Professor of Manufacturing

Harvey Mudd College invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position teaching manufacturing in our General Engineering program. The Department of Engineering seeks manufacturing experts with production systems experience who can excel in teaching a broadly-based undergraduate curriculum (https://www.hmc.edu/engineering/curriculum/). Candidates with a mix of industrial and academic experience are especially encouraged to apply. A candidate hired to this role would manage funding that supports including undergraduate students in the practice of manufacturing engineering. 

One of two types of credentials are required, either (1) a Ph.D. or equivalent (terminal) degree in industrial engineering, manufacturing, or a closely related field, or (2) a masters degree in engineering combined with substantial (>10 years) industrial experience in manufacturing engineering with demonstrated leadership in manufacturing practice or practical implementation of engineering solutions. The appointments are anticipated to be at the assistant or associate professor level.

Applicants should demonstrate commitment to teaching excellence. Teaching opportunities include the department’s required courses in engineering sciences, participation on teaching teams in the design and systems engineering sequences, supervising sponsored projects in the Engineering Clinic program, and developing courses in the applicant’s area of specialty. All faculty at Harvey Mudd College contribute to the college’s Core Curriculum, which includes disciplinary introductory courses, a first-year course in writing as well as a course centered on the relationship between science and society. Candidates should provide evidence of excellence in teaching and their ability to increase students’ general and multidisciplinary engineering skills. For candidates with industrial backgrounds, this evidence might include descriptions of training new hires or leading larger training efforts.

Applicants should also demonstrate a commitment to professional growth. Many forms of professional engagement are celebrated at the college including consulting and academic publishing in a wide variety of fields. Candidates should discuss how the Harvey Mudd environment (a selective undergraduate liberal arts college emphasizing science, mathematics, and engineering) would provide opportunities for professional growth in research, consulting, or other forms of scholarship, and how undergraduate students might be engaged in these activities.

Finally, applicants should demonstrate commitment to promoting equity and inclusion among diverse students and colleagues. Among the criteria for appointment are experience with students from diverse backgrounds and/or the ability to teach those students effectively. Candidates from groups historically underrepresented in engineering are encouraged to apply. 

Application Process

We will review applications in two stages. For the initial application, please submit only an anonymized 2-3 page cover letter. We ask for this to be anonymized to mitigate unconscious biases that might compromise a fair assessment of the strengths of your application. Your letter should address 1) your interest in undergraduate education and Harvey Mudd College in particular, 2) your teaching experience and strengths, 3) how your research/professional background will contribute to the education of our students, 4) how you will develop professionally at Harvey Mudd, and 5) your experiences building inclusive environments and promoting equity and inclusion. 

Note that “anonymized” does not mean that the applicant in any way obscures the specific content of their work and plans. However, omission of names of people (your own and colleagues’), institutions, and journals will permit fair assessment of your potential strengths as a faculty member at Harvey Mudd. Do not use institutional letterhead. Identifying information entered on the application website will not be viewed by the committee in this first stage. See an example* below of anonymized letter content.

Candidates selected for second stage review will be invited to submit the following materials with a lead time of two weeks in most cases:

1. Curriculum vitae
2. Teaching statement: describe practices and experiences that inform the way you teach and the contributions you would make to the department’s curriculum (including existing course offerings and new courses you would develop) (typically 2-3 pages).
3. Professional growth/research statement: describe your intended research program/professional growth plans, including how you would implement your plans at an undergraduate institution (typically 2-3 pages).
4. Diversity, equity, and inclusion statement: describe your interests, experiences, and future plans for promoting equity and inclusion in your teaching, mentoring, and in your work as a scholar (typically 2-3 pages).
5. The names of at least three individuals who can provide letters of recommendation, including at least one letter writer who can specifically address your potential as a teacher, if possible. Recommendations will be requested by the search committee at the time that candidates are selected for phone interviews.

*Example Statements

• Traditional, non-anonymized: “As a graduate student at University of X, I was a teaching assistant and lab instructor for Prof. Y‘s “Principles of Manufacturing” course where I [did impressive things]. For my Ph.D. research, I designed and built a new system that can [do something awesome] and is being further studied by Z Company. Reference: A. Colleague, B. Myself and C. Advisor, “Article title”, Journal name, 2022.
• Anonymized: “As a graduate student, I was a teaching assistant and lab instructor for my department’s junior level “Principles of Manufacturing” course where I [did impressive things]. For my Ph.D. research, I designed and built a new system that can [do something awesome] and is being further studied by an industry partner. Reference: Applicant et al. (#2 of 3 authors), “Article title”, 2022.

Harvey Mudd College is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will be given consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ethnic origin, ancestry, citizenship, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), marital status, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

The 9-month salary range for this position is $105k-$165k. Salaries will be offered commensurate with experience and with the appointment level (assistant vs. associate). Faculty are able to pursue research or consulting opportunities that increase this income. These opportunities are valued by the department as continuing professional development and are considered in our promotion process.

Review of initial applications (cover letter only) will begin October 1, 2024.

Any questions may be sent to: eng-search-2024-L@g.hmc.edu

https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/27953