Assistant Professor in Fusion Energy Engineering - UC San Diego

About the role

The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), at the University of California, San Diego, invites applications for an Assistant Professor position in Fusion Energy Engineering. We seek exceptional candidates with research interests in fusion engineering including, but not limited to: Engineering of fusion energy components and systems, with particular emphasis on thermal management and thermo‑fluid phenomena, and with consideration of related MAE disciplines. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: management of high heat and neutron fluxes on first‑wall and divertor systems; tritium‑breeding blankets, including neutron transport, shielding, activation, and radiation damage; and thermo‑fluid engineering of liquid‑metal and molten‑salt systems. Fusion power plant systems engineering and integration. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to: multiphysics and techno‑economic analysis of coupled thermal‑fluid and mass‑transport processes relevant to energy conversion and fuel‑cycle processing; data and physics driven engineering approaches to plant control, safety, and risk analysis under limited instrumentation; electricity generation and thermal energy end‑uses; and integration of fusion energy with other low‑carbon/zero‑carbon energy systems. The activities of the newly appointed Assistant Professor will be synergistic with those of existing Department faculty working in fusion plasma physics, laser‑plasma interactions and pulsed power, plasma‑material interactions, thermofluids, photonics, materials in extreme conditions, mechanics of materials, and other related areas. Exceptional candidates without a background in fusion energy, but with strong expertise in one or more of the areas identified above, are strongly encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be expected to build upon their existing expertise to develop an independent and internationally recognized research program that contributes to the advancement of fusion energy science and technology at UC San Diego. Application window opens September 21, 2026. Review date: October 21, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT (apply by this date for full consideration). Final date: September 20, 2027 at 11:59 pm PT (applications accepted until this date; after the review date only considered if the position remains unfilled).

Pay

The base salary range for this position