Assistant Research Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Position Overview

The Herff College of Engineering at The University of Memphis invites applications for a dynamic, highly collaborative Assistant Research Professor (ARP). This specialized, non-tenure-track faculty position serves as the vital technical and intellectual bridge across three core departments: Biomedical Engineering (BME), Civil Engineering (CIVL), and Mechanical Engineering (MECH). 

The successful candidate will manage a Shared Materials Lab environment and establish a central "Fabrication-to-Function" nexus. The primary focus of this role is to accelerate interdisciplinary research, generate critical preliminary data for federal grants, and pioneer the development of sustainable, bio-inspired materials alongside advanced additive manufacturing techniques. 

Core Strategic Themes

The ARP will center their research, fabrication efforts, and grant writing around four core thematic pillars: 

1. Bio-regenerative scaffolds for tissue engineering. 
2. Sustainable "Green" composites for civil infrastructure applications. 
3. Multi-scale fabrication of highly functional materials. 
4. Multi-scale mechanical characterization of hybrid materials. 
    

Key Collaborations

The ARP will work with a robust, pre-established cohort of materials science and engineering experts, including but not limited to: 

• Biomedical Engineering: Dr. Amber Jennings (Lead Mentor, Infection/Biomaterials), Dr. Joel Bumgardner (Dental Regeneration), Dr. Gary Bowlin (Tissue Templates/Electrospinning), and Dr. Hayden Carlton (Thermal Therapy). 
• Civil Engineering: Dr. Farhad Jazei (Co-Lead, Sustainable Infrastructure) and Dr. Yuankai Huang (Sensors & Functionalized Materials). 
• Mechanical Engineering: Dr. Yuan Gao (Technical Lead, Microfluidics/MPS), Dr. Gladius Lewis (Bone Cement/Stents), and Dr. Ranganathan Gopalakrishnan (Aerosol Delivery & Processes). 
• External Synergy: Potential to facilitate broader inter-college collaborations with faculty in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. 
   

Candidates must submit their application through https://workforum.memphis.edu. Click on the full-time faculty menu to find the Biomedical Engineering posting. Applications must include a cover letter, a comprehensive curriculum vitae, the full names and contact information (address, phone number, and e-mail address) of three professional references, and a statement on research philosophy.  Screening of applications will begin in August 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

Responsibilities

1. Proposal Development & Financial Sustainability 

• High-Frequency Grant Writing: Serve as a primary driver for an aggressive external proposal pipeline, aiming for at least five external submissions per year targeting the NSF, NIH, and USDA. 
• Interdisciplinary Team Building: Co-author multi-departmental, multi-investigator grant proposals (e.g., NSF GCR, NIH P01) to bridge BME, CIVL, and MECH expertise. 
• Targeted Funding Goals: Drive the strategic target of securing over $2.5M in requested funds over 24 months, with an expectation to secure at least one major award exceeding $300,000 by the end of Year 2. 
• Transition to Independence: Actively manage the position's funding transition from 100% institutional support to 50% external grant funding by Month 12, and 100% by Month 24. 
   

2. Research, Fabrication & Lab Management 

• Rapid Preliminary Data Generation: Pivot efficiently between the microscopic demands of drug delivery systems/biomaterials and the macroscopic requirements of civil infrastructure to provide high-quality preliminary data for faculty submissions. 
• Shared Materials Lab Supervision: Manage the daily operations of the Shared Materials Lab environment. 
• Interdisciplinary Cross-Pollination: Convene and facilitate weekly "sandpit" meetings for BME, CIVL, and MECH students and faculty to brainstorm fabrication-application fits and streamline characterization protocols. 
• Contingency & Industry Liaison: If federal timelines experience delays, pivot strategically toward generating industry-sponsored research contracts by providing fee-for-service medical device testing and validation for private sector partners. 
   

3. Scholarly Output & Mentorship 

• High-Impact Publications: Disseminate research by maintaining a steady publication record of at least three peer-reviewed articles per year in premier journals (e.g., Biomaterials, Acta Materialia, Advanced Functional Materials). 
• Conference Presentations: Present pioneering fabrication methodologies and findings at prestigious national and international venues, such as the Society for Biomaterials, Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS), and Materials Research Society (MRS). 
• Student Mentorship: Serve as a technical mentor for both undergraduate and graduate student-led research initiatives across diverse engineering backgrounds. 

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Ph.D. in Materials Science, Biomedical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Experience: Proven track record in advanced additive manufacturing, multi-scale material fabrication, and mechanical characterization protocols. 
• Skills: Demonstrated ability to write and submit competitive federal grant proposals (NIH, NSF, USDA). 
  • Strong cross-disciplinary communication skills, with the agility to interface between micro-biological and macro-structural application spaces. 
  • Experience managing shared laboratory spaces and mentoring student researchers. 

The University of Memphis is a leading, student-centered, urban public R1 research institution. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, on 1,160 acres. The University serves a population of nearly 20,000 students and 2,500 employees, including more than 1,000 full-time faculty members. The University offers bachelor’s degrees in more than 230 areas of study, master’s degrees in more than 50 subjects and doctoral degrees in 26 disciplines; supported an institutional record of more than $100 million in research awards for FY24; and has an operating budget of close to $500 million.