Assistant Professor in the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at Oklahoma State University is pleased to invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. Areas of emphasis for this position will include, but are not limited to, applied mechanics and mechanics of materials; machine learning, artificial intelligence, digital-twin modeling, biomechanics, and thermal system modeling; robotics, control, and unmanned/autonomous systems; advanced manufacturing; aerospace materials, structures, propulsion and power, and aerospace sustainment. The candidate will be expected to build an internationally recognized, externally funded research program and to contribute strongly to undergraduate and graduate teaching, student mentoring, and professional service. Candidates with research interests aligned with one of the centers, including CIBS (Center for Integrated Building Systems), OAIRE (Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education), and LaunchPad Center for Advanced Mobility, are especially encouraged to apply.

The School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Oklahoma State University has a strong local, national, and international reputation for its premier undergraduate and graduate education and research programs. As one of the largest academic units at Oklahoma State University, the school is home to over 1600 students, comprising over 1400 undergraduate students and 150 graduate students. The school has a total of 41 faculty members consisting of a vibrant combination of senior faculty and a large number of junior and motivated tenure-track members: 23 tenured, 11 tenure-track, and 7 teaching professors. Undergraduate laboratories are supported by more than 100000 sq.ft. of floor space in the ENDEAVOR building and the Design Manufacturing Laboratories. MAE offers undergraduate and graduate degrees on both the main campus and the Tulsa campus, reaching a varied population of traditional and non-traditional students. The School offers ABET-accredited degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Aerospace Engineering. It also offers Master's and PhD degrees in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, including an option for Unmanned Aerial Systems.

The School is a unique blend of teaching and research excellence. Annual research expenditures are nearly $300K per tenured/tenure-track faculty member, and new external research awards received for FY26 average $350K per tenured/tenure-track faculty member. The school is home to several national and statewide programs, including CIBS (Center for Integrated Building Systems), OAIRE (Oklahoma Aerospace Institute), NASA Oklahoma Space Grant EPSCoR, and the LaunchPad Center for Advanced Mobility. Research is supported across multiple large-scale facilities including the Advanced Technology Research Center, EXCELSIOR, the Helmerich Research Center (Tulsa), and the dedicated 80-acre Unmanned Systems Flight Station.

The School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering is one of the nine schools within the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology, which encompasses both the Stillwater and Tulsa campuses and has about 3800 undergraduate students, 700 graduate students, and 170 full-time faculty. Oklahoma State University is an R1, comprehensive land-grant university with over 27000 students. Stillwater is a safe city of 50000 residents with strong public schools and affordable, high-quality housing. Travel is convenient with a brand-new airport in Stillwater, as well as flight options from two cosmopolitan cities, Tulsa and Oklahoma City, which are only 65 miles away.

Qualifications: An earned Ph.D. in a field closely aligned with mechanical or aerospace engineering is required. Successful candidates should have research expertise in a rapidly developing area in mechanical or aerospace engineering fields with strong potential for securing competitive extramural funding, essential for building an internationally recognized research program.

Applications: Interested and qualified candidates should apply online at https://jobs.okstate.edu. A single PDF file is requested with your application. The file should include:

• a cover letter,
• a detailed curriculum vitae,
• a statement of research, including descriptions of two planned research projects,
• a statement of teaching interests and vision,
• names and contact information of five professional references.

Send requests for additional information to the search committee chair, Dr. Mike Xiang at yujiang.xiang@okstate.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applications received by December 1, 2026, will receive full consideration.