Lab Instructor/Manager in Mechanical and Materials Engineering
The Lab Instructor/Manager is expected to teach MME lab classes and other relevant lecture courses. S/he will be responsible for overseeing and managing the operations of all the MME labs, ensuring their smooth functioning, and providing instruction and guidance to students or staff utilizing the lab facilities. The candidate will ensure the delivery of consistent lab instructional materials, have various responsibilities such as organizing/maintaining/repairing lab equipment, and monitor student/staff activities in the labs. S/he will also ensure the safety and cleanliness of the labs, adhere to safety protocols and regulations, and educate users on lab procedures, safety guidelines, and best practices. The incumbent will coordinate scheduling and reservations for lab usage, optimize resource allocation, collaborate with academic staff to align lab activities with curriculum requirements, and perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications:
The qualified candidate must have a master’s degree or higher. At least 2 years of practical hands-on experience is required. The successful candidate will have excellent oral communication and organizational skills, be responsive to student/faculty/staff needs, and be able to work collaboratively in a team environment. To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. The incumbent will be evaluated, in part, based on the performance of each essential function. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
Master’s degree or higher; prior practical hands-on experience in materials and mechanical areas; excellent organization and time management skills; excellent oral communication skills; professional role model; able to provide a nurturing, respectful learning environment; responsive to diverse student needs; able to work in a team environment.
Mechanical and Materials Engineering at UAB
The MME Department has 17 faculty members, 240 undergraduate majors, 70 full-time graduate students, and more than 100 online master’s students. Current research strengths include ceramics, advanced manufacturing, metal castings and alloys, composites for industrial and defense applications, development and maintenance of hardware for space flight, automotive design and safety. The Department will be moving into a new state-of-the-art building in 2025, and is further supported by the Materials Processing and Applications Development (MPAD) Center.
The Department offers excellent opportunities for collaboration with units across UAB in areas including biomedical engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship, nanoscale materials, tissue engineering, sustainable engineering, transportation, and more. Outside the university, UAB Engineering and the MME Department maintain strong ties with many steel, power, automotive, and defense companies in Alabama and nationally.
The School of Engineering
The UAB School of Engineering is dedicated to research excellence and providing the highest quality education to a diverse population of future engineers. The School has approximately 50 full-time faculty members and enrolls nearly 900 undergraduates across 6 undergraduate majors in four departments: Biomedical Engineering; Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Over 500 graduate students pursue a range of programs including traditional on-campus M.S./Ph.D. pathways as well as online M.Eng. degrees for working professionals. The school has close ties to companies in Birmingham, which serves as a regional hub for the construction, materials, power, and biotech industries.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Spanning more than 100 city blocks, UAB is the state of Alabama’s largest single employer with nearly 28,000 employees and has an annual, state-wide economic impact of $12.1 billion. UAB was ranked #1 Young University in the United States for 2018 and 2019 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. In 2021, Forbes named UAB as America’s No. 1 Best Large Employer, topping a list of more than 500 public and private corporations, hospitals, universities, Fortune 500 companies and more, across dozens of industries. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 “America’s Best Graduate Schools” ranks 16 UAB graduate programs among the nation’s top 25 and eight UAB specialties were ranked among the nation’s top 50 in the magazine’s 2022-2023 Best Hospitals report.
Required Application Documents
Interested candidates should apply online at: https://uab.peopleadmin.com/postings/20009. Application review will begin January 1, 2024 and continue until the positions are filled. Applications should include a cover letter, a CV, a teaching statement, a diversity statement, and contact information for three to four professional references. References will not be contacted without the permission of applicants, and formal letters of reference will be requested for finalists only. Questions may be directed to Dr. Kathy Lu, Department Chair of MME and Search Committee Chair, at klu@uab.edu.
EEO Statement
UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression, or sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.
Pre-employment Background Check
A pre-employment background check investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.
Open Date: 11/1/2023
Open Until Filled: Yes
Expected start date: As soon as possible.
