Description

The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Vanderbilt University invites applications for a faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) or Associate Professor (tenured). We seek outstanding candidates whose research advances the frontiers of chemical and biomolecular engineering, particularly in engineering biology and biomanufacturing; computational and AI-enabled chemical and biomolecular engineering; and process systems engineering for advanced manufacturing and resource recovery. We especially welcome research that addresses space exploration and national defense challenges in austere environments—where water, oxygen, energy, materials, and infrastructure are scarce or difficult to access—while leveraging Vanderbilt's growing strengths in computing, engineering, medicine, sustainability, and national security. 

The Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE) at Vanderbilt is a highly collaborative and growing department with strengths spanning biotechnology and biomolecular engineering, computational science and engineering, materials and nanotechnology, and energy and sustainability. The department includes 14 tenured/tenure-track faculty who conduct more than $11 million in sponsored research annually and contribute to thriving undergraduate and graduate programs. 

ChBE is embedded in Vanderbilt's highly collaborative research environment, with immediate access to the Vanderbilt Institute for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE) and its state-of-the-art core facilities. Faculty also engage with interdisciplinary initiatives including the Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy and Climate; the Vanderbilt Lab for Immersive AI Translation; and the Vanderbilt Institute for National Security. Vanderbilt University Medical Center, co-located on campus, provides exceptional opportunities for translational collaborations spanning engineering, biology, and medicine. The newly established College of Connected Computing—Vanderbilt's first new college in 40 years—creates particularly strong opportunities for interdisciplinary research and education at the interface of chemical engineering, computing, artificial intelligence, and data science.

Vanderbilt University is a top-20 national research university located on a 340-acre campus 1.5 miles from downtown Nashville. Long known as a global center for healthcare and music, Nashville has experienced substantial growth in technology, advanced manufacturing, electric vehicles, and related industries, expanding opportunities for university-industry partnerships and dual-career households.

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. degree in chemical engineering or a closely related engineering or scientific discipline and should have research and teaching goals strongly aligned with the fields of chemical and biomolecular engineering. Candidates should demonstrate a record of scholarly accomplishment appropriate to career stage and the potential to establish or sustain an internationally recognized, externally funded research program. Successful candidates will also demonstrate a commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education and to collaborative engagement across Vanderbilt. The position will be at the Assistant or Associate Professor level depending on the experience and record of the candidate.

Application Instructions

Application materials are to be submitted to https://apply.interfolio.com/196117 and must include: 

•      cover letter
•      complete curriculum vitae
•      4- to 6-page statement of research interests detailing past contributions, future research plans, potential funding directions, and Vanderbilt-specific collaboration opportunities
•      2- to 3-page statement of teaching interests and philosophy highlighting synergies within the ChBE department and interests in developing new courses 

     names and contact information of at least three professional references

Review of applications will begin November 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be received by December 1, 2026. Please address questions to Professor Jamey Young, Chair of ChBE, by email to j.d.young@vanderbilt.edu.