Tenure-Line Associate​/Full Professor, College of Engineering, Graduate Program in Acoustics

Tenure-Line Associate/Full Professor – Graduate Program in Acoustics and the Applied Research Lab

Position Specifics

The Graduate Program in Acoustics and the Applied Research Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA invites applications for a tenure‑track or tenured position at the level of Associate Professor or Full Professor in underwater and/or ocean acoustics
. Applicants should have extensive records of building large‑scale collaborative partnerships and programs among academia, governmental agencies, industry, and research institutions. Qualifications appropriate for an appointment as a tenure‑track or tenured associate professor or professor in the College of Engineering are required.

The Graduate Program in Acoustics is a world‑premier resource in acoustics education and research, established in 1965, with 35 faculty members, graduate certificates, M.Eng., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, and more than 30 resident graduate students and over 100 online students. The program is administratively aligned with the Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering.

The Applied Research Laboratory is a U.S. Navy and Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Center with over 1,500 full‑time employees and 200 student employees. Core research interests include undersea systems; fluid dynamics and acoustics; advanced materials and manufacturing systems; and communications and information systems.

The laboratory is an independent unit co‑located on campus and maintains a collaborative relationship with the College of Engineering. The joint faculty position strengthens the bridge between the university’s fundamental research and the laboratory’s government sponsors and industrial partners by conducting research across the full spectrum of Defense R&D activities.

We expect the successful candidate to spend about fifty percent of their time each year within the College of Engineering Graduate Program in Acoustics and fifty percent at the Applied Research Laboratory. A unique agreement will be signed by both organizations outlining specific responsibilities and expectations.

Applicants should have an excellent sustained record of obtaining defense‑related research funding and preferably a strong track record of teaching and advising graduate students. The successful candidate will teach primarily graduate‑level courses, develop an internationally recognized, externally funded research program, and contribute to the operation and promotion of the department, college, university, and profession through service. Appointments will be made at a rank commensurate with experience.

Review of applicants will begin on January 5, 2026 and continue until the positions are filled. Applicants should submit the following documents as a single PDF (maximum size 5 MB): a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement on research, a statement on teaching, a statement on alignment with and experience related to Penn State’s values, copies of three key publications, and names and addresses of five professional references.

Inquiries can be sent to Dr. Julianna Simon, Interim Director of the Graduate Program in Acoustics (jcs
516).

All positions at ARL require the ability to obtain a government security clearance; candidates will be notified during the interview process if the position is subject to a background investigation. You must be a U.S. citizen to apply. Employment requires successful completion of a pre‑employment drug screen.

Clearances required in addition to applicable background checks include: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees, including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, robust retirement plans, and a generous 75 % tuition discount for employees, eligible spouses, and children.

Penn State is an equal‑opportunity employer committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color,…