Open Rank Non-Tenure Track Faculty Position

About the role

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Rice University invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure-track teaching position at the rank of Lecturer or Assistant Teaching Professor, with an anticipated start date of January 1, 2027, or July 1, 2027. The successful candidate will be appointed at the rank appropriate to their qualifications and experience. The initial appointment will be for a one-year term at the Lecturer rank or a two- to three-year term at the Assistant Teaching Professor rank, and may be renewed contingent upon performance and departmental needs.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate courses in Engineering Mechanics (Statics), Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical Design and Machine Elements, Experimental Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Courses, and Senior Capstone Design.
• May also contribute to other undergraduate courses aligned with expertise.
• Engage students in laboratory experimentation, engineering design, prototyping, testing, and open-ended problem‑solving.
• Develop laboratory curricula, supervise design‑build projects, mentor student competition teams, or coordinate capstone design experiences.
• Participate in undergraduate advising, curriculum development, accreditation support, laboratory coordination, and departmental service.

Qualifications

Applicants must possess, by the start date, either:

• A Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field; or
• A master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field together with significant relevant teaching, design, laboratory, or industrial experience.

Appointment at the Assistant Teaching Professor rank requires a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field. Candidates with a Ph.D. may be considered for either rank.

Preferred qualifications include:

• Undergraduate teaching experience.
• Expertise in solid mechanics, mechanics of materials, mechanical design, or experimental mechanics.
• Experience with laboratory instruction and experimental measurement techniques.
• Experience supervising design projects, maker activities, or capstone design teams.
• Familiarity with modern engineering tools, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.
• A demonstrated commitment to student mentorship and success.
• Industrial experience in product development, manufacturing, testing and validation, aerospace, energy, robotics, medical devices, or related engineering fields is highly valued.