Associate Professor - Chemical Engineering

40188BR

Engineering

Position Description

The Department of Chemical Engineering in the Whitacre College of Engineering at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month Associate Professor position to begin Fall 2025. This position is part of a strategic initiative directed toward agricultural and biological systems engineering science and research. Therefore, there is a strong preference for candidates to lead a research program that seamlessly integrates bioprocess engineering with food engineering, focusing on precision fermentation, functional foods, and the enhancement of nutritional profiles through bioengineering techniques. The position will also investigate and develop new bioprocesses specifically tailored for the scalable production of food-grade products using fermentation technology. Successful candidates will be expected to develop nationally and internationally recognized and externally funded research program, form departmental and multidisciplinary collaborations, foster partnerships within and outside Texas Tech University as well as industry. Teaching duties will focus on core courses for the new BS program in Biological Systems Engineering, such as Biotransport, Bioinstrumentation Laboratory, Engineering Applications to Biosystems, or Capstone Design, as well as supporting the graduate and undergraduate programs in chemical engineering. All faculty are expected to engage in strategic outreach activities and perform internal and professional service. Applicants should be eligible to work in the United States.

About the University

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.
About Lubbock:Referred to as the "Hub City" because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock's Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.

About the College

The Whitacre College of Engineering (WCOE, https://www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/) serves approximately 4800 undergraduate and 1300 graduate students, supported by 220 faculty and instructors. The college had 852 BS, 557 MS and 68 PhD graduates in the 2023-24 fiscal year. All incoming first year students are enrolled into a common foundational curriculum for all undergraduate programs. Foundational students declare a program of choice and can move into upper division after completing the foundational classes with a TTU GPA of 2.5 or higher. The WCOE consists of the Departments of Chemical Engineering; Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical & Computer Engineering; Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Petroleum Engineering. All BS programs and the Environmental Engineering Master's program are ABET accredited. All departments have Master's and PhD programs. Annual research expenditures of the college are around $18M.

About the Department/School/Area

The Chemical Engineering Department at Texas Tech has 15 faculty members in tenured or tenure-track positions and three in primarily teaching positions. The total undergraduate enrollment in the upper-level chemical engineering and the foundational engineering program is 331. The department's undergraduate program has a strong emphasis on hands-on training, the highlights of the program include the newly equipped Valero Laboratory for Unit Operations and the Morrow Energy Pilot Plant. The graduate program of the department consists of 87 graduate students. Current research efforts in the department are focused in the areas of bioengineering and nanomedicine, energy and sustainability, soft matter, computational modeling and data science, and electrochemical engineering. Department's total sponsored research awards in FY24 were $5.3M.

Major/Essential Functions

In line with TTU's strategic priorities to engage and empower a diverse student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with diverse student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.

Organization

Texas Tech University

Faculty Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Agricultural and Food Engineering, Biological Engineering, or a closely related field
• Associate Professor or research and track record commensurate with the ability to be appointed as an Associate Professor at TTU
• A track record of outstanding research in bioprocessing area as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications
• A track record of teaching and student mentoring as demonstrated by course instruction and student advising

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Research experience in one or more of the following areas: bioprocess engineering, food engineering, precision fermentation, functional foods, and the enhancement of nutritional profiles through bioengineering techniques
• Experience with development of new bioprocesses tailored for the scalable production of food-grade products using fermentation technology
• A track record of working in a collaborative environment such as participation in multi-PI or multidisciplinary collaboration projects

Duty Point

TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities

Safety Information

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Does this position work in a research laboratory?

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include the following documents in your application:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research Interests
• Statement of Teaching Interests
• List of at least three references

Job Type

Full Time

Pay Basis

Monthly

Pay Statement

Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan. For additional information, please reference the institutional pay plan by visiting www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/payplan.

Travel Required

Up to 25%

Grant Funded?

No

Job Group

Assistant Professor

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

Salary Grade

800

Applications must be received by

03/25/2025