Assistant/Associate Professor of Aerospace Engineering

Job Description:

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

The Department of Aerospace Engineering in the College of Engineering at Iowa State University invites applications for a tenure-track track faculty position in aerodynamics and propulsion, focusing on numerical methods and computational fluid dynamics. Exceptional candidates with commensurate experience and proven track record will be considered for tenured status at the Associate rank.

Current research thrust areas of the department include computational and experimental aerodynamics; turbulence modeling and simulation; aircraft icing; aeroacoustics; airbreathing propulsion; wind energy and wind engineering; computational and experimental solid mechanics and materials science; composites and aerospace structures; formal methods and software engineering; autonomy; non-destructive evaluation and testing; flight dynamics and astrodynamics; guidance navigation and control; aerospace systems and design optimization.

Successful candidates will be expected to establish, sustain and grow a world-class research program that complements or aligns with the department’s research focus areas through individual and collaborative efforts.  Additionally, the candidate is expected to establish a record of scholarship at the highest levels. The candidate is expected to teach courses in aerodynamics and/or aerospace propulsion at the undergraduate level, as well as advanced courses at the graduate level, and to engage in institutional service as well as service to the profession.  Candidates should have strong communication skills and exhibit the potential for long-term leadership in supporting the mission of the department, college, and university.

The Department of Aerospace Engineering is committed to sustaining a collegial, positive, and productive environment for each individual and for the collective benefit of all. All faculty members are expected to exhibit and convey good citizenship within department, college, and university activities, interact collegially and maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethical behavior.

Required Minimum Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Aerospace Engineering or a closely aligned field.

• Associate Professor candidates must also meet the university standards for appointment to the rank, including significant experience/accomplishments in the candidate’s area of expertise.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Evidence of collaboration and leadership in research and education.

• All aerospace application areas will be considered; however, the department is particularly interested in new directions in computational aerodynamics, novel numerical techniques, data-driven modeling or data assimilation for aerodynamic applications, innovations in turbulence and transition modeling, and in areas related to aircraft, spacecraft and rocket propulsion.

• An ability to teach undergraduate aerospace courses in one or more of the following areas: low and high-speed aerodynamics, airbreathing and rocket propulsion, and basic and advanced numerical methods for fluid flow simulation.

Department/Program & College Description:

About the Aerospace Engineering Department

The Department of Aerospace Engineering is nationally recognized for its research and teaching. The department has an ABET-accredited undergraduate program in aerospace engineering and graduate programs offering MEng, MS, and PhD degrees in both aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics. The department comprises 20 full-time tenured/tenure-track faculty, 12 non-tenure eligible teaching and research faculty, 15 staff members, and approximately 1000 undergraduate and 90 graduate students.

About Iowa State University and the Ames Community

Iowa State University is classified as a Carnegie Foundation Doctoral/Research University-Extensive and is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top public universities in the nation. More than 30,000 students are enrolled and are served by over 6,200 faculty and staff. The College of Engineering consists of eight departments with annual research expenditures exceeding $105 million dollars.

Iowa State University is located in the city of Ames, IA a progressive community of 66,000, located approximately 30 minutes north of Des Moines one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the Midwest, and is beaming with community pride and accolades.

Iowa State University and the College of Engineering are responsive to the needs of dual-career couples and are dedicated to work-life balance through an array of flexible work policies.

Department Unit/Website:

For more information on the department, please visit http://www.aere.iastate.edu/.

Proposed Start Date:

August 16, 2025

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

09 Month Work Period

Time Type:

Full time

Application Instructions:

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. However, to receive full consideration, applications should be received by December 1, 2024. All interested, qualified persons must apply for this position online at jobs.iastate.edu to job requisition number R15595.

The following documents are required to be submitted in PDF format:

1. Letter of application (including information about the desired rank) that briefly discusses how the candidate meets each of the preferred qualifications.

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Contact information for at least three references, including name, mailing address, email address, phone number, and other pertinent information.

4. Other documents to be combined into one PDF:

• One-page teaching statement, including courses that could be taught at Iowa State.

• One-page research statement that includes a brief statement of equipment needs.

Please direct questions to Arlene Grebasch at grebasch@iastate.edu or call 515-294-8456.

Why Choose ISU?
Iowa State Faculty enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as:
• Retirement benefits, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans
• Generous leave plans
• Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa)
• Life insurance and long-term disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various voluntary benefits and discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellbeing program

Original Posting Date:

September 25, 2024

Posting Close Date:

Job Requisition Number:

R15595

In your application, please refer to Polytechnicpositions.com