Graduate Research Associate Jobs in Alabama (NOW HIRING)

Metallurgical and Materials Engineering - Associate Professor - 530180
Job no: 530180
Work type: Regular Full-time (Benefits eligible)
Location: Tuscaloosa
Categories: Tenure/Tenure-Track Faculty
Department/Organization
214281 - Metallurgical and Materials Eng
Rank
Associate Professor
Position Summary
The Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering at The University of Alabama invite applications for a tenure-track position at the rank of Associate Professor within the department. Candidates with particular research emphasis and interests in the areas of solidification science and metal casting are of particular interest and thus are strongly encouraged to apply.
Detailed Position Information
The Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (MTE: https://mte.eng.ua.edu/) and the Styslinger College of Engineering (SCoE: https://eng.ua.edu/) at The University of Alabama (UA: https://ua.edu/) invite applications for tenure-track and tenured faculty positions at all ranks, including Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor levels, within the MTE department.
This posting is specific for candidates applying for a position at the rank of Associate Professor. Applications from candidates with appropriate experience and a strong record of scholarly productivity and impact who would seek appointment at the rank of Assistant or Full Professor should apply through related postings advertised at those other position/rank levels.
Candidates with prestigious achievements in their field and exceptional national and international reputations will be eligible for consideration for significant endowment support through appointment as an Endowed Shelby Distinguished Associate Professor (https://provost.ua.edu/the-shelby-endowment-for-distinguished-faculty/). These Endowed Shelby Distinguished Associate Professors are one of the most prestigious honors bestowed upon faculty at The University of Alabama. Candidates wishing to be considered for such an appointment should indicate this in their cover letter.
Towards achieving excellence in all our efforts, the MTE department and the Styslinger College of Engineering seek to hire faculty that can contribute to both: (1) build upon existing strengths in the Department, College, and University and (2) expand the scope of research within the department, College, and UA as a whole. Candidates with research interests across all domains relevant to metallurgical and materials engineering are encouraged to apply. Candidates with particular research emphasis and interests in the areas of solidification science and metal casting are of particular interest for one or more of these positions and thus are strongly encouraged to apply.
The MTE department offers a B.S. in Metallurgical Engineering undergraduate degree and has a sustained enrollment of more than 80 students. The MTE department also has active M.S. and Ph.D. programs in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science with a total sustained graduate enrollment of more than 40 students.
The Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and the Styslinger College of Engineering consider teaching, research, and service as the three critical and complimentary portions of their overall mission. Candidates must demonstrate a clear potential to successfully develop, lead, and extramurally fund a highly productive research group with significant scholarly impact in a focus area with long term potential to further build upon the rapid rise and great success of the MTE department and the Styslinger College of Engineering. An ability to collaborate with existing faculty in the key focus areas both within the MTE Department and the Styslinger College of Engineering, as well as potential colleagues across the campus, is also highly desirable.
The Styslinger College of Engineering and the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering also pride themselves on the outstanding educational experience provided to their students, and thus faculty candidates must demonstrate an ability to develop and teach classes at both the undergraduate and graduate level in the faculty member's area(s) of expertise as well as to teach courses that support the delivery and accreditation of the Department's core degree programs.
The department, college and university are also notable for the collegial, welcoming and supportive spirit built into the fabric of who we are and how we interact across our college family of students, faculty, and staff. It is therefore expected that candidates demonstrate an ability to support this important aspect of our community. The MTE department and the Styslinger College of Engineering also pride themselves on the outstanding educational experience provided to their students, and thus faculty candidates must demonstrate an ability to develop and teach courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the faculty member's area(s) of expertise as well as to teach courses that support the delivery and accreditation of the MTE department's core degree programs.
Appointments to the faculty of The University of Alabama are based on the personnel requirements of the University's academic programs and on the goal of achieving and maintaining excellence in its teaching, research, and service/academic citizenship activities.
Minimum Qualifications
• Earned Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated record of research work and a record of impactful scholarly publications in refereed journals, conference proceedings, and similarly impactful venues.
• Demonstrated record in metallurgical engineering, materials science and engineering, and/or materials science education and professional service in area(s) of specialization.
• Have 5+ years of experience as a tenure-track/tenured faculty member at a leading peer R1 institution.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated the ability construct and sustain a quality research program.
• Exhibit excellent teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Applicants must also meet all university criteria for appointment to the rank of Associate Professor.
