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Associate or Full Professor - Transdisciplinary Materials Research Cluster

Location: San Antonio, TX
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Job ID: 12576
Full/Part Time: Full Time

Position Information

Associate or Full Professor - Transdisciplinary Materials Research

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) invites applications for the position of Associate and/or Full Professor, to be appointed as a University of Texas System (UT System) Research Excellence Regents' Associate/Full Professor. Five faculty hires will be made, and successful candidates will be part of a strategic cluster hiring initiative focused on Enhancing Transdisciplinary Materials Research at UTSA with an anticipated starting date in the Fall of the 2025-26 academic year.

The University of Texas System recently approved the creation of the Regents' Research Excellence Program across its four Emerging Research Universities (ERUs), including UTSA. UT System has allocated $55 million across all four ERUs to fund the recruitment of research-active faculty to dramatically grow its national research prominence and federal funding opportunities. UTSA's allocation from UT System translates to approximately 40 new faculty positions for new, mid- to senior-level faculty over the next several years who will add expertise in research areas that will enhance competitiveness, help solve societal needs and advance the university's capacity to meet UT System and state goals as outlined by the Texas Legislature.

The Clustered & Connected Hiring Program is designed to recruit and hire some of the best and brightest minds of varying backgrounds and experiences in select fields to The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to join in efforts to address some of today's most significant challenges.

For the Enhancing Transdisciplinary Materials Research cluster and connected hire, five positions are open. Accordingly, UTSA has identified five key areas of research interest, shown below, and candidates with expertise in transdisciplinary materials science and engineering beyond these areas are also encouraged to apply. Successful candidates will be hired non-exclusively across one or more of the following departments: Physics and Astronomy, Chemistry, Mechanical, Aerospace, & Industrial Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering. The key areas identified are:

• Materials for Quantum Information Science and Engineering:


• Materials Science and Engineering for Advanced Manufacturing


• Materials for Biological and Biomedical Applications


• Computational Materials Science and Engineering


• Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)



The University of Texas at San Antonio is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution specializing in digital economy, human health, fundamental futures, and social-economic transformation. With more than 35,000 students, it is the largest university in the San Antonio region. UTSA advances knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement, and public service, and with an intentional focus on career readiness, the university produces more graduates for the workforce than any other institution in the region. It is a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation, and the world. In August 2024, the UT System Board of Regents authorized the UT System to begin integrating UTSA and the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio into one unified institution, establishing a world-class university that integrates academic, research, and clinical excellence to build a profoundly impactful university of the future. Driven by a vision for growth and impact, this merger will expand the capacity to offer robust undergraduate and graduate programs, attract top-tier faculty and staff, develop innovative initiatives, and elevate transdisciplinary research to address the evolving needs of the region.

UTSA has been recognized as a Top Employer in Texas by Forbes Magazine. Learn more online, on UTSA Today or on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or LinkedIn.

Colleges

UTSA's colleges offer a wide range of academic programs and actively contribute to research and community engagement. The College of Sciences (COS) offers 17 undergraduate and 19 graduate programs across life sciences, physical sciences, computer science, and mathematics, with the support of over 300 faculty members. In Fall 2023, COS achieved its highest enrollment and managed over $50 million in research expenditures. Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID) serves over 4,300 students across 9 undergraduate, 16 Master's, and 6 PhD programs, supported by 140 faculty. KCEID is also home to 10 research institutes and centers, a student success center, a Large-scale Testing Laboratory, and a Makerspace supporting research through discovery and educational excellence.

Connected Departments

This Cluster & Connected Program search involves several dynamic departments at UTSA, each dedicated to impactful research, education, and community engagement. The Department of Physics and Astronomy has 22 full-time tenure/tenure-track faculty, 7 lecturers, and 18 cross-appointed faculty between UTSA and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). It offers accredited B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Physics, and will launch a Materials Science Ph.D. concentration in Fall 2025. The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Industrial Engineering has 23 tenured/tenure-track faculty, 8 non-tenure track faculty, and offers accredited B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering, an M.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering, and an M.S. degree in Advanced Manufacturing and Enterprise Engineering. The Department of Chemistry consists of 18 tenure/tenure-track faculty and 13 instructional faculty. It offers undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry (ACS and ASBMB certified), as well as M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Chemistry. Over the past decade, the department has established itself as a leading chemistry program in Texas with internationally recognized faculty, strong external funding, and collaborations with institutions such as UT Health San Antonio, SwRI, and Texas Biomedical Research Institute (TBRI). The Department of Biomedical Engineering & Chemical Engineering has 28 full-time faculty, 4 fixed-term faculty, and 60 affiliated faculty from UT Health San Antonio, offering BS, MS, and PhD programs. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. programs in Electrical Engineering, B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. programs in Computer Engineering, an M.S. program in Advanced Materials Engineering, and an M.S. program in Artificial Intelligence. The department's graduate programs are ranked in the top 100 (U.S. News, 2022).

