Description
The Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking applications to fill a non-tenure track Lecturer or Teaching Assistant Professor starting on or around August 1, 2027. Exceptionally qualified individuals with very significant teaching experience may be considered at higher ranks.
Duties will include teaching undergraduate, and possibly graduate, courses in nuclear engineering-related subjects, and providing service to the department, college, university, and community.
The UT Department of Nuclear Engineering is the largest Nuclear Engineering PhD program in the United States, with a diverse research portfolio and close collaborations with Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Y-12 National Security Complex, and more than 150 nuclear-related companies within 50 miles of the campus. The department is housed in the state-of-the-art Zeanah Engineering Complex, home to more than 20 nuclear engineering laboratories and computational resources. The department is committed to cultivating work/life balance and a family-friendly environment for faculty, staff, and students.
The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE), comprised of nine departments that house 213 tenure-track and 80+ non-tenure-track faculty, is in the midst of unprecedented growth under Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench, having added 30+ new faculty over the past 4 years and set records in research expenditures ($113.6M in FY24), enrollment (4,800 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students), and increased ranking (now 28th among public universities) in the US News and World Report list of top engineering colleges. Key partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Consolidated Nuclear Security (Y-12) and growth are supported by new facilities including the Zeanah Engineering Complex and the Innovation South building.
Knoxville is a vibrant city with a beautiful, walkable downtown, active neighborhoods, a lively nightlife with numerous theaters and museums, a rich live music scene, and eclectic dining. Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounded by lakes and the Tennessee River, Knoxville offers outstanding access to outdoor recreation and is within 200 miles of four major metropolitan areas.
Qualifications
Applicants must have a doctorate in Nuclear Engineering or a closely related field for appointment as a Teaching Assistant Professor or a Masters in Nuclear Engineering or a closely related field for appointment as a Lecturer by the effective date of appointment.
Applicants should be able to contribute to existing courses in nuclear engineering, as well as to develop new avenues of teaching. The focus area for this search is inclusive to the department’s curriculum tracks in nuclear fission engineering and radiological engineering. Relevant teaching focus includes foundational nuclear engineering and/or the areas of nuclear power in addition to radiological engineering, including radiation interactions with matter, radiation detection, health physics, and nuclear chemistry. Teaching contributions may also include courses that are part of the Nuclear Power Engineering minor, or other academic minors, within the Department of Nuclear Engineering. Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrated teaching success that complements existing University of Tennessee strengths and with the vision to develop collaborative teaching activities.
Application Instructions
Applications must be submitted electronically via Interfolio. A complete application should include:
- A curriculum vitae
- A statement of teaching interests and philosophy
- A cover letter articulating the applicant's interest in and qualifications for the position
- The names and contact information of three to five professional references
Applications will be reviewed continuously, with priority to those received by 20 December 2026. Questions may be directed to Dr. Eric Lukosi (search committee chair) at elukosi@utk.edu.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.
Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.
