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Associate or Full Professor - Space Science, Technology, and Human Performance in Space Cluster

Location: San Antonio, TX
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Job ID: 12580
Full/Part Time: Full Time

Position Information

The University of Texas at San Antonio invites applications for tenured Associate or Full Professors to contribute to a Space Science, Technology, and Human Performance in Space cluster hiring initiative to begin in the fall semester of academic year 2025-26.

Five positions are open in areas of emphasis related to space research, including:

• Satellites and space-based instrumentation


• Space access, space propulsion, & space mobility


• Materials for extreme space environments


• Space-based manufacturing


• Human performance focusing on exercise physiology, cardiovascular health, and countermeasures to space travel

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.

The University of Texas System 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 that 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.

Position Summary

Outstanding candidates at the Associate and Full Professor levels with demonstrated research expertise who can help strengthen the university teaching and research programs are invited to apply in the broad areas of space science and technology. Subfields of interest include but are not limited to satellites and space-based instrumentation, space access, space propulsion, space mobility, space materials, space-based manufacturing, human performance in space, and space medicine.

Selected candidates are expected to build successful, externally funded research programs in collaboration with individuals and groups through UTSA and the aerospace ecosystem in San Antonio and across Texas. The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Industrial Engineering recently began offering degrees and certificates in Aerospace Engineering with current expertise in high-speed aerodynamics, propulsion, computational fluid dynamics, and materials. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), a national recognized leader in space science and technology as the lead organization for a variety of NASA missions including Juno, New Horizons, Lucy, and PUNCH, is headquartered in San Antonio. UTSA has partnerships and joint PhD programs in space science and mechanical engineering with SwRI. The state of Texas also recently created the Texas Space Commission which includes $350M for space-related research for in-state universities and businesses. Applicants that can successfully leverage these resources while demonstrating a creative vision for original research are particularly encouraged to apply.



Required Qualifications

• A conferred Ph.D. in engineering, science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, or an appropriate and relevant field.


• Expertise in all areas of satellites & space-based instrumentation, space access, space propulsion, space mobility, space materials, space-based manufacturing, human performance in space, and space medicine will be considered.


• Demonstrate a record of leadership in high quality, collaborative research, and an excellent scholarship record of external funding.


• 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.


• Record of developing scholarly products that are critical to advancing research with an emphasis on space science & technology.


• Evidence of service to the university, field, or profession through leadership in the aerospace field.


• Supervise graduate students.


• Teach undergraduate and graduate classes.


• Work with others across disciplinary boundaries.

Application Process

Review of applications will begin on November 11, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received by November 10, 2024.



To apply applicants must upload the following:

• 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)

Applicants should submit their application packages to the Talent Acquisitions System at UTSA https://apptrkr.com/get_redirect.php?id=5739419&targetURL=.

Selected candidates are expected to build successful, externally funded research programs in collaboration with individuals and groups through UTSA and the aerospace ecosystem in San Antonio and across Texas. The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Industrial Engineering recently began offering degrees and certificates in Aerospace Engineering with current expertise in high-speed aerodynamics, propulsion, computational fluid dynamics, and materials. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), a national recognized leader in space science and technology as the lead organization for a variety of NASA missions including Juno, New Horizons, Lucy, and PUNCH, is headquartered in San Antonio. UTSA has partnerships and joint PhD programs in space science and mechanical engineering with SwRI. The state of Texas also recently created the Texas Space Commission which includes $350M for space-related research for in-state universities and businesses. Applicants that can successfully leverage these resources while demonstrating a creative vision for original research are particularly encouraged to apply.



Required Qualifications

• A conferred Ph.D. in engineering, science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, or an appropriate and relevant field.


• Expertise in all areas of satellites & space-based instrumentation, space access, space propulsion, space mobility, space materials, space-based manufacturing, human performance in space, and space medicine will be considered.


• Demonstrate a record of leadership in high quality, collaborative research, and an excellent scholarship record of external funding.


• 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.


• Record of developing scholarly products that are critical to advancing research with an emphasis on space science & technology.


• Evidence of service to the university, field, or profession through leadership in the aerospace field.


• Supervise graduate students.


• Teach undergraduate and graduate classes.


• Work with others across disciplinary boundaries.

Application Process

Review of applications will begin on November 11, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received by November 10, 2024.



To apply applicants must upload the following:

• 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)

Applicants should submit their application packages to the Talent Acquisitions System at UTSA https://bit.ly/3zIuIZz . All applications received by November 10, 2024 will be given priorty. Applications received after that date will be accepted and reviewed until the positon is filled. Inquiries about the position should be emailed to the Search Committee Chair, Dr. Christopher "Chris" Combs, at christopher.combs@utsa.edu .

Cluster Hiring Interview Process

UTSA aims to bring transdisciplinary and collaborative groups of faculty researchers to the university through its cluster hiring 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 cluster will 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.



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 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.



Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID)

The Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID) is home to more than 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students in 9 undergraduate, 16 Masters, and 6 PhD degree programs. The college is supported by over 140 tenure/tenure-track and fixed-term faculty and a dedicated cadre of staff. Each of the KCEID's five units brings unique value for advancing its mission-these include the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical, Aerospace, & Industrial Engineering as well as the Schools of Architecture & Urban Planning, Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management. KCEID is also home to 10 research institutions and centers, a student success center, a Large-scale Testing Laboratory, and a Makerspace, supporting research through research and discovery as well as educational excellence. Collectively, these students, faculty, and staff within KCEID support KCEID's mission to identify and solve grand challenges where humanity intersects the physical world.

