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Assistant Professor of Materials Science & Engineering
Work type: TT Faculty
Location: Bellingham, WA
Categories: College of Science & Engineering
Position Title Assistant Professor of Materials Science & Engineering
About the University
Western Washington University is a public institution that was founded in 1893 and is comprised of about 15,000 students. It is recognized as the top public masters-granting university in the Pacific Northwest by US News & World Report. Over the last two annual surveys of Great Colleges to Work For, the Chronicle of Higher Education has recognized Western for the following categories: faculty experience, shared governance, tenure clarity and teaching environment.
Western Washington University is in scenic Bellingham, Washington, a coastal town of about 100,000 residents nestled between the mountains of the North Cascades and the waters of the Salish Sea. Recreational opportunities abound nearby, including biking, skiing, hiking, sailing, kayaking, and mountaineering. The city is roughly 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia, and 90 miles north of Seattle, Washington, each with a lively cosmopolitan atmosphere and home to many leading technology companies.
About the Department
The Engineering and Design Department offers two ABET-accredited undergraduate degrees in Manufacturing Engineering and Polymer Materials Engineering (soon to be Materials Science & Engineering), along with a NASAD-accredited degree in Industrial Design. The department currently offers two minors, Materials Science, and Industrial Design, and a third minor in Mechanical Engineering is currently being developed with a planned start during the 2026-2027 academic year. In addition, Western Washington University offers an ABET-accredited degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering (EECE) through the newly established EECE Department.
Guided by our mission, the Polymer Materials Engineering (soon to be Materials Science & Engineering) program is dedicated to excellence in teaching and scholarship. Our program focuses on the structure-property-processing relationships of polymers and composites. We prepare graduates to be innovative, industry-ready engineers who contribute to regional and global roles in manufacturing, materials design, and product development. Our teaching philosophy emphasizes problem-solving, analytical skill development, and experiential learning through a hands-on curriculum that is facilitated through our extensive and well-equipped laboratory facilities. The PME/MSE program has been recognized as one of the "Top Public Colleges for Polymers/Plastics Engineering".
About the College
Western has extensively invested in new facilities, instructional innovation, and the recruitment of world-class faculty for the sciences in recent years. The College of Science and Engineering consists of eight academic departments: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Engineering and Design, Geology, Mathematics, and Physics and Astronomy. The college is also home to two interdisciplinary instrument centers, the Advanced Materials Science and Engineering Center (AMSEC) and Scientific Technical Services (STS). Thus, students in the college are engaged in high-quality classroom, laboratory, and hands-on research experiences that foster deep foundational disciplinary knowledge as well as the tools to engage in the creation of new scientific knowledge.
About the Position
The Department of Engineering & Design at Western Washington University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position beginning September 16, 2026. This position will support the Engineering & Design Department's growth through the transition of the current Polymer Materials Engineering (PME) program to Materials Science & Engineering and the launch of a new Mechanical Engineering Minor.
We seek individuals with teaching and research interests in fields relevant to advanced composites, with a preference towards candidates with expertise in structures, materials design and development, manufacturing, and/or simulation or modeling. This position offers a unique and exciting opportunity to be part of the growth and development of the Materials Science & Engineering (MSE) program and a new Mechanical Engineering minor, which includes the development of new curriculum, research areas, and laboratory facilities.
Our program and department require a strong commitment to teaching and scholarship that supports the Department's Mission. This position will primarily teach courses in the PME/MSE program and will also contribute to teaching premajor classes and/or new courses developed for an upcoming Mechanical Engineering minor (such as introduction to engineering and design, statics, mechanics of materials, introduction to materials science and engineering, dynamics, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics). Scholarship responsibilities will include developing and maintaining a relevant research program that involves undergraduate researchers and partnerships with industry. It is expected that the person fulfills teaching, research, and service responsibilities in ways that provide equitable and inclusive environments for all students, faculty, and staff.
Position Responsibilities

