The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte is currently seeking candidates for a 9-month tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor rank with the expertise in Batteries and Energy Storage, with an expected start date of August 2026. Candidates with diverse research interests, particularly those aligned with UNC Charlotte’s areas of research focus and distinction, are strongly encouraged to apply. Specifically, candidates are expected to have a strong research focus in electrochemistry or battery engineering, including specializations in materials characterization, system safety, battery manufacturing, and/or recycling. We seek outstanding candidates with demonstrated expertise and strong research potential in one or more of the following or related areas:
- Next-generation battery materials
- Electrochemo-mechanical-thermal coupling in energy storage systems
- Critical materials processing, battery manufacturing, and recycling
- Battery safety, reliability, and degradation mechanisms
- AI/ML-enabled design, or digital twins for energy storage
The Department of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Science (MEES) is the largest department within the William States Lee College of Engineering, staffed by 52 full-time faculty members and 15 staff members who serve over 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students. There are six active NSF CAREER awardees, and faculty are recognized as Fellows of leading professional societies. The Department has a long-standing record of research excellence in advanced manufacturing and metrology and is home to the Center for Precision Metrology and the Center for Additive Manufacturing of Advanced Ceramics.
This position will be part of the North Carolina Battery Complexity, Autonomous Vehicle, and Electrification Research Center (BATT CAVE). The BATT CAVE focuses on advancing battery technology and autonomous vehicles. Battery research aims to enable the development of new battery technologies, design innovative materials, and establish mechanistic models to enhance battery performance and address safety concerns. Autonomous vehicle research focuses on modeling, estimation, control, and autonomy for vehicles and battery systems, including AI-based human-machine interfaces for autonomous vehicles. BATT CAVE has close proximity and established relationships with the new Toyota Battery Manufacturing plant in Liberty NC, Albemarle, Duke Energy, Honeywell, Celgard, Atom Power, and other battery OEMs.