Position Summary

UTSA continues to grow its reputation as a Tier 1 Research Institution. Assessing aspirational peers, a strategic imperative for growth and with high potential for success is in the area of Materials Science and Engineering. Recognizing this need, faculty across UTSA's College of Science (COS) and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID) aim to make transformative progress by establishing connections in Materials Science and Engineering. This initiative signifies a critical step towards standalone PhD, MS and BS degree programs in Materials Science and Engineering at UTSA. The spirit of the cluster is to bring mid- to -senior career faculty members to UTSA who research cross-disciplinary materials and materials phenomena. The new faculty hired under this cluster will complement existing Materials Science and Engineering efforts at UTSA and bolster UTSA's capabilities and readiness to develop interdisciplinary degree programs in Materials Science and Engineering.

Applicants are sought in broad areas of materials science and engineering, with a specific focus in the key areas listed as well as fields beyond these areas. Successful candidates will have a strong track record of leading externally funded R&D programs and be well positioned to: (1) develop an externally funded and internationally recognized research program; (2) attract and supervise graduate students; (3) develop innovative curriculum and teach effectively at undergraduate and graduate levels; (4) work with others across disciplinary boundaries; and (5) support the University's commitment on student success and research excellence by serving at department, college and university levels. Successful candidates will be able to leverage several centers on campus, including the Kleberg Advanced Microscopy Center and Mass Spectrometry & Proteomics Core. Over 25 faculty at UTSA have synergistic research interests with the key areas of interest, and successful candidates will demonstrate readiness to collaborate with existing materials science and engineering faculty at UTSA.

Qualifications

• Candidates should have a conferred Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, or related field.


• Expertise in areas of Materials Science and Engineering, specifically Materials for Quantum Information Science, Materials Science and Engineering for Advanced Manufacturing, Materials for Biological Applications, Computational Materials Science and Engineering, Materials for Energy Conversion, and related/tangential fields will be considered.


• Record of developing scholarly products that are critical to advancing research with an emphasis ability to collaborate and align within the interdisciplinary cluster of Enhancing Transdisciplinary Research at UTSA.


• The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate a record of leadership in high-quality, collaborative research, and an excellent scholarship record of external funding.


• The successful candidate must have the ability to work with and be sensitive to the educational needs of first-generation and low-income students and be committed to assisting the University's commitment to thrive as a Hispanic Serving Institution.


• Evidence of service to the university, field, profession, or community through leadership in Materials Science and Engineering.

Application Process

Review of applications will begin on December 5, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received by December 4, 2024.

To apply applicants must upload the following:

• A Cover letter (1-page) that specifies the Position and the Rank the candidate is applying for - candidates are encouraged to highlight key strengths for committee's consideration.


• A current curriculum vitae


• Complete contact information for at least three professional references


• A research statement (4-page limit)


• A teaching statement (2-page limit)


• A statement highlighting potential areas for transdisciplinary collaboration (2-page limit)

Additional Information:

Tenure is contingent upon Board of Regents approval, and applicants must show a demonstrated commitment.



Cluster Hiring Interview Process

UTSA aims to bring transdisciplinary and collaborative groups of faculty researchers to the university through its CCP program. As such, the on-campus interview for these positions will be conducted as a collaborative group interview, during which all on-campus candidates for a set of clustered positions will have a joint session to meet with UTSA faculty and staff simultaneously. This collaborative process allows candidates to discuss potential research collaborations with fellow candidates and current UTSA faculty. Additionally, each candidate will be given the chance to present their job talk and engage the faculty, staff, and students from their discipline's home department.

Additional Information

• UTSA is a tobacco free campus.


• This is a security sensitive position. Employment is contingent upon a successful background check.


• Applicants selected must be able to show proof of eligibility to work in the United States by time of hire.

Working Conditions

This position will be primarily located on campus. Travel and parking expenses are the employee's responsibility.

Equal Employment Opportunity

As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, it is the policy of The University of Texas at San Antonio to promote and ensure equal employment opportunity for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information, and veteran status. The University is committed to the Affirmative Action Program in compliance with all government requirements to ensure nondiscrimination. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply. UTSA campuses are accessible to persons with disabilities.


To view the full job posting and apply for this position, go to https://zahr-prd-candidate-ada.utshare.utsystem.edu/psp/ZAHRPRDADA/EMPLOYEE/UTZ_CG/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=21&JobOpeningId=12576&PostingSeq=1