"Architecture for Advanced Manufacturing for Affordable Building Construction - Research Assistant/Associate/Full Professor"

Job Details

Architecture for Advanced Manufacturing for Affordable Building Construction - Research Assistant/Associate/Full Professor

Location: Knoxville, TN

Open Date: Apr 22, 2025

Description:

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) is seeking highly qualified research faculty candidates at any rank in the areas of architecture and construction. The successful candidate will contribute to an interdisciplinary collaboration focused on building designs that will improve building affordability, productivity, energy-efficiency, and resilience. Potential research interests include, but are not limited to:

• Building designs for off-site and on-site construction that maximize productivity, affordability, quality, and safety through the integration of high-performance materials, robotics, automation, computation, and process optimization.
• Affordable mass customization of building designs that are produced with advanced manufacturing that appeals to a large percentage of the US market.
• Building designs that co-optimize the interests of the community, building owners, developers, and environment.

This position will be associated with the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute’s Advanced Manufacturing for Affordable Building Construction Convergent Research Initiative (Buildings CRI), a collaboration between Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee. The Buildings CRI aims to transform the building industry through cutting-edge research in robotics, automation, advanced materials and streamlined construction processes. At full strength, the Buildings CRI will recruit ~20 new investigators at ORNL and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). The Buildings CRI supports its interdisciplinary researchers by offering networking opportunities with fellow scientists and construction sector stakeholders, facilitating collaborative experiments and proposal development, providing mentorship from senior CRI researchers, and offering tailored professional development opportunities.

Roles and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Develop a nationally and internationally recognized research program with interdisciplinary connections across the CRI network at UT and ORNL.
• Contribute architecture and design expertise to collaborative studies on the transition of the building construction industry.
• Interface with UT-ORII programs to support the UT-ORII Buildings CRI's mission and goals.
• Build partnerships and collaborations through the Office of Research Innovation and Economic Development (ORIED), Institute for Energy and Environment (IEE) gateway, Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, the School of Architecture, the Tickle College of Engineering, and current and future partners.

As a UT-ORII research faculty member, the successful candidate will collaborate with designated UT departments and researchers as well as ORNL researchers to address current and future affordability, productivity, energy-efficiency, and resilience requirements for buildings. This includes conducting research, preparing and submitting proposals, supporting existing research projects, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students.

Qualifications:

• PhD or terminal degree in Architecture, Design, Architecture Engineering, or related field.
• A track record of publishing and seeking funding.
• Collaborative research experience in areas supporting UT-ORII’s Buildings CRI mission.
• Demonstrated research track record supporting the candidate’s potential to establish a nationally and internationally recognized research program aligned with UT-ORII’s mission and goals.
• A clear path to independence as a researcher is desired, though collaboration with more senior investigators is also encouraged.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• This position requires the ability to be granted a site-access badge for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Additional Information

• This is a 12-month, non-tenure track position.
• The appointment will be with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
• The primary work location is the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville, but it may also include visits to collaborator sites on the campuses of ORNL and UTK.
• The position will be implemented as an initial three-year contract with full salary support for the first year, followed by a gradual increase in expected external salary funding in subsequent years.
• The applicant will be expected to recruit graduate students by year three.
• A competitive startup package, including funds for graduate students and equipment, will be offered.
• Salary and title/rank will be determined commensurate with experience.
• Benefits will be typical of exempt employees at the University of Tennessee.
• The candidate must be eligible for initial clearance at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Application Instructions:

Application materials must be submitted to Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/166763. Application reviews will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Applications must include:

1. A letter of interest
2. A comprehensive curriculum vitae
3. Research plan
4. 3 Professional References including names, addresses, and telephone numbers
5. A portfolio of design works

For questions, please contact Prof. Mingzhou Jin (jin@utk.edu) or Prof. Marshall Prado (marshall.prado@utk.edu).