Chemical and Biological Engineering - Assistant Professor

Department/Organization
214221 - Chemical and Biological Eng

Rank
Assistant Professor

Position Summary
The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE) and the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering at The University of Alabama (UA) invite applications for multiple tenure-track positions at the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Full Professor within the department. Candidates applying to this particular posting should be intending to apply for a position at the rank of Assistant Professor. Candidates with research interests across ALL domains relevant to chemical and biological engineering are encouraged to apply. Candidates with particular research emphasis and interests in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, biomanufacturing, artificial intelligence for materials discovery, or automated labs are of particular interest for one or more of these positions and thus are strongly encouraged to apply.

Detailed Position Information
The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE: https://che.eng.ua.edu/) and the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering (SCoE: https://eng.ua.edu/) at The University of Alabama (UA: https://ua.edu/) invite applications for multiple tenure-track and tenured faculty positions at all ranks, including Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor levels, within the ChBE department.

This posting is specific for candidates applying for a position at the rank of Assistant Professor. Applications from candidates with appropriate experience and a strong record of scholarly productivity and impact who would seek appointment at the rank of Associate or Full Professor should apply through related postings advertised at those other position/rank levels.

Towards achieving excellence in all our efforts, the ChBE department and the Styslinger College of Engineering seek to hire faculty that can contribute to both: (1) build upon existing strengths in the Department, College, and University and (2) expand the scope of research within the department, College, and UA as a whole.

Candidates with research interests across ALL domains relevant to chemical and biological engineering are encouraged to apply. Current research strengths within ChBE include, but are not limited to, biotechnology, bioengineering, membranes and membrane-based separations, battery materials and energy storage, electrochemical systems, catalysis and reaction engineering, and soft matter. To further broaden capabilities of the department, candidates with particular research emphasis and interests in synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, biomanufacturing (including bioprocess automation, sensing, and control), AI materials discovery, or automated laboratories are of particular interest for one or more of these positions and are strongly encouraged to apply. To complement current research strengths in the department, candidates with demonstrated research focus on process optimization, supply chain, safety, and life cycle assessment are also sought and are encouraged to apply. Finally, the College and University benefit greatly from the existence of a large number of major research centers and institutes (e.g. the Alabama Water Institute: https://awi.ua.edu/; the Alabama Mobility and Power Center: https://ati.ua.edu/tag/alabama-mobility-and-power-center/; Alabama Materials Institute: https://ami.ua.edu/; UA Polymers and Soft Materials Research Center: https://poly-sm.ua.edu/); the UA High Performance Computing and Data Center, and to further strengthen the department’s involvement in these activities and to leverage the extensive resources available through these organizations, candidates with research emphasis and interests in related fields including water modeling and technologies, materials for extreme environments, batteries and energy storage, and computational and experimental materials science research are sought and strongly encouraged to apply.

The ChBE department has thriving programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. The department offers a B.S. in Chemical Engineering undergraduate degree, a M.S. in Chemical Engineering, a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, and a new M.S. degree in Biomedical Engineering. The department’s undergraduate chemical engineering program has consistently been one of the top-10 largest programs in the country for many years, with a current average enrollment each year over the past five years of more than 400 undergraduate chemical engineering students. In addition to its large size, the department boasts a tremendously bright and outstanding undergraduate student body recruited from all across the nation (e.g. approximately 35% of program undergraduates are from Alabama with the remaining 65% of undergraduates in the program from out-of-state, with all representing the top graduates in their schools from both across the state and across the country). At any given time, amongst its terrific student body, the ChBE undergraduate population typically includes between 70 and 100 National Merit Finalists and Scholars. Graduates from the department are highly sought after by major companies across the U.S., as well as by the prominent U.S. institutes of higher education, where a significant fraction of our graduates pursue advanced graduate degrees with excellent outcomes.

The Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the College of Engineering consider teaching, research, and service as the three critical and complimentary portions of their overall mission and the ability of our faculty to contribute to all three mission elements is considered essential. Candidates must demonstrate a clear potential to successfully develop, lead, and extramurally fund a highly productive research group with significant scholarly impact in a focus area with long term potential to further build upon the rapid rise and great success of the ChBE department and the UA College of Engineering. An ability to collaborate with existing faculty in the key focus areas both within the ChBE Department and the College of Engineering, as well as potential colleagues across the campus, is highly desirable.

