WKU Mechanical Engineering Faculty Opening

Tenure-track Faculty Opening in Mechanical Engineering

The Department of Engineering at Western Kentucky University is pleased to offer an exciting opportunity in engineering education. As part of a University hiring initiative in materials science and advanced manufacturing, we are seeking to fill a tenure-track faculty position in Mechanical Engineering. Applicants are being sought in areas of mechanics, especially computational methods at micro- and nano- scales of materials, and in systems engineering. A Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related field is required. The ideal candidate will have relevant professional experience in research and/or industrial settings, and a demonstrated desire to teach in an undergraduate engineering environment. The University has a strong commitment to achieving diversity among its faculty and staff. We are particularly interested in receiving applications from underrepresented groups.

The ABET accredited, baccalaureate-only mechanical engineering program is offered jointly with the University of Kentucky and has a strong emphasis on the implementation of project experiences. The program has a ten year track record of producing graduates who are ready to meet the challenges of industry and/or graduate study.

Our faculty are committed to maintaining and improving upon a learning environment that prepares students for the successful start of their professional careers. Candidates must be capable and willing to fully participate in this environment and be dedicated to excellence in teaching. The responsibilities of this position include teaching, research, and service that are to be conducted within the context of the University, Departmental, and Program Missions. All WKU Engineering faculty are required to obtain professional licensure in the Commonwealth of Kentucky before application for tenure and promotion.

Our faculty are consistently engaged with students on projects sponsored by external constituents. The role of the faculty is to guide the students through the projects using current best practices of engineering and pedagogy. The faculty are expected to develop active professional collaborations that would ultimately lead to enhanced student learning while addressing the needs of external partners.

The Layne Endowed Professorship in Mechanical Engineering is one of four endowed faculty positions in the Engineering Department at WKU. Since 2001, the $1 million endowment has supported the development of new departmental laboratory equipment, professional development opportunities, and most importantly multiple student projects within the Mechanical Engineering Program.

Ogden College of Science and Engineering and the Applied Research Technology Program are home to a wide variety of multidisciplinary centers to support scholarly engagement and collaboration of faculty and industry participants. Some of these with which the successful candidate can collaborate include:

• The Advanced Materials Institute specializes in the analysis and characterization of a variety of materials. Faculty at WKU frequently utilize the facility for their research purposes.
• The Applied Physics Institute is a multidisciplinary research center. API researchers use fundamental physics principles to address research issues of technological importance at the frontiers of science and engineering. Research areas include nuclear physics, nanoscale physics, material science, and electronics. 
• The NOVA Center is the only facility of its kind at a North American University, home to one of the world's largest Large Chamber Scanning Electron Microscopes (LC-SEM).
• The Thermal Analysis Laboratory, housed within ICSET, is an internationally recognized facility. It is used for numerous purposes, including instruction and research, and has provided analytical services to over 300 companies, universities, and agencies in 30 different states.
• The High Performance Computation Center has been established to aid research and teaching efforts of Faculty and other University constituents who require high capacity computation tools.
• The Innovation and Commercialization Center (ICC) offices represent a statewide network of regional, urban and rural offices throughout the Commonwealth. These offices are focused on helping Kentucky entrepreneurs, scientists, and engineers perfect their business strategies in order to build successful high-tech businesses throughout Kentucky. 

Additional information about WKU Faculty scholarship facilitation can be found at http://www.wku.edu/crd/ and at http://www.wku.edu/sponsoredprograms/

Contact the Head of the Department of Engineering, Dr. Julie Ellis (270-745-2461 or julie.ellis@wku.edu) regarding questions. The review of applications will begin January 30, 2012, and will continue until the position is filled. Send letter of application, vitae, statement of teaching and research interests, official transcripts, and three letters of reference to:

Mechanical Engineering Search Committee
Department of Engineering #21082
Western Kentucky University
1906 College Heights Blvd
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1082

Electronic documents may be submitted to engineering@wku.edu
Please include: MESearch on the subject line. 

Western Kentucky University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, or marital status in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices in accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.