Materials Science and Engineering - Assistant/Associate/Teaching Professor

Position Title:

Materials Science and Engineering - Assistant/Associate/Teaching Professor

Appointment Type:

Faculty

Job Description:

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

The Department of Materials Science & Engineering (MSE), in the College of Engineering at Iowa State University (ISU), invites applications for an open-rank term faculty position (Assistant, Associate, or Full Teaching Professor). Rank will be determined based on the successful candidate's qualifications and record of accomplishment. The appointment is anticipated to begin 16 August 2027, and the initial appointment length will be consistent with College and University policy for the rank offered.

The department seeks an educator with the breadth to contribute across the undergraduate Materials Engineering curriculum. Teaching assignments will be based on departmental needs and may include introductory, core, advanced, laboratory, experiential, and design-based courses spanning the undergraduate program.

The successful candidate will provide high-quality undergraduate instruction; contribute to course coordination, curriculum assessment and continuous improvement; mentor and engage students; and participate in department, college, and university service and outreach/engagement activities. Candidates should demonstrate strong communication skills, collegiality, instructional clarity, and a commitment to student learning. A central expectation is the ability and willingness to teach broadly across materials science and engineering rather than within a single specialized teaching area.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

For the rank of assistant teaching professor, candidates must:

Hold a minimum of a Master's degree in MSE, materials engineering, or a closely related engineering/science discipline and 3 years of relevant work experience or a Doctoral degree in engineering or related discipline.
Have demonstrated teaching or instructional experience in MSE or a related STEM field.

In addition to the above, candidates seeking Associate or Full Teaching Professor rank must also have a record commensurate with appointment at that rank.

Namely:

Associate:

Record of teaching experience and 5 years of relevant work experience beyond the requirements for assistant teaching professor.

Full:

Record of teaching experience and 10 years of relevant work experience beyond the requirements for assistant teaching professor.

Preferred Qualifications:

Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in MSE, materials engineering, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated effectiveness and breadth in undergraduate MSE instruction across multiple core subject areas, with the capacity to teach broadly across the program.
Experience with laboratory, experiential, project-based, and/or design-focused engineering instruction.
Experience with course coordination or development, curriculum assessment or continuous improvement, and effective use of instructional technologies.
Evidence of effective student mentoring and engagement, clear (oral or written) communication, collaboration, and educational leadership or service.
Experience with large-sized classes and related online-automated assessments.

Department/Program & College Description:

About the Materials Science and Engineering Department:

The Department of Materials Science and Engineering offers an undergraduate degree in Materials Engineering and graduate degrees in Materials Science and Engineering. The department integrates education and research across the relationships among materials structure, processing, properties, and performance, with strong emphasis on hands-on learning, materials characterization, design, student mentoring, and continuous improvement of the undergraduate curriculum.

Department Unit/Website:

For more information about our department's program or people, see www.mse.iastate.edu.

Proposed Start Date:

August 16, 2027

Proposed End Date or Length of Term:

May 15, 2030

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

09 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full time

Application Instructions:

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. However, to receive full consideration, applications should be received by 1 December 2026. All interested, qualified persons must apply for this position online at jobs.iastate.edu to Job Requisition Number R20029.

The following documents are required to be submitted in PDF format:

Letter of application (including the desired rank) that briefly discusses how the candidate meets each minimum and preferred qualification.
Curriculum Vitae
Contact information for at least three references, including name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and other pertinent information.
One-page teaching statement addressing the candidate's approach to undergraduate MSE teaching, breadth across the curriculum, hands-on laboratory learning, and experience with student learning and mentoring.

Direct questions to Dr. Duane D. Johnson at ddj@iastate.edu and will be answered as is possible.

Why Choose ISU?

Iowa State Faculty enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:

Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
Generous leave plans
Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
Life insurance and long-term disability
Flexible Spending Accounts
Various voluntary benefits and discounts
Employee Assistance Program
Wellbeing program

Original Posting Date:

October 5, 2026

Posting Close Date:

Job Requisition Number:

R20029

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. 515-294-7612, email eooffice@iastate.edu.

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.