Online applications must be received before 12:00am on:
April 19, 2025
If a date is not listed above, review the Applicant Instructions below for more details.

Available Title(s):
270-NN_FACULTY - Assistant Professor, 280-NN_FACULTY - Associate Professor, 395-NN_FACULTY - New Tenure-Track - Pre-Academic Year

Business Title:
Assistant or Associate Professor, Tenure-Track | Nuclear Energy (INEF)

Employee Type:
Faculty

Position Term:

9 Month

Position Details:

THE OPPORTUNITY:

The Washington State University campus in the Tri-Cities (WSU Tri-Cities) is recruiting a nuclear energy tenure track faculty memberat the Assistant or Associate Professor rank to join the newly established Institute for Northwest Energy Futures (INEF). INEF is an interdisciplinary institute dedicated to recruiting talented new faculty, leveraging existing expertise across the WSU system, and collaborating with research partners, including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), to address the increasing demands for resilient and reliable advanced energy solutions in the Pacific Northwest region. INEF's cluster hire initiative includes this faculty position based at WSU Tri-Cities, as well as two additional faculty positions in Critical Mineral and Power Electronics at WSU Pullman and four positions in Life Cycle Assessment, Techno-Economic Analysis, Energy Data Analytics and AI, and Energy Policy at WSU Tr-Cities, which are being advertised separately. Establishing this cross-campus connection will enable the INEF to deploy the full resources of the WSU system, fostering collaboration and leveraging resources.

We are seeking candidates with expertise including the design, deployment, and optimization of nuclear energy with emphasis in areas of nuclear engineering, nuclear materials, or reactor design and their role in establishing future reliable and resilient energy solutions.

Faculty appointed to this position will hold a tenure-track appointment in an appropriate academic department, with teaching and service responsibilities shared between INEF and the respective department. We envision the cluster working at the intersections of academic units to build interdisciplinary and dynamic programming. Given the close collaboration between INEF and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), it is expected that successful candidates will have the ability to apply for security clearance from the U.S. Department of Energy and/or PNNL, as this may be necessary to access restricted areas and resources.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and maintain an innovative, competitive, and nationally recognized research program in relevant areas.
• Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in area of expertise and similarly relevant courses.
• Contribute to advising and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students.
• Participate in service to the INEF, department, college and/or university through committee work, recruitment, and interaction with industry.
• Collaborate closely with other appropriate faculty throughout the campus and University system.
• Establish and sustain significant external research funding in support of the research program.
• Participate in course, laboratory, and curriculum development in relevant areas.
• Participate in the recruitment of highly qualified students.

Assistant Professor Required Qualifications:

• Candidates for Assistant Professor must have an earned doctorate in a relevant field by the time of starting the position.

Associate Professor Required Qualifications:

• Candidates for Associate Professor must have an earned doctorate in a relevant field by the time of starting the position and have a proven record of success as an Assistant Professor or equivalent experience in a National Lab or industry.

Required Qualifications for All Ranks:

• A potential for conducting collaborative and cutting-edge research and secure external funding.
• Ability to develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Commitment to teaching excellence.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both students and colleagues in written and verbal forms.

Preferred Qualifications for All Ranks:

• Strong research experience and a proven track record in the focus area the candidate is applying.
• Experience with Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
• Experience in teaching and developing related curricula.
• Minimum of one year of post-doctoral experience in a related field.
• Ability to initiate novel teaching approaches, advancing the pedagogy of the field.
• Ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary groups in research and outreach.

Additional Information:

SALARY:

Assistant Professor: $75,000.00 - $120,000.00

Associate Professor: $80,000.00 - $140,000.00

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

This is a full-time, 9-month academic appointment. Additional summer teaching appointments are also possible.

Benefits:

WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts. For a more detailed summary of benefits offered by WSU for Faculty please review the summary of benefits for WSU Faculty and Total Compensation.

APPLICATION PROCESS and REVIEW

The following application materials are required (only electronic submissions will be considered):

• Cover Letter: Providing an overview of your background and interests in the position.
• Resume/CV: Provide a detailed and up-to-date account of your educational background, professional experience, and accomplishments.
• Teaching and Research Statements: Up to four pages, describing how your education and experience align with the qualifications for the position, as well as your vision for teaching and research.
• Names, email addresses, and contact information for three references who can address your history of and potential for excellence in research, teaching, and service (letters will be requested at a later time).

Screening Date: Application review will start on April 1, 2025.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will begin the appointment on August 16, 2025, January 1, 2026, or August 16, 2026, depending on the availability of candidate and needs of the program.

For questions about this position, please contact tricities.inef@wsu.edu.

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need. A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

ABOUT INEF:

The Institute for Northwest Energy Futures (INEF) is a newly established center headquartered at the WSU Tri-Cities campus, but operating at a system-wide by engaging multiple WSU campuses, industry partners, and communities to advance research, education, and outreach in advanced energy solutions. The institute bridges the gap between science and policy by taking an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to researching and analyzing advanced energy technologies for policymakers and industry leaders, while also effectively communicating these plans to communities. The institute is actively developing strategic industry partnerships for energy systems research and fostering community discussions on policy development at the state and national levels. Additionally, INEF is creating curricula to prepare the future workforce for careers across many energy sectors. The new faculty hired as part of this cluster will play a leading role in executing these critical activities and advancing the institute's mission.

ABOUT WSU Tri-Cities:

Washington State University Tri-Cities represents an ideal geographical nexus for creating a reimagined energy system. Rich in energy sources such as wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear, the Mid-Columbia region is also home to the considerable scientific expertise of WSU and PNNL and their jointly operated Bioproducts Institute. WSU and PNNL have similar collaborations in nuclear sciences and bioproducts, including the long-running Bioproducts Sciences and Engineering Laboratory on the WSU Tri-Cities campus. These assets collectively provide a unique opportunity for partnerships on research and development and scalability testing with systems integration, all while having access to a ready workforce. WSU Tri-Cities is committed to creating a student-ready campus, marked by academic excellence, career-connected learning, and social belonging. This commitment is informed by our belief that all students, faculty, and staff contribute value to our campus culture.

Time Type:

Full time

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.

Notice of Non-Discrimination

WSU prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates compliant with Title IX. Inquiries regarding Title IX and reports of sex discrimination can be directed to the WSU Title IX Coordinator. More information on WSU's policies and procedures to respond to discrimination and harassment are available here: Nondiscrimination statement.