Description

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Vanderbilt University invites applications for an open-rank faculty position to advance our strengths in power systems and energy management. We seek a scholar whose work spans smart grids; power electronics leveraging advanced materials and novel architectures; renewable integration; energy storage; transportation electrification; and energyaware computing. Priority will be given to candidates who apply AI, sensing, and control to build intelligent, adaptive, and resilient power devices and/or energy systems, integrating IC to systemlevel design with data-driven decision-making for performance, reliability, and security at scale.  This search is part of the School of Engineering’s commitment to establishing an interdisciplinary Energy Cluster aimed at addressing grand societal and scientific challenges.

This hire will position Vanderbilt at the forefront of national initiatives in energy, mobility, and AI integration, aligning with priorities at DOE, DoD, DARPA, and NNSA, and enabling deeper partnerships with ORNL, TVA, and TDEC focused on materials, devices, and systems for efficient generation, transmission, and grid resilience. As U.S. data center electricity demand is projected to triple by 2030—potentially reaching up to 560 TWh, or roughly 13% of national use—the imperative for AIintegrated, scalable, and robust energy systems is accelerating. The position addresses a vital gap in large-scale electric grid systems within the Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy and Climate (VSEC); catalyzes collaboration across the School of Engineering and the College of Connected Computing; and complements Vanderbilt’s expertise in micro/nanoelectronics and softwareenabled systems. In alignment with the VUSE strategic plan and discovery centers in Sustainability, Energy and Climate; National Security; and Immersive AI translation, the successful candidate will help build nationally recognized programs, pursue ambitious multi-institutional partnerships, and create new graduate education pathways in electrification and intelligent infrastructure.

Requirements

Candidates must have a PhD in Electrical Engineering or related disciplines. The candidate must have a proven track record of successful research and teaching in their field. The successful candidate will be expected to:

Establish a nationally recognized research program supported by extramural funding.
Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in electrical and computer engineering with focus on power systems/ energy management. Vanderbilt emphasizes excellence in teaching and mentoring next generation engineers and a successful candidate is expected to either become a highly effective educator (for tenure-track applicants) or with a proven track-record of teaching and mentoring excellence (for tenured applicants).
Contribute to departmental, school-wide, and university-wide initiatives, fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment.
 

Application Instructions

Applications should include the following materials:

For full consideration, please apply directly to the Interfolio posting at: https://apply.interfolio.com/175245  

Cover letter
Complete curriculum vitae
Statement of research interests, highlighting potential collaborative opportunities within and beyond the Energy Cluster
Statement of teaching philosophy, including innovative approaches to teaching and curriculum development
Service statement
Contact information for at least three references