Job Purpose:

The Mechanical Engineering Department at Gonzaga University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position beginning Fall 2024. We invite skilled teacher-scholars committed to inclusive, equity-minded teaching and demonstrated record of scholarship to join our teaching-centered and research-active department, which is wholly committed to undergraduate education. We are looking for an applicant with expertise in the areas of thermal fluids and energy systems, where all specializations are welcome (e.g., computational fluid dynamics, sustainable energy systems, multiphase Flows, aerodynamics, thermal management, etc.). 

We seek candidates with a demonstrated commitment to excellent undergraduate teaching that promote welcoming and diverse learning environments. Immediate teaching responsibilities (i.e., within the first year or two) would include one or more of our upper-division courses in Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Heat Transfer. There will also be opportunities to teach senior-level courses in the candidate’s area of interest (as a technical elective), as well as our senior design sequence. To this end, applicants are encouraged to detail, in their cover letter, what new technical elective(s) they would initially be ready to offer or senior project(s) they would best be able to advise. The total teaching load will be 18 credit hours per year (the equivalent of three, 3-credit courses per semester).

The Mechanical Engineering Department of 7 tenure/tenure-track faculty and 3 lecturers currently offers a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering (ABET accredited), supports around 250 undergraduate students, and is specifically committed to providing support for developing engaging, interactive courses that meet our learning objectives. Faculty in our department often mentor undergraduate students in research experiences during the school year. Internal funding opportunities are also available to support undergraduate student-faculty research both during the academic year as well as during summer sessions. In addition, Gonzaga’s Center for Teaching and Advising provides regular faculty development and education opportunities, including a New Faculty Learning Community program to help welcome and support new faculty throughout their first year at Gonzaga. The newly opened Bollier Family Center for Integrated Science and Engineering on Gonzaga’s campus contains teaching, research, and collaboration spaces for faculty from Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Environmental Studies and Sciences, Math, Physics, Psychology, and Engineering.

With a mission rooted in the Jesuit tradition (see: https://www.gonzaga.edu/about/our-mission-jesuit-values), Gonzaga seeks to educate students to become compassionate leaders who engage with the world, seek justice, and contribute to the common good. As a campus community, we prioritize inclusive excellence and increasing campus diversity, particularly in supporting underrepresented students in higher education. The Mechanical Engineering Department at Gonzaga University seeks candidates who align with this mission and encourages applicants to address it in their cover letter. We value candidates who have worked with a diverse array of faculty, staff, and students, and who contribute to a welcoming campus climate. Experience working with underrepresented and minoritized students through teaching, research, mentoring, or administration is preferred.

Gonzaga’s campus sits adjacent to downtown Spokane, WA, along the Spokane River in the Inland Northwest’s most metropolitan region. We exist on the traditional homelands of the Spokane people, one of the Interior Salish speaking tribes of the region. Spokane is Washington’s second largest city and boasts a vibrant restaurant, entertainment, and arts community; it is also home to a diverse array of neighborhoods and popular outdoor recreational areas.

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field (ABDs considered with completion by July 15, 2024) Evidence of teaching/mentorship at the undergraduate level Evidence of an ongoing scholarly/research agenda

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of engaging, inclusive teaching practices at the undergraduate level that includes upper-division thermal fluids courses and/or introductory-level courses for mechanical engineering majors Demonstrated ability to establish and run a research program (e.g., post-doctoral experience, industry research experience, significant leadership role in a research project, advising undergraduate students in a research context, etc.) P.E. License Post-doctoral and/or industrial experience

Job Duties:

• Teach 18 credit hours of courses per year. Teaching responsibilities will initially include one or more of our upper-division courses in Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Heat Transfer. There will also be opportunities to teach senior-level courses in the candidate’s area of interest (as a technical elective), as part of our senior design sequence, or more broadly across the curriculum. Establish a research program in the candidate’s area of expertise; candidates are also encouraged to: 1) develop research programs that support undergraduate student participation in the research (where possible), 2) mentor and oversee undergraduate research assistants, and 3) communicate results through peer-reviewed papers, presentations, and other communications appropriate to the discipline. Provide academic and career advising and mentoring to undergraduate students (typically 15 - 25 per year). Support the department, university, and discipline through service and other forms of academic citizenship.

Application Procedure:

To apply, please visit our website at: www.gonzaga.peopleadmin.com/postings/. Applicants must complete an online application and submit the following:

1. A statement of teaching philosophy that includes: evidence of teaching effectiveness, a description of how the candidate creates and maintains an environment that supports and promotes learning for students with a variety of backgrounds and identities, and a description of how the candidate would advance GU’s mission and our commitment to inclusive excellence through their teaching.

A statement that describes the candidate’s research program and explains how it can support undergraduate research experiences. The statement should also describe the candidate’s experience mentoring undergraduates from backgrounds and identities historically marginalized in the sciences and describe how the candidate would advance GU’s mission through their research. A cover letter that summarizes the areas above and describes the candidate’s understanding of and commitment to the university’s mission. Additionally, the candidate is asked to specify what technical elective(s) they would initially be ready to offer. Names and contact information of three professional references (letters will be requested when finalists are selected.)

Please direct questions about this position to Marc Baumgardner, Search Chair, Mechanical Engineering, baumgardner@gonzaga.edu. Position remains open until filled, for best consideration, please submit materials by September 15, 2023, midnight, Pacific Time. For assistance with your online application, please call the Human Resources Department at 509-313-5996.

Gonzaga University is a Jesuit, Catholic, humanistic institution, and is therefore interested in candidates who will contribute to its distinctive mission. Gonzaga University is a committed EEO/AA employer and diversity candidates are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their disability status and/or protected veteran status. Applicants with disabilities needing reasonable accommodations to complete the application or hiring process should contact Human Resources (509) 313-5996.