Tenure-track Assistant Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Fall 2027 (1/3)

Location: Knoxville, TN
Open Date: Sep 1, 2026

Description:

Applications and nominations are invited for three tenure-track Assistant Professor positions in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK). The ISE Department offers BS, MS, Ph.D., and Doctor of Engineering degrees in Industrial Engineering and an MS in Engineering Management. The Department currently has 14 tenured or tenure-track faculty members and enrolls more than 600 students, including 294 UG, 138 MS, and 116 Doctoral students. The Department will increase its faculty size to 25 by 2027, including 16 tenured or tenure-track faculty members and nine full-time teaching or research faculty members. ISE actively engages with on-campus centers, including the Institute for a Secure and Sustainable Environment, the Reliability and Maintainability Center, the Center for Transportation Research, UT-OR Innovation Institute, the state's Institute for Public Service, and others. Departmental strengths include optimization, data analytics, machine learning, AI, quantum computing, human factors, reliability and maintainability, and operational excellence, and their applications in manufacturing, logistics and transportation, supply chain, energy systems, sustainability, and healthcare systems. The annual externally funded research expenditure is about $5M. The department was ranked 28th among all public institutions in the 2026 U.S. News Best Graduate School Ranking. For additional information about the Department, please visit https://tickle.utk.edu/ise.

The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) is in the midst of an unprecedented period of growth and success, including adding over 30 new faculty at all levels to the college over 4 years as part of ambitious hiring campaigns led by Chancellor Donde Plowman and Dean Matthew Mench. The college has set records in research expenditures, enrollment, incoming student GPA, intellectual property development, and USNWR rank in the past three years. Key partnerships with Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) through the University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UTORII) and Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) that manages the Y-12 National Security Complex have created an expanded opportunity space for faculty and students in the region. New facilities include the state-of-the art Zeanah Engineering Complex, the University of Tennessee Manufacturing and Design Enterprise (TN-MADE) facility, and the Innovation South building that houses UTK's Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF), a National Prototype Research Center (NSPC) as part of a partnership with CNS Y-12 under construction, and new facilities for the Biomedical Engineering department and a quantum foundry in planning stages.

TCE currently has 213 tenure/tenure track and over 80 non-tenure track faculty in its nine academic departments and offers 11 undergraduate, 16 MS, and 15 PhD/DE degree programs. Affiliated with TCE and located in Tullahoma, Tennessee, the UT Space Institute is a hub of aerospace and defense research. The college is also home to eight research centers and three interdisciplinary institutes. With approximately 4,800 undergraduate and 1,500 graduate students, the college sits 28th among public universities in the most recent U.S. News and World Report graduate rankings. Faculty in the college have won 33 early career awards (NSF, DOE, DARPA, AFOSR, AHA, and Sloan) since 2016. In FY25, the college had annual research expenditures of $113.9M.

Available effective August 1, 2027, the positions will include competitive compensation and a startup package. The Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee seeks candidates who can promote an atmosphere where all members of the university community feel welcome and can thrive.

The successful candidate will be expected to establish and maintain a scholarly and externally funded research program; supervise graduate students; develop and teach courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels; and provide service to the Department. The department is interested in candidates who conduct research in quantum computing, manufacturing systems, healthcare systems, human-robotics interaction, building construction, AI foundation and applications, agentic AI, and other ISE-related areas.

Qualifications:

An earned doctorate in Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Operations Research, Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or a closely related field is required, and the PhD should be in hand by the time of appointment. The successful applicants will have strong problem-solving and communication skills and the ability to work in an interdisciplinary environment. A strong commitment to teaching excellence and publications in leading journals is expected. Preferred qualifications are teaching experience, industrial experience, and demonstrated ability to attract external funding.

Application Instructions:

Individuals interested in applying should apply through Interfolio. Applicants must attach to their application a letter of interest addressing qualifications, research interests and teaching interests; a curriculum vitae; and a document containing the names and contact information for at least three professional references. Review of applications will begin on October 5, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Jim Ostrowski, the search committee chair, at jostrows@utk.edu.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university.

Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to eoa@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation and Resolution, 216 Business Incubator Building, E J. Chapman Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, by email to investigations@utk.edu, or by phone at 865-974-0717.

Organization

Working at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Founded in 1794, the University of Tennessee is one of the nation's oldest and most storied public universities. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee's flagship land-grant institution includes the statewide Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute in Tullahoma. The university embodies excellence in teaching, discovery, scholarship, research, creative activity, outreach, and engagement. Known as the Volunteers, we lead with a spirit of selflessness, empathy, and courage, and strive to be champions for diversity, equity, and inclusion

UT Knoxville is a Research 1 university with 11 academic colleges and more than 900 programs of study. With an enrollment of more than 30,000 students, our academic programs are repeatedly ranked top in their class. The university co-manages Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the country's most prominent national lab, driving innovation in advanced manufacturing and materials, national security, and more. We are closely connected with our communities through outreach and extension efforts across Tennessee and through partnerships with non-profits, corporations, and industries—regionally, nationally, and around the globe.

The city of Knoxville is nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. The modern, thriving community is surrounded by gorgeous lakes and hundreds of miles of walking, hiking, and biking trails. Situated along the banks of the Tennessee River, our beautiful features an eclectic music scene, internationally recognized festivals, unique restaurants, and a robust offering of diverse cultural activities. Knoxville is located within a day's drive of Atlanta, Nashville, Asheville, Charlotte, Louisville, Cincinnati, Memphis, Chicago, and Washington D.C.

Knoxville and the surrounding counties have a population of more than 850,000 people. The region houses many leading corporations and organizations, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pilot/Flying J, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Regal Cinemas, along with HGTV, Food Network, and other networks owned by Discovery Inc.

As a member of the UT family, you will be surrounded by top-notch faculty, staff, and students from around the world. You will be part of a diverse campus community that is passionate about changing the world and cheering for the Vols on game day.