• Teach five classes per year
• Supervise hands-on teaching and research laboratory activities and safety practices
• Establish an active and sustained research program involving undergraduate students
• Seek funding to support and sustain research and academic programs
• Advise senior design/capstone projects in the PME/MSE program
• Participate in departmental, university, and professional service, including ABET accreditation requirements
• Contribute to a collaborative, safe, and engaging learning and working environment

Required Qualifications Required Qualifications:

• One of the following:
  • Ph.D. or ABD (at time of application) in materials science and engineering, manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related discipline, received from an accredited institution (if ABD, all degree requirements must be completed by June 15th of the first year of employment, e.g., June 15, 2027)
  • An earned MS degree in engineering or a closely related discipline, and significant, recent, and relevant industry-based professional experience
• Evidence of the ability to teach courses in the Polymer Materials Engineering program (soon to be Materials Science & Engineering program)
• Evidence of the ability to teach premajor engineering courses
• Evidence of the ability to teach courses for the upcoming mechanical engineering minor in the Engineering and Design Department
• Evidence of commitment and ability to initiate and maintain a relevant program of scholarly activity
• Teaching and scholarship philosophies that are closely aligned with the mission of the Program and Department
• Evidence of commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in teaching, research, and service
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Preferred Qualifications Preferred Qualifications:

• Recent, relevant experience in industry, industry sponsored grants, commercialization, and/or industry relations
• Successful prior teaching and/or curriculum development experience
• Experience in conducting a research program with undergraduate students
• Experience with one or more of the following: composites materials and processing; advanced thermoplastics & thermosets materials and processing, process automation; computational materials modeling and process simulation; artificial intelligence for materials development or manufacturing, materials and processes for the circular economy; nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing; additive manufacturing; dynamics; thermodynamics; or fluid mechanics

Conditions of Employment All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.
Salary
The starting salary range for assistant professor appointment, tenure-track is generally between $95,000-$100,000, with placement within the position's salary range being based on qualifications and professional experience. The entire salary range for the assistant professor position is $95,000-$105,000, with the upper end of the salary range typically being achieved through collectively bargained salary adjustments. Relocation assistance may be available per University guidelines. Salary and start-up funds are to be determined upon being offered the position.
Benefits Information Benefits Overview for Faculty Positions
Bargaining Unit
United Faculty of Western Washington
Application Instructions
All applications must include the following six items. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Application Letter

A statement that addresses how you meet the required and preferred qualifications for the position, your ability and commitment to fulfill the position responsibilities, and your available starting date.

1. Teaching Statement

A statement of your teaching experience, interests, and plans for teaching core and advanced courses, and any experience teaching or coordinating undergraduate student projects, particularly any that were industry sponsored. Include a summary of teaching evaluations, if applicable.

1. Research Statement

A statement of your research experience and interests. Include any research experience that involved undergraduate students and/or collaboration with industry.

1. Service, Engagement, & Student Success Statement

A statement describing past experiences and approaches to service and engagement within the department, university, profession, or community that support student success and promote access, equity, and inclusion in your discipline or institution.

1. References

The names and contact information of at least three professional references. Please do not send letters of recommendation; references will only be contacted directly for semi-finalists.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Employment-based visa sponsorship may be considered depending on the candidate's current immigration status; however, the University is unable to sponsor new H1B petitions or cover associated filing or processing fees at this time.
Closing Date Notes
Review of applications will begin March 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.
Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity employer. In compliance with applicable laws, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, citizenship or immigration status, pregnancy, use of protective leave, genetic status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal (including a service animal in training) by a person with a disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU's Policies on Prohibiting Discrimination Based on A Protected Class and Prohibiting Discrimination Based on Sex. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu
WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of Student Life at student.life@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.
All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires and rehires, which includes a sexual misconduct background check.
Job no: 502888
Advertised: Feb 02 2026 08:00 Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:
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