The Styslinger College of Engineering and the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering pride themselves on the outstanding educational experience provided to their students, and thus faculty candidates must demonstrate an ability to develop and teach classes at both the undergraduate and graduate level in the faculty member’s area(s) of expertise. In addition to their specific research fields, faculty candidates should be able to teach courses that support the delivery and accreditation of the Department’s core degree programs.

Finally, the ChBE Department, College, and University are also notable for the collegial, welcoming and supportive spirit built into the fabric of who we are and how we interact across our College family of students, faculty, and staff. It is therefore expected that candidates demonstrate an ability to support this important aspect of our community.

Appointments to the faculty of The University of Alabama are based on the personnel requirements of the University’s academic programs and on the goal of achieving and maintaining excellence in its teaching, research, and service/academic citizenship activities.

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution.
• Demonstrated record of prior research work and a record of impactful scholarly publications in refereed journals, conference proceedings, and similarly impactful venues.
• Demonstrated interest and/or record in chemical engineering and/or bioengineering education and professional service in area(s) of specialization.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Show the potential to construct and sustain a quality research program.
• Exhibit the potential for excellent teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Applicants must also meet all university criteria for appointment to the rank of Assistant Professor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated a record of high-quality research and scholarly publications that is recognized nationally and/or internationally.
• Significant record of scholarship in chemical engineering, bioengineering, or a closely related department with both undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
• Post-doctoral experience or other similar post-graduate experience.
• Exceptional collegial, interpersonal, and mentoring skills.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application

Required application documents include a: (1) cover letter that includes both the department name and rank of position for which the candidate is applying, (2) a resume/curriculum vitae, (3) a 4 to 6 page statement of research interests and plans, (4) a one to two page statement of teaching interests and plans, and (5) the names and contact information for at least four references. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications are preferred on or before October 20, 2026 to receive fullest consideration, but the search will continue until the positions are filled. A position start date of August 16, 2027 would be typical, but flexibility with respect to start date is possible. The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. Candidates from under-represented groups are encouraged to apply. Questions about the position can be directed to chbesearch@eng.ua.edu.

About the Division/College/School

As the premier flagship university for the state of Alabama and as one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering instruction, The University of Alabama (UA) has more than 175 years of proud engineering history. UA’s Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering is committed to conducting cutting-edge research that advances the frontiers of science and engineering, translating such fundamental advancements through applied research and technology commercialization into impactful solutions which improve the human condition and address the challenges facing humankind, and using that immersive research environment to provide unparalleled educational experiences and opportunities for our students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. As a College, we pride ourselves on educating and preparing the next generation of engineering and computer science scholars and professionals who will positively shape the future around us. Through our educational, research, and service activities that support our overall vision to be one of the most impactful engineering programs in the nation, our College continues to provide leadership in the many professional disciplines represented by our College and to the community, state, and nation as we advance our professions, the economy, and the lives of all those whom we serve.

The College is comprised of seven departments: Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics; Chemical and Biological Engineering; Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. These departments currently deliver 14 different undergraduate and 17 different graduate degree programs. Overall, the College enrolls approximately 6,000 students, making it one of the largest colleges out of the more than 40,000 students on UA’s campus.

While the university has been on a constant mission to advance in every aspect of its operations since its inception, UA has in particular seen transformative growth in its research enterprise and impact over the past decade. Through the efforts of The University, UA Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED), the Styslinger College of Engineering and its’ centers, departments, and faculty, UA’s research enterprise has surged dramatically higher in the last five to ten years. This recent and continuing steep growth rate of research has positioned UA as one of the fastest growing research institutions in the nation. More specifically, the College has seen annual research awards and expenditures grow at an average of more than 25% per year for more than the last 5 years, now surpassing $100 million annually in new research awards. By more than doubling research over the past 5 to 7 years, the size of the graduate programs across the College have more than doubled as well. The continued ambitious growth of research programs amongst our existing faculty and research centers combined with the recent significant additions of a large number of new tenure-track and tenured faculty, particularly the addition of more than 80 such new highly research active faculty over the past four years, has positioned the College for maintaining this steep trajectory of research growth and impact well into the future.

The educational activities of the Styslinger College of Engineering and its constantly increasing volume of impactful research are enabled and supported by a tremendous combination of amazing faculty and staff, an outstanding array of modern new facilities that are the envy of its peers, and a world-class student body at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College currently has more than 185 faculty members, which includes the significant infusion of both young and experienced faculty talent over the past four years that was mentioned earlier. This year again there are plans to add yet another new cohort of tenure-track and tenured faculty to the College across all of its departments. In terms of facilities, the College has one of the largest overall footprints of any college at UA, currently occupying all or significant portions of 17 different facilities across campus. Some of the most recent additions to that space are the state-of-the-art facilities provided for many of the College’s departments in the recently completed Shelby Science and Engineering Quad that was built at a cost approaching $400 million.

