The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) in the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Baylor University seeks candidates for a tenure-track or tenured position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor to start in August 2027. This position is part of a multi-year expansion of faculty in materials science and engineering across the School of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Arts and Sciences, reflecting a strategic University investment in the area. Details of the position can be found in ID: 188268.
We seek an innovative and motivated individual who will support the new multidisciplinary Materials Science and Engineering PhD program while also serving the broader interests of the Mechanical Engineering department. The successful candidate will be expected to strengthen and elevate the quality and breadth of research and teaching in the department, with an emphasis on materials science and engineering. We welcome applicants with either experimental, computational or a combination of both skills. Research interests may include, but are not limited to: (1) additive manufacturing; (2) composite materials; (3) materials for extreme environments, such as ceramics and alloys (4) non-destructive evaluation; (5) advanced materials characterization, including multiscale characterization of engineering materials in extreme environments; (6) experimental and computational mechanics; (7) modeling and simulation of materials processing, including AI-guided approaches; and (8) data-driven and machine learning methods for materials design and discovery. Responsibilities include active research, undergraduate and graduate teaching, course curriculum development, and professional service. A competitive startup package will accompany the position. Candidates who are outside of the United States and do not have other nonimmigrant visa status will not be sponsored for an H-1B petition.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering: Baylor’s ABET-accredited ME program currently has 19 tenured/tenure-track faculty members including the Kenneth and Celia Carlile Endowed Chair, a research professor, three clinical faculty members, and five lecturer faculty members. The faculty are internationally recognized in research areas including Biomechanics, Biomedical Sensors, Additive and Advanced Materials, Ceramic and Polymeric Composites, Non-destructive Evaluation, Sustainable Energy and Power Systems, Combustion, Aerodynamics and Thermophysics, and Interfacial Fluid Mechanics. The department is housed within the Rogers Building and the Baylor Research and Innovation Collaborative (BRIC) (see www.baylor.edu/bric). The department offers BS, MS, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering and a BS in Aerospace Engineering. The department, along with Electrical Engineering, Physics and Chemistry manage Baylor’s MS and PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. The department, jointly with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, oversees the Pre-Engineering program and offers a BS in Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, MS in Biomedical Engineering, and Master of Engineering degrees. Enrollment during AY 2025-2026 was 209 pre-engineering students, 231 ME undergraduates, and 45 full-time ME graduate students.
The Materials Science and Engineering Program: Faculty in the Department of Mechanical Engineering contribute to Baylor’s newly established MS and PhD program in Materials Science and Engineering, a university-wide initiative that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across departments. This research-intensive program is strategically aligned with national priorities in Advanced Structural and Multifunctional Materials and Optical and Quantum Materials. Faculty engaged in this program have the opportunity to mentor masters and doctoral students, participate in cross-disciplinary research teams, and shape a growing area of scholarship at Baylor. The program is supported by Baylor’s advanced experimental and computational research infrastructure and reflects the university’s commitment to expanding its research footprint in emerging advanced materials technologies. Faculty in the program collaborate with the Center for Microscopy and Imaging (CMI) (https://bsb.research.baylor.edu/core-research-centers/center-microscopy-and-imaging), which provides electron, atomic force, and confocal microscopy along with sample preparation for materials characterization. They also collaborate with the Point-of-Need Innovations (PONI) Center (https://poni.research.baylor.edu) in the BRIC, an interdisciplinary research and development center spanning materials, manufacturing, engineering design, business management, and logistics, whose more than 5,000 square feet of laboratory space includes a 1,500-square-foot ITAR laboratory. The BRIC also hosts the Materials Testing and Characterization Core (MTCC), an ISO 17025 accredited testing facility staffed by PhD-level research scientists and technicians. Current enrollment is 41 full-time MS and PhD seeking graduate students.
About Baylor University: Baylor University is located in Waco, Texas and is the oldest college in the state. It has a diverse student population of 21,000 and is recognized as an R1 institution by the Carnegie Classification. Baylor is also noted on the honor roll of “Great Colleges to Work For” by ModernThink. We offer competitive salaries and benefits, allowing faculty and staff to live in one of the fastest-growing parts of the state. As a Christian university with historic Baptist roots and as reflected in the Notice of Non-Discrimination, Baylor strives to be a place characterized by civility and respect. We believe each student, faculty, staff, and administrator is made in the image of God. Baylor's new strategic plan, Baylor in Deeds, guides the University as it continues to fulfill its mission of educating men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community.
Baylor University is a private not-for-profit university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, Baylor is committed to compliance with all applicable anti-discrimination laws, including those regarding age, race, color, sex, national origin, pregnancy status, military service, genetic information, and disability. As a religious educational institution, Baylor is lawfully permitted to consider an applicant’s religion as a selection criterion. Baylor encourages women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply.
Requirements include:
1) an earned doctorate in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field,
2) outstanding English communication skills,
3) a commitment to teaching excellence,
4) demonstrated research achievement and publication record commensurate with appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, and
5) a commitment to professional activities.
Preferred:
1) post-doctoral experience or other industrial experience, and
2) applicant research topics complementing existing areas of departmental expertise and intersecting the strategic areas identified in Baylor’s strategic plan.
Review of applicants will begin on October 31, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. Nothing received after December 31, 2026 can be considered. Applications must include
1) a cover letter,
2) a curriculum vitae,
3) transcript of highest degree earned
4) an individualized statement of teaching interests,
5) an individualized statement of research plans related to Baylor's programs, and
6) contact information for at least three professional references.
Additionally, applicants must also complete the Baylor University Religious Affiliation Form (RAF) to be considered for the position. Letters of reference will be required of finalists.
Baylor University, a private not-for-profit university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, is committed to compliance with all applicable anti-discrimination laws, including those regarding age, race, color, sex, national origin, military service, genetic information, and disability. Baylor complies with statutory Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity requirements. Baylor's full official Notice of Non-Discrimination may be read online.
