Job Details

University of Nevada, Reno

The Mechanical Engineering Department at the University of Nevada, Reno is seeking applications for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position at the Associate Professor level to support its Nuclear Packaging program.

This position aligns with the University's mission as a land-grant institution and carries responsibilities in undergraduate and graduate instruction, supervision of graduate students, and active engagement in research. The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain externally funded research projects, contribute to the advancement of the Nuclear Packaging program, and participate in university and professional service activities.

Required Qualifications

All applicants must have a Doctoral Degree in Mechanical Engineering or another closely related field. Responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate instruction, cutting-edge research, service to the university and the profession.

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates whose specialization and interests complement existing research and instructional strengths in the department and affiliated programs will be preferred. Expertise in experimental and computational nuclear-packaging safety research and related professional development education is strongly desired. Expertise in thermal fluid science is desirable.

Compensation Grade

Associate Professor, 9-month, tenure track or tenured

To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules and select Academic Faculty (9-month). Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.

Remarkable Retirement!

Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University. With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow! All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada.

Perks of Working at UNR!

• Health insurance options including dental and vision
• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options.
• Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders
• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.
• Several Diversity Committees and Affinity Groups focusing on campus-wide diversity initiatives to ensure we are working to create a diverse and welcoming campus climate.
• Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University.
• No state income tax!

Grants-in-Aid for Faculty Employees

The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits but, in order to be eligible, children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee's spouse or domestic partner.

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples' professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada.

Department Information

Mechanical Engineering is a dynamic department within a rapidly growing R1 research university. The university completed a $14-million renovation of the Mechanical Engineering building in 2017, and the $100-million William N. Pennington Engineering Building, which includes an ISO-5 (CLASS 100) cleanroom, in 2020. Departmental resources include access to the University's High Performance Computing facility. The Nuclear Packaging Program has active collaborations with Lawrence Livermore, Pacific Northwest and Idaho National Laboratories, and the Nevada National Security Sites.

College Information

The College of Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno values its faculty and staff as key partners in the University's mission to provide outstanding learning, discovery and engagement programs. Our dynamic, mid-sized college is interested in hiring faculty and staff whose goals are aligned with our mission to serve Nevada, the nation and the world by:

• Providing a state-of-the-art education.
• Conducting high-quality fundamental and applied research
• Engaging in high-impact outreach activities; and
• Fostering a culture of respect, inclusiveness and diversity among students, faculty and staff

Our research faculty is supported by an Engineering Research Office that helped the college garner $33 million in research awards in CY 2023. The college also offers training, professional development opportunities and resources to ensure your success.

We offer multiple bachelor's and graduate degrees and graduate certificates through our five departments:

• Chemical & Materials Engineering
• Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Computer Science & Engineering
• Electrical & Biomedical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

Each department has research focus areas; additionally, the College boasts several specialized research facilities supporting a wide range of innovative projects. Key facilities include the Center for Civil Engineering Earthquake Research (CCEER), which houses advanced earthquake simulation equipment like shake tables and a large-scale structures lab and the Cybersecurity Center, focusing on protecting information and communication technologies. Additionally, the Davidson Foundation Cleanroom supports research in nanotechnology and materials science. The Nevada Water Innovation Institute and the SOLARIS University Transportation Center are also notable, contributing to sustainable water management and transportation research. These facilities enable cutting-edge research and collaboration with industry partners, driving technological advancements and economic growth in Nevada and beyond.

We are strategically located in a growing tech and manufacturing area, 10 miles from the Tahoe-Regional Industrial Center, 12-mile industrial park housing facilities for such tech companies as Tesla, Panasonic, Blockchain, Google, Jet.com and Switch. Just north of Reno is the Nevada Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Test Site, where researchers develop, test and deploy technology related to robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. Nevada also is on the forefront of battery technology, aerospace and defense, water technologies, manufacturing and logistics operations as well as research into sustainable energy sources.

For more information, please visit

Contact Information

Search Chair - Pradeep Menezes, ...@unr.edu

Attach the following attachments to your application

1) Resume/CV

2) Cover Letter with statement of qualifications

3) Contact Information for three professional references

4) Statement of research philosophy and future research plans

5) Statement of teaching philosophy and interests, including specific areas of the mechanical engineering curriculum you are interested in teaching, as well as any new course development you envision. Please also describe your interests in teaching within the industrial curriculum and any proposed new courses in that area.

Full Consideration

For full consideration, applications must be received by November 15, 2025.

This posting is open until filled

Qualified individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. This search will close without notice when a sufficient number of applications are received or a hiring decision has been made.

Note to Applicant

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member's first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person's age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations,