The Tickle College of Engineering (TCE) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking applications to fill a faculty position at the Full Professor level in 2025. This initiative is part of an approved Radioisotopes Cluster hire to bolster UTK’s strength in the development and use of radioisotopes in all related fields, such as but not limited to, isotope production, radiochemistry, and applications of radioisotopes. Preference will be given to candidates with demonstrated research success in one or more of these areas with the vision to develop collaborative research activities, and are committed to high-quality undergraduate and graduate student education.

The Radioisotopes Cluster was approved and launched in 2022, and several hires have been completed since its inception. In continuation of these recent hires, the Radioisotopes Cluster is seeking to fill its senior-level faculty vacancy. The TCE recently opened the Zeanah Engineering Complex, which is a new $129M building that houses 27 nuclear engineering laboratories. This includes over 4500 square feet of radiochemistry research laboratory space and a radiochemical teaching laboratory suite that will be available to the successful candidate. UTK Nuclear Engineering (NE) has continued to make investments in the radioisotopes research areas including a new $1M small animal PET/CT as well as radioanalytical chemistry instrumentation (ICP-MS, HPLC, iTLC, etc.).

This search aligns well with the current initiatives at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII), including the recently funded $20M Convergent Research Initiative (CRI) in Development and Advancement of Radiopharmaceutical Therapies (DART). The selected candidate will choose which TCE department participating in the Radioisotopes Cluster (Nuclear Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering) they will join. The long-term plan for hires within this cluster include 1) development of new radiochemistry labs, 2) development of enhanced radioisotope curriculum and establishment of a summer school in collaboration with partners at ORNL and UT-ORII, 3) expand partnerships with local hospitals, veterinary centers, and/or businesses with interests in isotope use and research, and 4) establishment of transformational campus-based research center(s).

Applicants must have a doctorate degree in nuclear engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, or a related field and be eligible for appointment at the rank of Full Professor. Applicants must be able to contribute to existing courses in the chosen TCE department, advise/train graduate students in the production and/or use of radioisotopes, provide service to the university and community, contribute to current research activities in radioisotopes, and develop new avenues of research and teaching.