ASSISTANT OR ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Colorado School of Mines

About the Role

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at Colorado School of Mines (Mines) invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, commensurate with experience, with primary expertise in heat transfer and secondary expertise in fluid mechanics. The department seeks outstanding scholars who will build a nationally recognized, externally funded research program, inspire students through excellent teaching, and contribute to the department’s growing graduate programs. Candidates excited about advancing Mines’ strategic initiatives in Energy and Quantum Engineering, Earth 2.0, Space Resources, and Critical Minerals are encouraged to apply.

Special Consideration Will Be Given To Candidates Whose Heat Transfer Research Connects To Regional Industries, Including Aerospace, Energy, Materials Processing, And Data Centers.

Research Areas Of Interest Include

• Radiative heat transfer and thermal management in extraterrestrial applications
• Heat transfer in extreme conditions, such as re-entry vehicles, rocket engines, and concentrating solar applications
• Advanced heat transfer for energy conversion and storage processes
• Thermal management of cryogenic processes for quantum computing
• Cooling strategies for high-performance computing and data centers
• Multiphase heat transfer for materials processing in extraction and manufacturing
• Thermal hydraulics and heat transfer in next generation nuclear reactors

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and sustain an independent, externally funded research program in heat transfer and fluid mechanics, disseminating results through high-impact, peer-reviewed publications and presentations.
• Recruit, supervise, and mentor graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) and undergraduate researchers.
• Develop and deliver high-quality instruction to undergraduate and graduate students in Mechanical Engineering, including core courses in heat transfer and fluid mechanics.
• Cultivate and promote a collaborative and welcoming Mines community through recruiting, mentoring, and service.
• Contribute to Department, University, and professional communities through active service.

Requirements & Tech Stack

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering or another closely related field with relevant experience from an accredited program by the time the appointment begins.
• Research expertise in heat transfer, demonstrated by a record of scholarly publications appropriate to career stage.
• Demonstrated potential to establish and sustain an independent, externally funded research program.
• Commitment and ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in heat transfer and fluid mechanics and to implement best practices in STEM pedagogy.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to engage, collaborate, and communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff, and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Secondary expertise in fluid mechanics, including experimental, analytical, and/or computational (e.g., CFD) methods.
• Research interests aligned with one or more of Mines’ strategic initiatives in Energy and Quantum Engineering, Earth 2.0, Space Resources, and Critical Minerals.
• Record of securing, or clear potential to secure, competitive external funding from sources such as NSF, DOE, NASA, DoD, and industry.
• Experience collaborating with industry partners in aerospace, energy, materials processing, or data center and high-performance computing sectors.
• Demonstrated effective teaching ability at the university level.
• Ability to teach courses in the Mines core curriculum.

Qualifications for Associate Professor Rank

• A record of research, external funding, teaching, and service commensurate with that rank.

About Mines & The Department Of Mechanical Engineering

Colorado School of Mines, Colorado's oldest public university, produces talent, knowledge and solutions that serve industry and benefit society—all to create a more prosperous future. Mines enrollment includes 6400 undergraduate students and 1900 graduate students in a broad range of applied science and engineering disciplines. Mines, an R1 institution, maintains high-quality, well-funded research programs (~$136M in awards for fiscal year 2025) with strong participation from both graduate and undergraduate students. The 2026 edition of U.S. News and World Report ranks Mines as a top 100 university. Mines has the highest admissions standards of any public university in Colorado and among the highest of any public university in the U.S. Located in Golden, Colorado, Mines has close proximity to Denver and Boulder, providing opportunities for significant collaboration with government labs, industry, and other universities.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines is a nationally recognized leader in engineering education and research, dedicated to advancing knowledge and developing innovative solutions to complex societal and technological challenges. The department offers a dynamic and collaborative environment where faculty engage in high-impact research, mentor talented undergraduate and graduate students, and contribute to a culture of academic excellence. Areas of research strength include advanced manufacturing, robotics, energy systems, biomechanics, materials, and other interdisciplinary fields. Supported by state-of-the-art laboratories, strong industry partnerships, and an entrepreneurial spirit, the department provides exceptional opportunities for faculty to pursue externally funded research, develop meaningful collaborations, and make lasting contributions through teaching, scholarship, and service. The department's enrollment includes 2341 undergraduate students and 178 graduate students. 78% of students completed internships in 2025.

Total Rewards

Academic Salary Rate

• Assistant Professor: $99,556 to $134,694
• Associate Professor: $119,000 to $138,000

Mines takes into consideration a combination of the candidate’s education, training, and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion, and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining the salary rates for potential new employees.

Benefits

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits. For this role, that includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage options, along with Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Generous paid time off including 11 paid holidays per year
• Mandatory MDCP retirement plan, fully vested on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution, plus optional voluntary retirement savings plans
• Tuition benefits including up to 6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for eligible dependents
• RTD Ecopass for free light rail and bus transportation throughout the Denver Metro area.

Colorado School of Mines offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support employees both professionally and personally. In addition to competitive health, retirement, and wellness benefits, employees enjoy access to a variety of campus and community resources, including discounted programs through the State of Colorado, complimentary admission to Mines Athletics home events, and membership access to the state-of-the-art Mines Recreation Center, featuring fitness classes, personal training, aquatic facilities, and more. Employees also have access to outdoor equipment rentals through the Outdoor Recreation Center and the convenience of an on-campus childcare center.

How To Apply

Priority review will begin January 4th and will continue until the positions are filled. Applicants will be asked to complete an online application (indicating personal information, demographic information, references, and veteran status). References will not be collected or contacted until later in the selection process, and you will be informed before that contact is made. Applicants may submit their application as one combined document or as separate documents.

The Application Must Include

• A curriculum vitae
• A statement of research (at most 4 pages)
• A statement of teaching (at most 2 pages)
• A cover letter indicating rank for consideration and expressing interest in the position at Mines

Research Statement Guidelines

Candidates should describe how their research relates to and complements research activities and expertise at Mines, its expected scholarly and societal impact, its relevance to Mines’ goals, and current or future connections to industry and/or opportunities for entrepreneurship. The statement should cover both the candidate's history of successful research as well as their plans for future research at Mines, and their plans for obtaining external funding for that future research. Candidates should also be sure to describe any transdisciplinary aspects of their research. (For more information visit https://research.mines.edu).

Teaching Statement Guidelines

Mines is committed to high quality, hands-on, and project-based learning. Additionally, Mines is growing its online MS non-thesis degree programs. Candidates should cover their in-person and hands-on teaching pedagogy and be prepared to describe any experience they have in online education. (Learn more about teaching resources at https://trefnycenter.mines.edu/).

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position. This posting may be used to fill multiple openings. Contact Kathleen Feighny in HR with any application questions at [email protected].