Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering

46386BR

Position Description:

The Department of Chemical Engineering in the Whitacre College of Engineering at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track, Assistant Professor position to begin 09/01/2027. All prospective employees are encouraged to visit Work at Texas Tech (https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/workattexastech/) to learn more about becoming a part of our campus community.

About the University:

Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University began with a mission to serve the needs of West Texas, but its impact has always reached far beyond. Today, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock (pop. 300,000+), is home to a vibrant community of more than 42,000 students.Texas Tech's 1,800-acre campus showcases Spanish Renaissance architecture and is home to one of the country's largest public art collections. Its 13 colleges include a prestigious School of Law and a distinguished School of Veterinary Medicine. These programs equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their respective fields. Built on the values of West Texas — hard work, grit and authenticity — the university graduates students who are deeply engaged in service to their communities and well-positioned to succeed in the world. Texas Tech is committed to achieving research and scholarly accomplishments that compare favorably to the member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU). For more than 100 years, Texas Tech has been a premier destination for those seeking a world-class education and a unique, personalized experience as a member of the Red Raider family.

About the College:

The Whitacre College of Engineering (WCOE, https://www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/) serves approximately 5900 undergraduate and over 1000 graduate students, supported by 230 faculty and instructors. The college had 855 BS, 580 MS and 84 PhD graduates in the 2025-26 fiscal year. All incoming first year students are enrolled into a common foundational curriculum for all undergraduate programs. Foundational students declare a program of choice and can move into upper division after completing the foundational classes with a TTU GPA of minimum of 2.5 TTU GPA or higher. The WCOE consists of the Departments of Chemical Engineering; Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical & Computer Engineering; Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; and Petroleum Engineering. All programs eligible for accreditation have received full ABET accreditation. All departments have master’s and PhD programs. Annual research expenditures at the college are around $38M.

About the Department/School/Area:

The Chemical Engineering Department at Texas Tech has 20 faculty members in tenured or tenure-track positions and three in teaching positions. The total undergraduate enrollment in the upper-level chemical engineering and biological systems engineering, and the foundational engineering programs is 357. The department’s undergraduate program has a strong emphasis on hands-on training; the highlights of the program include the newly equipped Valero Laboratory for Unit Operations and the Morrow Energy Pilot Plant. The graduate program of the department consists of 107 graduate students that includes 97 PhD students. Current research efforts in the department are focused on the areas of bioengineering and nanomedicine, energy and sustainability, soft matter, computational modeling and data science, and electrochemical engineering.

Major/Essential Functions:

In line with TTU’s strategic priorities to engage and empower a dynamic student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with a breadth of student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.

As a faculty member in the Department of Chemical Engineering, you will be expected to develop nationally and internationally recognized and externally funded research program, form departmental and multidisciplinary collaborations, foster partnerships within and outside Texas Tech University as well as industry, teach core undergraduate and graduate courses in chemical engineering, engage in strategic outreach activities, and perform internal and professional service.

Organization:

Texas Tech University

Faculty Qualifications:

1. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

2. A track record of outstanding research as demonstrated by publications.

3. A commitment to excellence in education, student mentoring, outreach and/or community engagement.

4. Research experience and/or training in the field of advanced materials.

This position is designated as involving access to critical infrastructure systems and/or research, as defined by Texas Executive Order GA-48. As such, candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check prior to employment. Employees are required to comply with all applicable state and federal regulations related to the protection of critical infrastructure. Ongoing employment is dependent upon maintaining eligibility for access and successfully passing periodic security and compliance reviews.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. There is a preference for candidates with expertise in experimental research in the fields of novel materials, including advanced functional materials for hypersonic applications, lightweight/high-performance polymer nanocomposite materials, high entropy materials, meta materials, and materials for extreme conditions such as those encountered in nuclear, aerospace, deep sea, or subsurface applications. Outstanding applicants with expertise besides these preferred areas of interest may be considered.

2. Postdoctoral experience.

3. Teaching or teaching assistant experience.

Duty Point:

TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities

Safety Information:

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Does this position work in a research laboratory?:

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please include the following documents in your application:

1. Cover Letter

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Research Statement

4. Teaching Statement

5. List of references

Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. Wei Li, Search Committee Chair at [email protected]. If you need assistance with the application process, contact Human Resources, Talent Acquisition at [email protected] or 806-742-3851 .

Job Type:

Full Time

Pay Basis:

Monthly

Pay Statement:

Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan.

Travel Required:

Up to 25%

Grant Funded?:

No

Job Group:

Assistant Professor

EEO Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

Salary Grade:

800

Applications must be received by:

12/01/2026