KCEID educational programs are accredited by ABET, the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), and the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). For more information about KCEID, please visit https://apptrkr.com/get_redirect.php?id=5739419&targetURL=

The Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID) is home to more than 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students in 9 undergraduate, 16 Masters, and 6 PhD degree programs. The college is supported by over 140 tenure/tenure-track and fixed-term faculty and a dedicated cadre of staff. Each of the KCEID's five units brings unique value for advancing its mission-these include the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical, Aerospace, & Industrial Engineering as well as the Schools of Architecture & Urban Planning, Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management. KCEID is also home to 10 research institutions and centers, a student success center, a Large-scale Testing Laboratory, and a Makerspace, supporting research through research and discovery as well as educational excellence. Collectively, these students, faculty, and staff within KCEID support KCEID's mission to identify and solve grand challenges where humanity intersects the physical world.

KCEID educational programs are accredited by ABET, the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), the American Council for Construction Education (ACCE), and the Council of Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA). For more information about KCEID, please visit https://klesse.utsa.edu/.



College of Sciences (COS)

COS offers 17 undergraduate degree programs and 19 graduate degree programs in the life sciences, physical sciences, computer science, and mathematics, which is supported by over 300 faculty members across 8 academic departments. COS is UTSA's second largest college in terms of undergraduate and graduate student enrollment. In Fall 2023, it recorded its highest student enrollment in college history with 5580 undergraduate students and 610 graduate and post-baccalaureate students. COS is major contributor to UTSA's Carnegie R1 status with its strong commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and addressing real-world challenges. COS has grown its annual research expenditures to approximately $50 million with over 300 actively funded research projects in areas like brain health, infectious disease and artificial intelligence among other fields. COS is aligned with numerous research centers and institutes, including the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute, Brain Health Consortium, Center for Advanced Measurements in Extreme Environments, and the Center for Innovative Drug Discovery.



Visit the College of Sciences website to learn more: https://sciences.utsa.edu/



College for Health, Community and Policy (HCaP)

UTSA's College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP) trains students to develop solutions for complex social issues to improve the well-being of our communities. By engaging directly with the City of San Antonio, students and faculty live the college's mission to advance human health every day. The college is comprised of seven academic departments and one program -criminology and criminal justice, kinesiology, nutrition and dietetics, psychology, public administration, public health, social work and sociology and demography -as well as the Center for Applied Community and Policy Research, the Center for Community Based and Applied Health Research, the Institute for Demographic and Socioeconomic Research and the Institute for Health Disparities Research. HCAP includes nearly 200 faculty and 7,000 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. To learn more, please visit the https://apptrkr.com/get_redirect.php?id=5739419&targetURL=. HCAP includes nearly 200 faculty and 7,000 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. To learn more, please visit the College for Health, Community and Policy website https://hcap.utsa.edu/.



Connected Departments

The Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Industrial Engineering currently has 23 full-time tenured/tenure-track faculty (7 endowed chairs), 6 full-time non-tenure track faculty, and 900 undergraduate, 70 M.S., and 60 Ph.D. students, with the doctoral program jointly offered by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI). In addition to the 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 B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering is ABET accredited. UTSA is committed to growth in student opportunities, as indicated by the $95 million Science and Engineering building completed in summer 2020. Additional information about the Department can be found at https://klesse.utsa.edu/mechanical/.



The Department of Physics and Astronomy currently has 22 full-time tenure/tenure-track faculty members, 7 full-time lecturers, and 18 faculty cross-appointed between UTSA and the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) adjoint faculty with research across materials science, biophysics, observational astronomy, theoretical and laboratory astrophysics and space physics. Strong collaborations already exist with departments in Engineering as well as other College of Sciences departments such as Chemistry and Earth & Planetary Science. The department enrollment is currently 133 undergraduate majors, 13 M.S., and 65 Ph.D. students. The Department offers accredited B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Physics. Additional information about the Department can be found at https://sciences.utsa.edu/physics-astronomy.



The School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and Construction Management (CECM) consists of two Divisions: Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE); and Construction Science and Management (CSM). CECM offers two undergraduate degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Construction Science and Management. The B.S. degree in Civil Engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, while the Construction Science and Management B.S. program is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education. At the graduate level, CECM provides a Master of Civil Engineering degree, a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering, a Master of Science degree in Facility Management, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Civil Engineering, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Environmental Science and Engineering. The school also offers a Graduate Certificate in Construction Engineering, Science and Management, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Facility Management. CECM currently has 25 full-time tenured/tenure-track faculty, 3 full-time non-tenure-track faculty, and an enrollment of 785 undergraduate students, 84 master's students, and 71 PhD students.



The Department of Kinesiology currently has 14 full-time tenured/tenure-track faculty, 3 full-time non-tenure track faculty, and 1,600 undergraduate, 40 Master's students. The department participates in the Translational Science PhD program jointly offered by UTSA, UT Health San Antonio, UT Austin, and UT Health Houston School of Public Health. The department has 11 research laboratories on campus and active research collaborations with the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), UT Health San Antonio, Veterans Affairs medical centers, Velocity TX, local businesses and other academic institutions. Additional information about the Department can be found at https://hcap.utsa.edu/kinesiology/.

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=12580&PostingSeq=1