Governor-s Chair in Quantum Devices

Established in 2006 and funded by the State of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory ( ORNL ), the prestigious Governor?s Chair program, managed by the UT-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute ( UT-ORII ), attracts science and technology leaders to broaden and enhance the research partnership that exists between the University of Tennessee (UT) System and ORNL, the nation?s largest multiprogram science laboratory, managed by UT
- Battelle LLC for the US Department of Energy.

The Departments of Physics and Astronomy and Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and ORNL invite applications from distinguished experts in the field of experimental quantum materials and devices for a Governor?s Chair Professor in Quantum Devices with an appointment between UT and ORNL. The Governor?s Chair in quantum devices would exploit the world-leading nanofabrication and design capabilities between UT and ORNL, and the immense characterization power of the Spallation Neutron Source.?

By working collaboratively with the extensive network of quantum materials experimental and theory faculty and scientists at UTK and ORNL, they will perform high-profile research towards the design, engineering, manufacture, and characterization of quantum devices ? physical instruments that exploit quantum mechanical principles as a toolbox for sensing, communication, information processing, storage or other technological applications.

The s uccessful candidate will have an international reputation and demonstrated excellence in research, program leadership and development as well as teaching. They will have led teams of researchers, as well as have a desire to engage with a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, engineers and students to further the technological readiness level of quantum materials research in Tennessee. T hey will be able to integrate with and leverage unique and world-class existing infrastructure, facilities , and partnerships including the Center for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing ( CAMM ) , a NSF funded Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and the Shull Wollan Center ( SWC ) at UTK as well as the Center for Nanophase Materials Science ( CNMS ) , the Spallation Neutron Source ( SNS ) , t he Quantum Science Center ( QSC ) and leadership computing on the ORNL campus.

The primary employer may be selected as either UTK or ORNL, with a joint appointment at the other institution. Affiliations will be part of the Materials Sciences and Technolgy Division at ORNL and in the UTK Department of Physics & Astronomy in the College of Arts & Science, with a potential for a joint position in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering in UT?s

Tickle College of Engineering. Through a recent cluster hire focused on quantum materials for future technologies, there are now 30 faculty working in this area at UT, representing the largest such group in the southeastern US.

Candidates for the Governor?s Chair in Quantum Devices will hold a PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering or closely related field and be tenured professors or a senior researcher at a research institution. They will have established an exemplary record of research as demonstrated through publications in peer-reviewed journals, citation statistics, the number and significance of invited talks, leadership roles and success in both individual and larger extramural grants.

Their research strengths will be in one or more of the following areas: characterization and development of new classes of technologically useful quantum materials, quantum transport studies, device fabrication, operando characterization design, and transduction between different quantum information carriers. They should have a unique vision for leveraging advances in quantum materials research to build new quantum devices, demonstrating the value of this technology in key areas such as energy, manufacturing and information technology.

They will be committed to educating the next generation experts in these areas and have a track record of successful mentoring of junior scientists.

Governor?s Chair…