ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGINEERING TENURE TRACK

SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Since 1890, Whitworth University, a private, residential, comprehensive, master’s-level, liberal-arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian church, has held fast to its founding mission to provide its students an education of mind and heart characterized by rigorous and open intellectual inquiry and the integration of Christian faith and learning. Anchored in the Reformed tradition and enriched throughout its history by strong evangelical and ecumenical currents, Whitworth's mission is carried out by a diverse community of dedicated Christian scholars and staff members who are called to a variety of vocations to serve and support students. Whitworth believes the best learning occurs in the context of relationship – inside and outside of the classroom – where professors and staff members alike invest in the lives of students. Whitworth is committed to modeling the highest standards of integrity and fairness and being a trusted and valued member of the community.

DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING & PHYSICS:

The mission of the Department of Engineering & Physics is to provide our students with an academically rigorous education in physics and its application to engineering. This takes place in a context of committed Christian faith, intellectual challenge, and holistic mentoring. We seek to prepare students for careers in which they will explore the laws of the natural world that God has made, share the details of that creation with others, and apply technology to serve the needs of the world.

The department currently has six tenured or tenure-track faculty. We graduate 15-20 undergraduate students each year. We currently offer a B.S. in Engineering, a B.S. in Physics, as well as an engineering degree through our dual degree (3-2) partnership program with some larger universities across the nation. Our B.S. in Engineering is in the final stages of the ABET accreditation process.

STARTING DATE: July 1, 2022

PRIMARY TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES:

The successful candidate will demonstrate a clear commitment to Whitworth’s mission, strong teaching skills, an emerging record of scholarship and/or significant industry experience, and a commitment to institutional service. Teaching responsibilities for this position will primarily focus on the department’s offerings in mechanical engineering, engineering design, and other required courses in our B.S. in Engineering. The typical teaching load is two courses and two associated laboratories per semester, and a January term course. A departmental research endowment will provide some course release for candidates who pursue scholarly activity that involves undergraduates throughout the academic year.

Scholarly activity aimed at remaining active and current in one’s discipline is expected of all faculty members at Whitworth. This scholarly activity can take a variety of forms. A candidate with significant industry experience might remain current by serving as a consultant, maintaining an industry network which yields internships for our students, and supervising field-appropriate student participation in national or regional engineering competitions. Alternatively, a candidate could pursue more traditional academic research resulting in peer-reviewed and publicly-disseminated publications. A startup package will be provided to help support candidates interested in establishing such a research program, but candidates should demonstrate the initiative necessary to leverage this to receive external funding, with the support of Whitworth’s Sponsored Program’s Office.

Participation in departmental activities, academic advising, faculty governance, service to the profession, and service to the community is expected.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Possibility of developing new courses that contribute to the university’s innovative, interdisciplinary Shared Curriculum. Additional responsibilities include participation in departmental activities and governance, professional and research activities, attending state, regional and national professional association meetings; attending faculty assemblies, development days, and retreat, serving on committees, and advising.

REQUIRED JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Evidence of promise in effectiveness at college-level teaching (demonstrated effectiveness preferred)
• A personal commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith and learning
• Strong potential for an on-going stream of research in the candidate’s area of specialization
• Record of peer-reviewed and publicly disseminated scholarship or significant industry experience
• Ability and initiative to engage in scholarly activity that will result in life-long learning in engineering
• Demonstrated growth in cultural competence, awareness of societal and structural inequities

and proven experience in effectively establishing relationships and positive communications with students and other constituents across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, varying abilities, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, class or religious perspectives

• A commitment to the educational mission of Whitworth University as a comprehensive Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church
• Must meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States by July 1, 2022
• Ability to communicate effectively in English

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Ph.D. or ABD in Mechanical Engineering or a related field

SALARY: Commensurate with experience and qualifications

TO APPLY: Please submit to www.whitworth.edu/facultycareers

• a letter of application addressing your qualifications for the position and interest in teaching at a Christian liberal arts university with an increasingly diverse student body,
• curriculum vitae,
• three most recent student feedback surveys,
• names, addresses, email address and phone numbers of at least three academic references (one or more additional non-academic references who are able to speak to your qualifications for the position may also be included).
• a short personal essay describing your personal Christian faith. This essay is intended to be a statement in your own words that will help the committee to understand your interest in joining Whitworth’s community of Christian scholars. (Click here for guidance on writing the faith essay),
• Your graduate and undergraduate transcripts (may be unofficial)
• A statement of plans for scholarly activity
• A short essay describing evidenced-based practices for increasing the numbers of underrepresented students in engineering

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: A background check, sexual misconduct check, and confirmation of degrees earned will be required of the successful candidate. All Whitworth University employees are required to comply with the university’s COVID-19 vaccination policy.

DEADLINE: Application materials will be received until the position is filled. Initial screening of applicants will begin immediately.

Please direct questions to the search committee chair, Dr. Kamesh Sankaran (ksankaran@whitworth.edu).

Whitworth complies with all federal, state, and local nondiscrimination laws that are applicable to religious nonprofit institutions and does not engage in unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. With our Christ-centered commitment to building a diverse and inclusive community, the university encourages applications from populations underrepresented at Whitworth including members of racial/ethnic communities, women, and persons with disabilities.