Quantum Initiative for Future Technologies

Cluster hire

Quantum Materials, Quantum Information, and Quantum Computing

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The Departments of Physics and Astronomy, Materials Science and Engineering (MSE), and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, invite applications for three tenure-track faculty positions at the assistant professor level. These positions are part of a cluster hire between the three departments in the area of Quantum Materials for Future Technologies. The appointments are expected to begin August 1, 2022. The successful applicants may have joint appointments between the relevant departments. These positions come with highly attractive startup packages to enable innovative research.

The three positions are:

1. A computer scientist or physicist with interest and expertise in one or more of the following areas: quantum information, quantum computation, quantum materials, artificial intelligence and/or machine learning. Preference will be given to candidates who can interface between these areas; see https://apply.interfolio.com/95968.
2. A condensed matter experimentalist with interest and expertise in scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. Preference will be given to researchers who can interface with quantum materials researchers and other members of the clusters; see https://apply.interfolio.com/95969.
3. A researcher with interest and expertise in experimental quantum materials research with a focus on device fabrication and nanoscale transport phenomena. Preference will be given to candidates who can interface with the other members of the cluster; see https://apply.interfolio.com/95952.

These strategic hires will work at the boundaries between physics and engineering. The successful candidate will join a thriving and growing research community working in the broader area of quantum materials and quantum information, which includes three recently appointed cluster faculty. The goal of the cluster is to accelerate the development of quantum science, artificial intelligence, and their technological applications; and to develop new interdisciplinary courses in this area, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Candidates should have a Ph.D. in physics, materials science, electrical engineering, computer science or closely related field. The successful candidate will have established an exemplary record of research that includes significant contributions to the candidate's field of study and that is indicative of future promise and scientific leadership, as demonstrated through publications in peer-reviewed journals, the number and significance of invited talks, evidence of leadership roles the candidate may have assumed, and the candidate’s Statement of Research. The successful candidate will be expected to establish an externally funded research program in their home department(s) and provide training for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to the teaching mission of the participating departments. We are looking for candidates committed to effective undergraduate and graduate teaching, as well as, to innovation in the development of curricula and teaching methods, as demonstrated by the candidate’s Statement of Teaching. Evidence of prior formal, or informal but notable, teaching, and outreach will be an advantage.

The University respects and values people of all races, genders, creeds, cultures, and sexual orientations, and holds a deep commitment toward developing and promoting an inclusive community. We strongly encourage applications from members of groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields, as well as, candidates who will contribute in meaningful ways to the equity and inclusion goals of the three departments. The latter should be demonstrated in the candidate’s Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. 

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is Tennessee’s flagship State research institution, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates and a premier graduate institution with nationally and internationally ranked programs. Many faculty members are recognized as leaders in their fields. The successful candidate will benefit from the available resources and proximity to unique research facilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The University’s campus is in one of the most beautiful areas of the country, with easy access to miles of inland waterways, pristine state and national parks, diverse cultural opportunities, and a blend of convenient urban and rural living settings. Downtown Knoxville, adjacent to campus, is a thriving neighborhood filled with restaurants, shops, and indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, and is home to the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Knoxville Opera Company, annual international festivals, such as the Big Ears Music Festival, and seasonal and weekly events such as Jazz on the Square, Shakespeare on the Square, and the Farmers Market.

Applicants should send a 1) Curriculum Vitae including a list of publications and invited talks, 2) Statement of Research with proposed research program, 3) Statement of Teaching, 4) Statement of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and should also arrange for at least three letters of reference to be submitted separately. All application materials, including the letters, should be submitted via the Interfolio links provided above. Only electronic applications will be considered, and acceptable file formats are .pdf or .docx.  We will start reviewing applications by January 10, 2022.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity, 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, telephone 865-974-2498. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity.