Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering

The Opportunity 

Ohio Wesleyan University’s new Conrades School of Engineering invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering beginning in August 2027. This is an opportunity to help build an undergraduate engineering program from the ground up, combining rigorous technical education with the breadth of the liberal arts. We seek a collaborative colleague committed to excellent teaching, student mentorship, and research involving undergraduates. Candidates from all areas of mechanical engineering are welcome.

This job is part of a cluster of positions focused on flexibility, interdisciplinarity, and inclusivity. The faculty cohort will join an educational community that values interdisciplinarity and fosters close working relationships with students through our signature program in experiential learning, the OWU Connection. Incoming faculty will be provided with mentoring, professional development, startup funds, and opportunities to connect with faculty across the Ohio 5 and GLCA consortia. For more information about the cluster, please visit www.owu.edu/join OW Ufaculty.

About the Conrades School of Engineering 

Supported by $17 million in alumni contributions, the Conrades School of Engineering represents a sustained investment in engineering education grounded in the liberal arts. The school will welcome its first mechanical engineering majors in fall 2027, offering a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and complementary minors in Engineering Science and Science and Engineering in the Public Interest. Its approach brings technical depth together with ethical reasoning, creative problem-solving, and an understanding of how engineering serves people and communities.

Working closely with the Founding Dean, the successful candidate will help shape the curriculum, establish teaching laboratories, develop student research and design experiences, and prepare for ABET accreditation. The school’s location in Central Ohio offers opportunities to build relationships with employers in advanced manufacturing, technology, and related fields. We seek a colleague who brings initiative and enjoys building connections across disciplines and between classroom learning and engineering practice.

Faculty support includes start-up funding, a pre-tenure sabbatical, student-faculty research opportunities through the Summer Scholarship & Research Program and the OWU Connection, and mentoring and professional development through the endowed Smith Center for Faculty Excellence.

Responsibilities 

• Teach six courses per academic year (3/3), including first-year engineering and foundational courses such as Statics, Dynamics, and Mechanics of Materials. Upper-level courses will be added as the program grows, aligned with the candidate’s expertise and program needs. 
• Teach courses that contribute to the general education curriculum, including First Year Seminar. 
• Assist in curriculum development, revision, and evaluation with the Founding Dean, including lecture courses, laboratory courses, and engineering design experiences. 
• Help establish teaching laboratories, including developing experiments and identifying equipment needs. 
• Advise students in their academic journey and mentor their professional development. 
• Engage in a consistent and focused line of research that involves undergraduate students. Pursuit of external funding is encouraged. 
• Contribute to student recruitment, experiential learning opportunities, and relationships with external partners. 
• Support preparation for ABET accreditation by developing assessment tools, evaluating student learning, and documenting continuous improvement. 
• Provide service to the department, university, and profession. 

Qualifications 

Required 

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field, by the start of the appointment. 
• Experience teaching undergraduate engineering courses, including laboratory instruction. 
• Interest in or experience with mentoring undergraduate students, including undergraduate research. 
• Experience with curriculum or laboratory development, student learning assessment, or ABET accreditation. 

Preferred 

• Engineering experience in industry. 
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from an ABET-accredited program. 

Application Instructions 

Applicants should submit the following:

Please submit all materials, preferably in pdf format, via www.owu.edu/join OW Ufaculty, where you will find additional information about working at OWU. To be considered for the initial round of review, you must submit your cover letter, CV, teaching and student engagement statement, research statement, and contacts for three professional references. Official transcripts, reference letters, and additional materials may be requested at a later time and can be sent directly to facultyjobs@owu.edu.

Questions about the position may be directed to Paul Slaboch, Founding Dean of the Conrades School of Engineering and Search Chair, at peslaboch@owu.edu. For questions, including difficulty with uploading materials, contact facultyjobs@owu.edu and include the search number in the subject line.

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled.

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