Teaching Assistant Professor
- Employer
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Location
- Chapel Hill, NC
View more categoriesView less categories
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
Applied Physical Sciences - 318100
Posting Open Date:10/13/2026
Application Deadline:01/04/2027
Open Until Filled:No
Position Type:Permanent Faculty
Working Title:Teaching Assistant Professor
Appointment Type:Fixed Term Faculty
Vacancy ID:FAC0006166
Full-time/Part-time:Full-Time Permanent
Hours per week:40
FTE:1
Position Location:North Carolina, US
Hiring Range:Dependent on Experience and/or Qualifications
Proposed Start Date:07/01/2027
Be a Tar Heel!:The Department of Applied Physical Sciences at the University of North Carolina invites applications for a Teaching Assistant Professor (TAP).
This position is a 3-year, 9-month, permanent, fixed-term faculty appointment. The individual in the position will be evaluated annually for teaching and service. APS has developed an innovative, general engineering undergraduate major with tracks in materials engineering and environmental engineering. The APS program capitalizes on the strengths of UNC in the liberal arts to train students to address the complex, interdisciplinary challenges of today.
We seek a dynamic educator who will thrive in this innovative environment and is prepared to design, improve upon, and teach undergraduate courses using pedagogy informed by engineering education research. The successful candidate will join a cohesive and innovative group of faculty who are dedicated to teaching excellence.
The TAP will teach three classes per semester including first year classes, engineering foundations courses, and upper-level electives. The TAP will also be expected to provide service to the department by working with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to support the implementation of the new undergraduate program. This could include the development of one or more of the following: an assessment plan, peer teaching oversight, faculty mentoring, and undergraduate laboratory activities. There could be opportunities to teach summer school classes. A PhD in Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Sciences, Engineering Education or a related field is required. Candidates with demonstrated experience in innovative and evidence-based teaching methods will be considered most competitive, including the following: prior teaching in engineering courses, especially materials engineering; industry-education relations; teaching which is responsive to developing artificial intelligence tools.
The Department of Applied Physical Sciences (APS) turns ideas into impact in three areas: health, energy, and water. It pursues those goals through innovations in materials discovery, design, and characterization; devices and instrumentation; and computation and artificial intelligence. Launched in 2013 as the first new science department in the College of Arts and Sciences in nearly 40 years, APS combines applied sciences and engineering to pursue team-based, interdisciplinary research in health, energy, and water. That same hands-on spirit powers BeAM (Be A Maker), APS’s university-wide making initiative, anchored by a 3,400-square-foot makerspace in Murray Hall that serves the entire Carolina community.
Position Summary:The Teaching Assistant Professor will teach three classes per semester including first year classes, engineering foundational courses, and upper-level electives in materials and engineering. The TAP will also be expected to provide service to the department by working with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to support the implementation of the new undergraduate program. This could include the development of one or more of the following: an assessment plan, student advising processes, peer teaching oversight, faculty mentoring, and undergraduate laboratory activities. This position may also have opportunities to teach summer school classes.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:Candidate must hold a Ph.D (or equivalent degree) in Applied Sciences, Materials Science, or any Engineering discipline, including Engineering Education.
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:Candidates with demonstrated experience in innovative and evidence-based teaching methods will be considered most competitive. Prior teaching experience in engineering courses, especially materials engineering, is desirable.
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:Not Applicable.
Special Instructions:Applications will only be accepted online. Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and a teaching statement. Applicants are required to identify the names, titles, email addresses and phone numbers of three professional references when applying. Each reference provider will be contacted to upload their letter of support. Applications will be reviewed beginning November 2026.
Questions should be directed to: Chair, Applied Physical Sciences Search Committee, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3050; aps_tap_search@unc.edu.
Organization
The nation’s first public university is at the heart of what’s next, preparing a diverse student body to become creators, explorers, innovators and leaders in North Carolina and throughout the world. Carolina’s nationally recognized, innovative teaching, campus-wide spirit of inquiry and dedication to public service continue the legacy that began in 1795 when the University first opened its doors to students.
Here, in one of America's most beautiful college settings, we offer exceptional careers in richly diverse fields. Come explore what UNC-Chapel Hill has to offer you.
Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,117
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,894
Total Student Enrollment: 30,011
Founded: 1789, as the first state university in the United States
Type of Institution: Public, four-year
Undergraduate Admission: 15,961
Graduate/Professional Enrollment: 10,039
Total Student Enrollment: 26,000
Faculty: 3,000
Percentage of faculty who hold Ph.D.s or the highest degrees in their field: 94 percent
Faculty/student ratio: 1/14
Location: UNC is located in the heart of Chapel Hill, the best college town in America! It's a friendly town of about 40,000 in the geographical center of North Carolina. Chapel Hill is at the western point of the Research Triangle, an area of about one million people, comprised of Chapel Hill, the cities of Durham and Raleigh, and the Research Triangle Park, home of many corporate offices and scientific research centers. Carolina is about 30 miles from the state capital, Raleigh, and 20 minutes from Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
Chapel Hill's main street, Franklin Street, borders the campus and offers shops, coffee houses, cafés, movie theaters and houses of worship. The town has a historic district, museum, library, parks, malls, and many recreational facilities.
Origins of Carolina's students: 82 percent of UNC's freshmen are from North Carolina and 18 percent are from out-of-state. Our students come from 42 different states and our international students represent 37 countries.
Size of freshman class: Approximately 3,400
Class size: Barely five percent of undergraduate classes contain more than 100 students; two-thirds of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students. Forty-one percent have fewer than 20 students, including First Year Seminars, in which first-year students work closely with professors.
Sports and athletic programs: UNC is an NCAA Division I school with 28 varsity teams. Carolina is the proud home of the Dean Smith Center, Kenan Stadium, Carmichael Auditorium, Koury Natatorium, and many other fine athletic facilities. Students join more than 60 intramural and club sports, which include baseball, bowling, crew, golf, lacrosse, rock climbing, rugby, tae kwon do, and ultimate frisbee. The Student Recreation Center offers weight training, aerobics, stair machines, and all the equipment you would expect to find at a great health club! Carolina offers a newly renovated outdoor pool and indoor pools, a golf course, tennis courts, and the longest zipline in America!
Number of residence halls: Incoming undergraduates will live in one of Carolina's 29 residence halls, which are wired for Internet access and cable television. housing.unc.edu
Scholarships and financial aid: About 40 percent of UNC-Chapel Hill students receive scholarships and/or some form of financial aid. studentaid.unc.edu
Special research institutes: Institute for Research in Social Science, Institute of Outdoor Drama, Morehead Planetarium, Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise, Institute of Government, Institute of African American Research.
Career services: On-campus counseling, job fairs, résumé writing service, internships, placement services. www.unc.edu/depts/career
Technological facilities: Students find multiple uses for Carolina's state-of-the-art technological resources. They can access Carolina's computer services through Academic Technology and Networks, which manages academic computing, e-mail, microcomputing labs, interactive media presentation, video and classroom support, and a help desk. The MetaLab oversees the development of SunSITE, one of the world's busiest digital library and electronic publishing projects.
Students may open e-mail accounts, and many use campus computer resources to construct personal Web pages. Students in residence halls have hardwired network connections to the Internet and cable television in their rooms. At the ATN Training center, students may take classes on software packages and utilities. Computer labs are available for student use all over campus.
Carolina Computing Initiative: Beginning with the freshman class of 2000, undergraduates must purchase laptop computers. The University has arranged for IBM to offer computers at excellent prices. Students, faculty, and staff will enjoy cost savings, higher quality compatible equipment, and better technical support through CCI. www.unc.edu/cci
The Study Abroad program allows students to live and learn in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Africa, and the Americas. www.unc.edu/depts/abroad
The Honors Program offers special seminars, research programs, and the chance to design your own independent studies. www.unc.edu/depts/honors
Carolina students spend time in public service through student organizations, the Campus Y, the Carolina Center for Public Service, and courses that incorporate community service.
UNC's chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a national collegiate honor society, is the oldest in North Carolina, dating from 1904. There are many other honorary societies at Carolina.
UNC offers ROTC programs in all branches of national military service.
Through the First Year Seminars program, first year students will understand what it means to study at a premier research university. They will learn from faculty members and share in their research in seminars of no more than 20 students.
Life outside the classroom: More than 370 clubs, teams, and student organizations offer something for everyone! You can choose from among musical and dramatic performing groups, publications, ethnic and religious clubs, the Campus Y and other service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and pre- professional organizations. Whatever your interests, you will find others at Carolina who share them! www.unc.edu/depts/union/student/listintr.htm
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