"2 open positions for Research Assistant Professor in Mathematics Fall 2026"

The Mathematics Department at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville seeks to fill TWO non-tenure track Research Assistant Professor (i.e., postdoctoral) positions.

The position is a nine-month academic year appointment, renewable for up to three years, beginning August 1, 2026. Review of applications will begin January 20, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

These are open (not area-specific) searches in which candidates will be ranked according to the quality of their research and potential interactions with departmental faculty. These positions will have both research and teaching expectations. Individual faculty members and groups of faculty members may "champion/sponsor" individual applicants; the candidates are encouraged to contact their potential faculty mentors as early as possible.

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is the state’s flagship land-grant university in the Tennessee state higher education system, and its New Strategic Vision serves as a bold new blueprint for the future of the University. In recent years, the Department of Mathematics has experienced significant growth and steadily increased its research prominence both within the University and in the larger mathematical community. The Department is expected to continue to grow in the years to come as the University grows.

Knoxville is a vibrant and diverse medium-sized city next to the Tennessee River and Appalachian Mountains in East Tennessee, with Nashville, Chattanooga, Asheville, and Atlanta all within an approximate 3-hour radius. Knoxville has ample opportunity for shopping, numerous cultural attractions, a relatively low cost of living, and is in proximity to both the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and over 650,000 acres of national forest.

A PhD or equivalent degree in mathematical sciences earned between January 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026, is required. Evidence of potential for excellence in research and good quality teaching is required.

Candidates must apply via https://apply.interfolio.com/175625. Required application materials include a cover letter specific to the Research Assistant Professor positions, including the name(s) of at least one mathematics professor at the University of Tennessee with whom the applicant would like to have research interaction, a curriculum vitae, a research statement describing the candidate’s research accomplishments and plans, and a teaching statement. Moreover, at least three letters of reference, one of which addresses teaching, must be provided by the letter writer directly via Interfolio. Please contact Prof. Xiaobing Feng at xfeng@utk.edu with any questions.