The Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking applications to fill a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level starting August 1, 2027, across several disciplines in radiological engineering, including health physics, radiation protection, decommissioning, medical physics, nuclear space sciences, and radiation detection. Duties will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in nuclear engineering-related subjects, generating externally funded research, advising graduate students, writing scholarly journal articles, and providing service to the department, college, university, and community.
The UTK Department of Nuclear Engineering is part of the Tickle College of Engineering and is one of the largest nuclear programs in the country. It is ranked #1 in graduate enrollment (156), #2 in undergraduate enrollment (432), and #2 in BS and PhD degrees awarded. The department has 21 tenure/tenure-track faculty and 14 non-tenure track faculty. It is currently ranked #3 overall (#2 public university) in the U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of nuclear engineering graduate programs. With over $15.5M in external funding, the department supports outstanding facilities and laboratories, including the Accelerator Research Center featuring 6/9 MV and 450-kV electron accelerators, the Flexible Neutron Source featuring DD and DT generators, the Tennessee Ion Beam Materials Laboratory (TIMBL), the environmental measurements laboratory, and several radiation detection laboratories. It has strong, active collaborations with nearby ORNL (HFIR, SNS), Y12, UCOR, and many of the 150 nuclear-related companies in the area, as well as other national laboratories and companies across the nation.
The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) is in the midst of an unprecedented period of growth and success, including adding over 30 new faculty at all levels to the college over 4 years as part of ambitious hiring campaigns led by Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench. The college has set records in research expenditures, enrollment, incoming student GPA, intellectual property development, and USNWR rank in the past three years. Key partnerships with Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) through the University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UTORII) and Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) that manages the Y-12 National Security Complex have created an expanded opportunity space for faculty and students in the region. New facilities include the state-of-the art Zeanah Engineering Complex, the University of Tennessee Manufacturing and Design Enterprise (TN-MADE) facility, and the Innovation South building that houses UTK’s Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF), a National Prototype Research Center (NSPC) as part of a partnership with CNS Y-12 under construction, and new facilities for the Biomedical Engineering department and a quantum foundry in planning stages.
TCE currently has 213 tenure/tenure track and over 80 non-tenure track faculty in its nine academic departments and offers 11 undergraduate, 16 MS, and 15 PhD/DE degree programs. Affiliated with TCE and located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the UT Space Institute is a hub of aerospace and defense research. The college is also home to eight research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 4,800 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students, the college sits 28th among public universities in the most recent U.S. News and World Report graduate rankings. Faculty in the college have won 33 early career awards (NSF, DOE, DARPA, AFOSR, AHA, and Sloan) since 2016. In FY25, the college had annual research expenditures of $113.9M.
The department, college, and university strive to be a welcoming community where students, faculty, and staff from all backgrounds are able to belong, thrive, and contribute. The university has established a number of policies to promote work-life balance and support the professional development, success, and overall well-being of faculty. Knoxville, TN is a vibrant city with a beautiful and walkable downtown, active neighborhoods, an effervescent nightlife that includes numerous theaters and museums, a rich live music scene across all genres, and eclectic restaurants. Knoxville is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, surrounded by lakes and the Tennessee River, providing amazing access to various outdoor activities. Knoxville is within easy driving distance of four major metropolitan areas that regularly host larger cultural and entertainment events.
Earned doctorate in Nuclear Engineering or a closely related field at the time the position is filled
Research and teaching interests in radiological engineering or related disciplines.
Demonstrated record of publishing in high-quality academic journals.
Strong communication skills and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment.
Eligibility to work in the US
Applicants should submit 1) an application letter addressing qualifications and motivation, 2) statements of research and teaching interests, 3) a complete curriculum vitae, and 4) the names and contact information for five references. Questions about the position should be directed to Dr. Lawrence Heilbronn, Chair of the Search Committee (voice: 865-974-0982; email lheilbro@utk.edu). Applications will be reviewed beginning November 30th, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.
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.
