Jobs at Member Institutions & APLU

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University (SDSU) seeks an outstanding individual for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering. We are looking for a creative and innovative professional to join us in January 2024. This is a 9-month, 100% time, benefit-eligible position. This position is supervised by the Head of the Mechanical Engineering Department.

South Dakota State University (SDSU), located in Brookings, SD, promotes access to and provides opportunities for all to participate in education, research, and service. SDSU is especially interested in candidates that can contribute to its land-grant mission of access.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses.
• Conducting research in engineering and developing externally funded research programs.
• Recruiting and mentoring graduate students, preferably at the PhD level.
• Establishing a strong collaboration with departmental faculty and performing multidisciplinary research.
•  Publishing the results of research in peer refereed archival journals. Preferred candidates should show an ability to protect and publish the innovative products through patents, trademark, copyrights, and other forms of intellectual property.
• Serving as an active member of the technical community and participate in relevant professional and technical society activities.
• Providing leadership and service to the Department, College, and University.
• Pursuing scholarly, technology, and professional activities that will keep him/her at the leading edge of his/her field.
• Other duties assigned by the Department Head.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

The candidate must have a Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related field completed by the first day of employment and have potential to contribute to high-quality research, evidence of teaching potential and effective written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills. The candidate must have capabilities and background in artificial intelligence and/or machine learning based applications to autonomous systems, robotics, control, navigators, and guidance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Preference will be given to candidates who can contribute to SDSU’s precision agriculture research program.

SALARY: Commensurate with qualifications

BENEFITS:

South Dakota State University offers a wide range of benefits including medical, dental, and flexible benefits, retirement plans, compensation packages, paid holidays, and vacation leave. Employees also have access to internal and state-sponsored training as well as reduced tuition for state-supported courses at all State of South Dakota academic institutions.

UNIVERSITY AND THE BROOKINGS COMMUNITY:

South Dakota State University is the state’s largest, most comprehensive, and the only land-grant university with more than 200 academic programs, an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students, and over $60 million in annual research expenditures.

South Dakota State University offers a rich academic experience in an environment of inclusion and access through inspired, student-centered education, creative activities and research, innovation and engagement that improve the quality of life in South Dakota, the region, the nation and the world. Its employees embrace the university’s core values of being people-centered, expanding knowledge through creativity, embracing organizational and personal integrity, commitment to diversity of thought, and excellence through continuous improvement.

The Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering is one of eight colleges within South Dakota State University. The College has a rich history of success in fulfilling its land-grant mission in teaching, research, and outreach and is made up of six departments: agricultural and biosystems engineering, civil and environmental engineering, construction and operations management, electrical engineering and computer science, mathematics and statistics, and mechanical engineering. The College was officially named the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering in June 2013 to honor Mr. Lohr’s profound role in transforming the College as a donor, fundraiser and advocate. The vision of the College is to be a nationally recognized, regionally relevant, student-centered, and accessible land-grant college, and achieve the university’s mission of providing a rigorous, practical education oriented toward problem-solving, conducting world-class regionally relevant research, and providing technical assistance to existing and emerging business, industry and government.

The Mechanical Engineering Department is the largest department within the Jerome J. Lohr College of Engineering at SDSU with 16 faculty members and more than 430 students. The department offers BS, MS, and PhD degrees in mechanical engineering and has a rich history of success in fulfilling its mission in teaching, research, and service.

The department occupies modern facilities with well-equipped laboratories and supercomputing resources for both instruction and research. Active student branches of four technical societies provide students with opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities that develop professional competence and leadership skills. The environment for study and work is friendly and supportive.

As the state’s 1862 Morrill Act land-grant institution, the work of South Dakota State University is carried out on its main resident campus in Brookings, at sites in Sioux Falls, Pierre, Rapid City, and Aberdeen, and through Extension offices and Agricultural Experiment Station research sites across South Dakota.

Jackrabbits Athletics competes as an NCAA Division I member with membership in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the Summit League and the Big XII for wrestling.

Brookings is home to approximately 24,000 residents and is located 60 miles north of Sioux Falls and 200 miles west of Minneapolis. Brookings is listed as an ideal community for families, students, young professionals and retirees, and is rated among the safest and most vibrant cities in South Dakota.

The Brookings Public School District educates approximately 3,300 K-12 students and ranks among the state’s highest academic achieving school districts. The district includes three elementary schools, an intermediate school for fourth and fifth grade, one middle school, and a high school.

The city also boasts an abundance of attractions and activities, including the Children’s Museum of South Dakota, Dakota Nature Park, South Dakota Art Museum, McCrory Gardens, South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum, Outdoor Adventure Center and the Brookings Summer Arts Festival.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

The position is open until filled with full consideration given to applications received by October 1^st, 2023.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

South Dakota State University accepts applications through an online employment site. To apply, visit: https://yourfuture.sdbor.edu, search by the position title, view the job announcement, and click on “apply for this job.” This system will guide you through the electronic application form. This employment site will also require the attachment of a cover letter, which should specifically address how the candidate meets the qualifications as outlined in the advertisement, Curriculum Vitae, a statement of teaching philosophy (attached as other) with a page limit of 3, a statement of research interests (attached as work sample) with a page limit of 4 including referred bibliography, and a reference page with the contact information for three professional references. Email applications will not be accepted. Please contact South Dakota State University Human Resources at 605-688-4128 if you require assistance with this process.

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by law and/or university policies, including but not limited to, successful completion of a criminal background check.

South Dakota State University is a tobacco free environment. It is university policy to maintain a drug-free environment and to thereby establish, promote, and maintain a safe and healthy working and learning environment for employees and students. This position is subject to South Dakota State University’s Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy 4:14.

For questions on the position, contact Dr. Jeffrey Doom at (605) 688-6703 or Jeffrey.Doom@sdstate.edu.

South Dakota State University promotes access to and opportunities for all to receive the benefit of and participate in education, research, and service and is especially interested in candidates that can contribute to this land-grant access mission. SDSU is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to, and SDSU prohibits discrimination on, the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender, gender identification, transgender, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status that may become protected under law against discrimination in the offering of all educational programs and employment opportunities. Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made by emailing HR@sdstate.edu. Individuals with concerns regarding discrimination should contact: Equal Opportunity Officer/Title IX Coordinator, Human Resources, Morrill Hall 100, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007, 605-688-4128.