Instructor - Mechanical Engineering

Performs the function of teaching with renewable contracts. Not eligible for tenure.

About the role

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), Oxford, Mississippi, invites applications for a full-time Instructor of Mechanical Engineering. This teaching-focused, non-tenure-track faculty appointment will strengthen hands-on undergraduate instruction in mechanical engineering laboratories and related engineering courses.

The successful candidate will teach and support hands-on undergraduate laboratories, including structures and dynamics, materials, thermal-fluids, instrumentation, design, or related mechanical engineering laboratory experiences. The Instructor will work closely with faculty course coordinators, laboratory faculty directors, department staff, and the machine shop supervisor to support safe, effective, well-maintained, and practice-oriented instructional laboratories.

Responsibilities

• Teach, coordinate, or support hands-on undergraduate mechanical engineering laboratories, with possible assignments in Structures and Dynamics Lab, Materials Lab, Thermal-Fluids Lab, instrumentation, design, or related laboratory courses.
• Teach undergraduate mechanical engineering or engineering science courses as assigned, based on departmental needs and the candidate's expertise.
• Develop, revise, and assess laboratory manuals, experiments, safety procedures, demonstrations, project-based activities, and course materials.
• Work collaboratively with faculty laboratory directors, course coordinators, department staff, and the machine shop supervisor to support laboratory safety, equipment readiness, maintenance coordination, and continuous improvement.
• Mentor undergraduate students in laboratory practice, engineering problem solving, professional conduct, and safe use of equipment and facilities.
• Contribute to ABET-related assessment, curriculum coordination, laboratory documentation, department service, and other continuous-improvement activities.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering field by the appointment start date.
• Relevant laboratory, instructional, technical, or hands-on engineering experience.
• Demonstrated ability or strong potential to teach and supervise hands-on undergraduate engineering laboratory experiences.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students.
• Commitment to safe, student-centered, inclusive, and professionally rigorous engineering education, as demonstrated through teaching, mentoring, laboratory, professional, or related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering field.
• Experience teaching, coordinating, or supporting undergraduate laboratories in structures and dynamics, materials, thermal-fluid sciences, instrumentation, design, manufacturing, or related mechanical engineering areas.
• Experience developing or modernizing laboratory experiments, safety documentation, assessment tools, lab manuals, or project-based learning activities.
• Experience working with machine shop, fabrication, instrumentation, testing, or mechanical systems in an instructional, industrial, or applied engineering setting.
• Evidence of student-centered teaching, undergraduate mentoring, course assessment, ABET-related documentation, or structured curriculum improvement.

Questions regarding the position may be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Damian Stoddard, at dlstodda@olemiss.edu.