In addition to the traditional engineering departments and their facilities, there are also more than 10 different major research centers housed within the College that span and support a wide-ranging set of research thrust areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, functional polymers and soft matter, water resources and water technology, advanced transportation and vehicle technology, and more. These centers bring together faculty from across the College and the University to capitalize on emerging technological opportunities and to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the planet both today and well into the future. In addition to these College research centers, a number of university-level research institutes and centers, including the Alabama Water Institute, the Alabama Transportation Institute, and the Alabama Mobility and Power Center, also provide support and infrastructure to an array of research thrusts and projects that engage faculty from across the College and University. This synergistic combination of outstanding people, facilities, and resources will continue to fuel the Styslinger College of Engineering’s advancement and growth in education and research well into the future.

Overall, with its award-winning faculty and staff, outstanding and growing student body, tremendous array of state-of-the-art facilities, diverse offerings of nationally accredited degree programs, and the strong support of its local, state, and national partners, the College has positioned itself for continued success and rapid advancement as a leader in engineering science, education, and practice. The College is looking for new faculty who want to build or continue their career in a dynamic organization with truly unlimited potential.

It is indeed an exciting time to join The University of Alabama and the Styslinger College of Engineering. The College recently embarked on its “Top-30+ by ‘30” initiative which aims to have the College and all of its departments and programs achieve top-30 impact in all dimensions of our operations by 2030. Those impacts and dimensions include offering a comprehensive set of innovative degree program covering the full spectrum of engineering and computer science fields, enrolling a number of students and conferring a number of degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to be one of the largest producers of engineering talent in the nation, achieving continued outstanding growth in research awards and expenditures to enable continued expansion of our graduate programs and research activities, continuing to scale scholarly research productivity to be a major force in pushing the frontiers of our disciplines, and to playing an ever more important role in shaping our disciplines and the future of computer science, engineering, and technology through local, national and international service. To achieve those goals, the College, with strong support of the University, is deploying substantial resources in hiring new faculty, developing new facilities including both laboratory and computing resources, and expanding our research and educational programs. These activities present an outstanding opportunity here at The University of Alabama for individuals to fulfill their career objectives and dreams as a faculty member in an environment that can fully support their development as an excellent scholar, researcher, and teacher.

About the University

The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.

In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.

UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.

For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.

UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.

Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.

The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement

Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace (https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf) discrimination is illegal poster.

The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.

Advertised: 07 Aug 2026 Central Daylight Time
Applications close: 31 Mar 2027 Central Daylight Time

Organization

The University of Alabama embodies an academic community that demands excellence in teaching, research and service and provides an inclusive, nurturing environment for the discovery of knowledge and the development of well-rounded leaders. Founded in 1831 as Alabama's first public college and known as the Capstone of Higher Education, UA provides a premier undergraduate and graduate education built upon global engagement, high-quality scholarship, outstanding teaching, and diversity and inclusivity throughout the community.

Our Mission

The University of Alabama will advance the intellectual and social condition of the people of the state, the nation and the world through the creation, translation and dissemination of knowledge with an emphasis on quality programs in the areas of teaching, research and service.

Our Vision

The University of Alabama will be known as the university of choice for the best and brightest students in Alabama, and all students who seek exceptional educational opportunities. The University of Alabama will be a student-centered research university and an academic community united in its commitment to enhance the quality of life for all Alabamians and the citizens of the nation and the world.

Our Core Values

The University of Alabama is committed to:

• Undergraduate education that produces socially-conscious, ethical and well-rounded leaders who are grounded in their subject matter and capable of controlling their own destinies.
• Graduate education that is deeply vested in subject matter knowledge, professional content, research skills and creative activity.
• Public outreach and service that is held in the highest regard and fosters impactful public engagement to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Alabama, the nation and the world.
• Campus life that embodies collaboration, collegiality, respect and a culture of inclusivity.

Our Strategic Goals

• Provide a premier undergraduate and graduate education that offers a global perspective and is characterized by outstanding teaching, high-quality scholarship and distinctive curricular and co-curricular programs. Increase the University’s productivity and innovation in research, scholarship and creative activities that impact economic and societal development.
• Enrich our learning and work environment by providing an accepting, inclusive community that attracts and supports a diverse faculty, staff and student body.
• Provide opportunities and resources that facilitate work-life balance and enhance the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty and staff.