LEHIGH UNIVERSITY. 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.

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 Communitythat 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

• EEO/AA Policy

  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.