Description

Job Description

The Department of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics invites qualified individuals to apply for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate 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.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics (MEM) at Lehigh University has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with enrollments of approximately 450 undergraduate and 120 graduate students and is the largest department in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science. The department consists of a diverse group of students, staff, and faculty, and places a strong emphasis on supporting Lehigh's Principles of Our Equitable Community in teaching and scholarship. The department offers MS and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering. In 2025, a new MS program in Aerospace Engineering from the MEM Department was launched as part of Lehigh University's Strategic Plan. This MS program comes from the successful Aerospace Minor in MEM that has operated over the past two decades. Successful candidates will be expected to play a leadership role, commensurate with their experience, in establishing engagement and impact in the new Aerospace Engineering MS program.

The MEM department currently has 18 tenured/tenure-track faculty members, 3 research track faculty members, and 9 teaching faculty, with additional part-time instructors from industry and research institutions. Faculty research areas include controls and robotics, solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermo-heat transfer, advanced materials, biomechanics, and mathematical methods. Annual Research expenditures in recent years exceed $5.5M, commensurate with Lehigh University's R1 classification. Successful applicants may have opportunities to work closely with Interdisciplinary Research Institutes within the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering & Applied Science as well as other centers on campus aligned with Lehigh University's Strategic Plan.

Founded in 1865, Lehigh University has combined outstanding academic and learning opportunities with leadership in fostering innovative research. Recognized among the nation's highly ranked research universities, Lehigh offers a rigorous academic community for over 7,500 students. Lehigh University has some 5,800 undergraduates, 1,800 graduate students, and nearly 600 full-time faculty members. Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, PA, a vibrant and historic area. Over 840,000 people live in the Lehigh Valley, which is in close proximity to New York City and Philadelphia.

Qualifications

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 tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor must show evidence of their emerging research streams with potential for extramural support, publication, effective teaching, and mentorship.

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/175885. 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

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Lehigh University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or familial status, national origin (including shared ancestry), pregnancy or related conditions, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Lehigh University is committed to a culturally and intellectually diverse academic community and is especially interested in candidates who can contribute, through their research, teaching and/or service, to this mission. Lehigh University provides competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including domestic partner benefits, and supports faculty members' work/life balance.

Online Application

https://apply.interfolio.com/175885