Description

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY. The Department of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics invites qualified individuals to apply for a tenured Associate, or Full Professor position in computational or experimental solid mechanics with a specialization in space structures. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a thriving research program in areas that may include, but are not limited to: structures in extreme environments, hypersonic structures, multifunctional structural design and optimization, folded/deployable structures, and structures for low- or zero-gravity conditions. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2026.

Requirements

Candidates must have earned a PhD in Aerospace or Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field by the date of employment. The successful candidate will be expected to:

pursue external funding and support PhD students
effectively teach courses in Aerospace Engineering at the graduate level, as well as core and elective Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics courses at the undergraduate level;
engage in scholarly activities, and participate in departmental, college, and university service; and
contribute to an academic environment in which all students, faculty, and staff can thrive to their fullest potential.
Candidates for tenured Associate or Full Professor must show evidence of their established research streams with continued potential for extramural support and publication. The successful Associate or Full Professor candidate will also be expected to show evidence of a strong record of leadership, mentorship, teaching, and peer-reviewed publications.

Application Instructions Review of applications will begin on  Nov. 15, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be received by Dec. 15, 2025. Applicants should submit their materials at apply.interfolio.com/175939. Candidates should submit the following materials:

      Cover letter

      Curriculum vitae

      Research statement that describes past scholarly contributions and future research directions

      Teaching statement that describes instructional philosophy and courses that the candidate  would want to teach or develop

      A statement on Contributions to Lehigh’s Principles of Our Equitable Community that describes how your experiences, knowledge, and skills prepare you to effectively contribute to a learning and research community that holds these principles at its core (the Lehigh ADVANCE Center’s Applicant guide for understanding and preparing such statements is available here.)

      Contact information for at least three professional references

      Additionally, candidates at the tenured Associate or Full Professor level should submit a Leadership statement that describes how their past experiences, leadership roles, and skills prepare them to effectively steward the Aerospace Engineering program.