Biomolecular Engineering Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Description
The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville seeks outstanding candidates for a tenure-track assistant professor position in advanced energy storage and conversion-including batteries, electrochemistry, manufacturing, and related areas. Candidates must show strong potential for impactful research, effective teaching, and meaningful professional service. A Ph.D. in chemical engineering or a closely related field is required.
UT Knoxville is the state's flagship research institution, and the CBE Department maintains strong programs in advanced materials, biomolecular engineering, and sustainable energy. We welcome applicants who will strengthen existing areas or introduce new research directions. Extensive collaboration opportunities exist across campus, with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and with regional industry partners such as Eastman and Volkswagen. Additional interdisciplinary avenues include University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII), Institute for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing (IAMM), and the Center for Renewable Carbon.
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 UT-ORII, and Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), which 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.
Knoxville offers a vibrant downtown, a strong arts and music scene, and abundant outdoor recreation. The region's population exceeds 850,000, and the city is within easy reach of the Great Smoky Mountains and major metropolitan areas.
Qualifications
A Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral-level degree in chemical engineering or a closely related field is required by the appointment start date.
Application Instructions
Candidates should submit the following documents:
• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of research
• Statement of teaching
• A PDF copy of the applicant's best work (1 paper only)
• Names and contact information of at least three references
Review of applications will begin on November 2, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
Applicant questions can be directed to search chair, Dr. Gabriel Veith at cbe@utk.edu.