Preferred Qualifications
• Demonstrated a record of high-quality research and scholarly publications that is recognized nationally and/or internationally. • Significant record of scholarship in metallurgical engineering, materials science, or a closely related department with both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. • Post-doctoral experience or other similar post-graduate experience. • Exceptional collegial, interpersonal, and mentoring skills.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Required application documents include a: (1) cover letter that includes both the department name and rank of position for which the candidate is applying, (2) a resume/curriculum vitae, (3) a 4 to 6 page statement of research interests and plans, (4) a one to two page statement of teaching interests and plans, and (5) the names and contact information for at least four references. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications are preferred on or before September 1, 2026 to receive fullest consideration, but the search will continue until the positions are filled. A position start date of August 16, 2027 would be typical, but flexibility with respect to start date is possible. Questions about the position can be directed to mte-search@eng.ua.edu. The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. Candidates from under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.
About the Division/College/School
As the premier flagship university for the state of Alabama and as one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering instruction, The University of Alabama (UA) has more than 175 years of proud engineering history. UA's Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering is committed to conducting cutting-edge research that advances the frontiers of science and engineering, translating such fundamental advancements through applied research and technology commercialization into impactful solutions which improve the human condition and address the challenges facing humankind, and using that immersive research environment to provide unparalleled educational experiences and opportunities for our students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. As a College, we pride ourselves on educating and preparing the next generation of engineering and computer science scholars and professionals who will positively shape the future around us. Through our educational, research, and service activities that support our overall vision to be one of the most impactful engineering programs in the nation, our College continues to provide leadership in the many professional disciplines represented by our College and to the community, state, and nation as we advance our professions, the economy, and the lives of all those whom we serve.
The College is comprised of seven departments: Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics; Chemical and Biological Engineering; Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. These departments currently deliver 14 different undergraduate and 17 different graduate degree programs. Overall, the College enrolls approximately 6,000 students, making it one of the largest colleges out of the more than 40,000 students on UA's campus.
While the university has been on a constant mission to advance in every aspect of its operations since its inception, UA has in particular seen transformative growth in its research enterprise and impact over the past decade. Through the efforts of The University, UA Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED), the Styslinger College of Engineering and its' centers, departments, and faculty, UA's research enterprise has surged dramatically higher in the last five to ten years. This recent and continuing steep growth rate of research has positioned UA as one of the fastest growing research institutions in the nation. More specifically, the College has seen annual research awards and expenditures grow at an average of more than 25% per year for more than the last 5 years, now surpassing $100 million annually in new research awards. By more than doubling research over the past 5 to 7 years, the size of the graduate programs across the College have more than doubled as well. The continued ambitious growth of research programs amongst our existing faculty and research centers combined with the recent significant additions of a large number of new tenure-track and tenured faculty, particularly the addition of more than 80 such new highly research active faculty over the past four years, has positioned the College for maintaining this steep trajectory of research growth and impact well into the future.
The educational activities of the Styslinger College of Engineering and its constantly increasing volume of impactful research are enabled and supported by a tremendous combination of amazing faculty and staff, an outstanding array of modern new facilities that are the envy of its peers, and a world-class student body at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College currently has more than 185 faculty members, which includes the significant infusion of both young and experienced faculty talent over the past four years that was mentioned earlier. This year again there are plans to add yet another new cohort of tenure-track and tenured faculty to the College across all of its departments. In terms of facilities, the College has one of the largest overall footprints of any college at UA, currently occupying all or significant portions of 17 different facilities across campus. Some of the most recent additions to that space are the state-of-the-art facilities provided for many of the College's departments in the recently completed Shelby Science and Engineering Quad that was built at a cost approaching $400 million.
In addition to the traditional engineering departments and their facilities, there are also more than 10 different major research centers housed within the College that span and support a wide-ranging set of research thrust areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, functional polymers and soft matter, water resources and water technology, advanced transportation and vehicle technology, and more. These centers bring together faculty from across the College and the University to capitalize on emerging technological opportunities and to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the planet both today and well into the future. In addition to these College research centers, a number of university-level research institutes and centers, including the Alabama Water Institute, the Alabama Transportation Institute, and the Alabama Mobility and Power Center, also provide support and infrastructure to an array of research thrusts and projects that engage faculty from across the College and University. This synergistic combination of outstanding people, facilities, and resources will continue to fuel the Styslinger College of Engineering's advancement and growth in education and research well into the future.
Overall, with its award-winning faculty and staff, outstanding and growing student body, tremendous array of state-of-the-art facilities, diverse offerings of nationally accredited degree programs, and the strong support of its local, state, and national partners, the College has positioned itself for continued success and rapid advancement as a leader in engineering science, education, and practice. The College is looking for new faculty who want to build or continue their career in a dynamic organization with truly unlimited potential.
It is indeed an exciting time to join The University of Alabama and the Styslinger College of Engineering. The College recently embarked on its "Top-30+ by '30" initiative which aims to have the College and all of its departments and programs achieve top-30 impact in all dimensions of our operations by 2030. Those impacts and dimensions include offering a comprehensive set of innovative degree program covering the full spect