activities and develop a vigorous research program in plasma control.
• Participate in departmental, college, and university service.
• Contribute to an academic environment in which students, faculty, and staff can thrive.
• Pursue multidisciplinary research and collaboration with government agencies, industry, and campus interdisciplinary research institutes.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree