The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Lafayette College (https://me.lafayette.edu), invites applications for two new tenure-track assistant professor positions beginning in July 2023. We especially invite applications from candidates who will contribute to Lafayette’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. As an undergraduate-only institution, Lafayette is seeking colleagues who are committed being dynamic and inclusive teachers and mentors. The Department also values a willingness to teach a broad range of topics with hands-on experiences. As part of this search, we seek the following:
Lafayette’s engineering programs feature small class sizes, hands-on laboratory experiences, and strong support for faculty research and professional development. The Mechanical Engineering Department has twelve tenure-stream faculty and graduates fifty to sixty majors each year, of whom approximately 45% are from groups typically underrepresented in engineering and 30% are women. The program features laboratory experiences in each year of the curriculum and offers five to six student-selected year-long capstone design projects annually. Engineering students take advantage of attending a liberal arts institution, with many choosing to double major or minor in a non-engineering program as well as participating in a nationally-recognized study abroad program that is integrated into the four-year degree.
The new interdisciplinary Integrative Engineering B.S. program (inte.lafayette.edu) was offered for the first time in the fall of 2019. The program’s courses have focus areas in robotics, bioengineering, as well as environment and energy that are taught with a systems approach and are supported in part by Mechanical Engineering faculty. This new program and the growth of enrollments has enabled the current 20,000 sq. ft. renovation/expansion that includes new flexible use labs, classrooms, and collaboration spaces. Both positions will have the opportunity to teach required courses and electives in the Integrative Engineering Program.
The College supports faculty in their development of a research program that can engage undergraduate students and result in the publication of scholarly work in peer-reviewed venues. This support comes from the Department, the Engineering Division, and the College in the form of start-up funds, opportunities for research assistantships and scholarships, internal grants and research fellowships, and annual support for conference travel. Additionally, the Engineering Division has a track record of supporting successful NSF Major Research Instrumentation grants.
To apply, please submit application materials, including (1) a cover letter, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) a statement of teaching philosophy including course interests, (4) a statement of research including research area, accomplishments, and future direction, and (5) three letters of reference through Interfolio at http://apply.interfolio.com/112865. In the cover letter, please address how your scholarship, teaching, and research mentoring will support Lafayette College’s commitment to diversity and inclusion as articulated in the College’s diversity statement (https://about.lafayette.edu/diversity-statement/). Review of applications will begin October 17 and will continue until the position is filled.
To learn more about the unique opportunities and experiences Lafayette College offers as an undergraduate-only liberal arts college, 30-minute live online meetings are being offered where you can hear from engineering faculty about their experiences. More information about upcoming info sessions and recordings of past sessions is available at: https://me.lafayette.edu/open-positions.
Lafayette College is located in Easton, PA, and is within 75 miles of both New York City and Philadelphia. The College is a small, highly selective undergraduate institution emphasizing superior education in engineering and the liberal arts, and has offered engineering programs for over 150 years. Since their inception, the programs have emphasized close interaction between students and faculty. In recent years, Lafayette’s engineering programs have ranked in the top 20 in the nation by U.S. News and World Report among undergraduate-focused institutions.
Lafayette College is deeply committed to creating a diverse community, one that is inclusive and responsive, and is supportive of each faculty, student, and staff. All members of the College community share in the responsibility for creating, maintaining, and developing a learning environment in which difference is valued, equity is sought, and inclusiveness is practiced. In cultivating this community, the Engineering programs at Lafayette have taken a national leadership role in diversity as evidenced by recently being recognized by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) for a commitment to the Engineering Deans Diversity Pledge. Lafayette’s engineering programs are among the top 10 in the nation for women on the faculty and among the top 20 for Bachelor’s degrees awarded to women. Lafayette College is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women and underrepresented groups.