Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Department of Nuclear Engineering, Fa.

Tenure‑Track Assistant Professor – Department of Nuclear Engineering – Fall 2026

Location: UT Space Institute, Tullahoma, TN

Open Date: Oct 8, 2025

The Department of Nuclear Engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking applications to fill two tenure‑track Assistant Professor faculty positions at the University of Tennessee Space Institute (UTSI) in Tullahoma, TN starting on August 1, 2026. Duties include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in nuclear engineering‑related subjects, generating externally funded research, advising graduate students, writing scholarly journal articles, and providing service to the department, college, university, and professional community.

Applicants must have a doctorate in Nuclear Engineering or a closely related field by the effective date of appointment.

Applicants should be able to contribute to existing courses and research activities in nuclear engineering, as well as to develop new avenues of research and teaching. Specific areas of expertise sought include nuclear science and engineering relevant to aerospace and defense applications. Candidates with strong potential to contribute to the three signature capabilities of our department may also be considered: ensuring the sustainability and future expansion of nuclear power;

radiation detection, nuclear security and non‑proliferation; and radiological engineering, nuclear chemistry and medicine, and medical physics. Ideally, successful candidates could work across more than one of these complex research areas. Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrated research success that complements existing University of Tennessee needs or strengths and with the vision to develop collaborative and sustainable funded research activities.

In addition to demonstrated excellence in research and the potential for developing a highly visible, externally funded research program, successful candidates will also be committed to high‑quality teaching.

The University of Tennessee Nuclear Engineering Department is part of the Tickle College of Engineering, which has the fastest growing PhD program among the Top 40 public colleges of engineering. The department has a diverse research portfolio and is the largest Nuclear Engineering PhD program in the United States with over 120 PhD students and $15.6 M in research expenditures for the 2024‑2025 academic year.

It is also the second largest undergraduate program. In 2021 the department moved into a new $129 M building, housing more than 23 new nuclear engineering laboratories and computational resources. The department collaborates closely with ORNL, Y‑12, and more than 150 nuclear‑related companies within 50 miles of campus. The Tickle College of Engineering has experienced significant growth, adding over 30 new faculty to the college over four years, and has set records in research expenditures, enrollment, incoming student GPA, intellectual property development, and national rankings.

Located in Tullahoma, Tennessee on a scenic 370‑acre campus carved out of the USAF Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) federal reservation, the UT Space Institute focuses on graduate education with an emphasis on Aerospace & Defense. The Institute features a small‑campus, scenic environment within the AEDC reservation and on the shore of Woods Reservoir while supporting a significant array of large‑scale experimental facilities that have garnered national recognition.

UTSI is committed to ensuring faculty, staff and students have a work/life balance and opportunities for professional development.

Applications should be submitted electronically, following instructions found at (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Applications should include a curriculum vitae, a select subset of publications, a statement of research and teaching interests, a letter articulating the applicant’s interest in and qualifications for this position, and the names of three to five references. Applications will be reviewed continuously, but those received by December 31, 2025, will…