Teaching Assistant Professor

The Department of Applied Physical Sciences at the University of North Carolina invites applications for a Teaching Assistant Professor ( TAP).

This position is a 3-year, 9-month, permanent, fixed-term faculty appointment. The individual in the position will be evaluated annually for teaching and service. APS has developed an innovative, general engineering undergraduate major with tracks in materials engineering and environmental engineering. The APS program capitalizes on the strengths of UNC in the liberal arts to train students to address the complex, interdisciplinary challenges of today.

We seek a dynamic educator who will thrive in this innovative environment and is prepared to design, improve upon, and teach undergraduate courses using pedagogy informed by engineering education research. The successful candidate will join a cohesive and innovative group of faculty who are dedicated to teaching excellence.

The TAP will teach three classes per semester including first year classes, engineering foundations courses, and upper-level electives. The TAP will also be expected to provide service to the department by working with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to support the implementation of the new undergraduate program. This could include the development of one or more of the following: an assessment plan, peer teaching oversight, faculty mentoring, and undergraduate laboratory activities. There could be opportunities to teach summer school classes. A PhD in Engineering, Materials Science, Applied Sciences, Engineering Education or a related field is required. Candidates with demonstrated experience in innovative and evidence-based teaching methods will be considered most competitive, including the following: prior teaching in engineering courses, especially materials engineering; industry-education relations; teaching which is responsive to developing artificial intelligence tools.

The Department of Applied Physical Sciences ( APS) turns ideas into impact in three areas: health, energy, and water. It pursues those goals through innovations in materials discovery, design, and characterization; devices and instrumentation; and computation and artificial intelligence. Launched in 2013 as the first new science department in the College of Arts and Sciences in nearly 40 years, APS combines applied sciences and engineering to pursue team-based, interdisciplinary research in health, energy, and water. That same hands-on spirit powers BeAM (Be A Maker), APS's university-wide making initiative, anchored by a 3,400-square-foot makerspace in Murray Hall that serves the entire Carolina community.

The Teaching Assistant Professor will teach three classes per semester including first year classes, engineering foundational courses, and upper-level electives in materials and engineering. The TAP will also be expected to provide service to the department by working with the Director of Undergraduate Studies to support the implementation of the new undergraduate program. This could include the development of one or more of the following: an assessment plan, student advising processes, peer teaching oversight, faculty mentoring, and undergraduate laboratory activities. This position may also have opportunities to teach summer school classes.

Candidate must hold a Ph.D (or equivalent degree) in Applied Sciences, Materials Science, or any Engineering discipline, including Engineering Education.

Candidates with demonstrated experience in innovative and evidence-based teaching methods will be considered most competitive. Prior teaching experience in engineering courses, especially materials engineering, is desirable.

Applications will only be accepted online. Applicants should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and a teaching statement. Applicants are required to identify the names, titles, email addresses and phone numbers of three professional references when applying. Each reference provider will be contacted to upload their letter of support. Applications will be reviewed beginning November 2026.

Questions should be directed to: Chair, Applied Physical Sciences Search Committee, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3050; aps_tap_search@unc.edu.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost office at (919)-962-1091 or send an email to facultyrecruitment@unc.edu.

Please note: The Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost office will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

If you have any questions about the job requirements or the hiring department notify the Department Contact.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.