Assistant​/Associate Professor in Mining Engineering

Position: Assistant/Associate Professor in Mining Engineering (2 Positions)
Job Description:

The Department of Metallurgical, Materials, and Biomedical Engineering (MMBME) at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) invites applications for two full-time, tenure-track faculty positions at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor to support the relaunch of the Mining Engineering program. Competitive salaries will be offered and will be commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank.

MINING ENGINEERING PROGRAM RESTART

To address the national shortage of mining engineering professionals amid the growing strategic importance of domestic mineral production and supply-chain security, the University of Texas System Board of Regents has committed $20 million to restart the Mining Engineering program at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). In addition, the Texas State Legislature has allocated $20 million to support the infrastructure and facilities required for high-quality mining engineering education, supplemented by multiple significant contributions from industry partners.

The relaunched program builds upon UTEP's deep mining heritage and regional legacy. Founded in 1914 as the State School of Mines and Metallurgy, the institution joined the University of Texas System in 1919 as the Texas College of Mines and Metallurgy and awarded degrees in Mining Engineering until 1966. Today, Texas leads the nation in non-fuel mineral production (USGS Mineral Commodity Summary, 2024), and UTEP will offer the only undergraduate Mining Engineering program in the state.

The program is being reestablished with strong and sustained industry engagement, positioning it to become a world-class, modern mining engineering program that serves both regional and national workforce needs.

POSITIONS OVERVIEW

Candidates for these Mining Engineering faculty positions may come from any area of mining engineering, including but not limited to Mine Planning and Design, Geomechanics, Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy, Rock Fragmentation and Blasting, Mining Ventilation, Mine Automation, Health and Safety, Digital Mining Systems, and closely related fields. The department particularly encourages applications from candidates whose expertise emphasizes emerging technologies, data-driven approaches, sustainability, and modern mining systems.

Demonstrated research and scholarly publication experience, along with meaningful industry experience, are highly valued, as they will strengthen the program's research profile, instructional relevance, and industry alignment. These positions present unique opportunities to develop a contemporary mining engineering program with state-of-the-art instructional and research laboratories, backed by strong industry partnerships and focused on workforce development, innovation, and societal impact.

The key responsibilities and/or capabilities of these faculty members are:

1.1 Teaching

• Develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in Mining Engineering, aligned with the candidate's area of expertise and department needs.
• Integrate emerging and modern technologies into instruction, including automation, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and advanced modeling and simulation tools.
• Mentor and advise undergraduate and graduate students, including supervision of undergraduate research and design projects, master's theses, and doctoral dissertations.
• Contribute to curriculum development and modernization, including incorporation of best practices in safety, sustainability, and innovation, and support accreditation and continuous improvement efforts.

1.2 Research

• Establish and sustain a strong, externally funded research program that addresses critical challenges in mining and mineral resources engineering, with an emphasis on emerging technologies and intelligent, data-driven approaches.
• Secure competitive research funding and disseminate research outcomes through high-impact, peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations, graduate student training and completion, and meaningful industry engagement.
• Preferred research areas include, but are not limited to:
  • Geomechanics and Advanced Rock Mechanics:
    Rock characterization, numerical modeling, ground…