Assistant Professor in Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics - Radiochemistry

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Job Category:

Faculty

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Assistant Professor

Job Summary:

Job Description

The Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics (NEEP) in the College of Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison seeks candidates for a tenure-track faculty position in nuclear engineering, with applications in the generation, processing and management of radioisotopes across different disciplines.

Across the landscape of nuclear science and technology, the processes for generating, separating and applying specific radioisotopes are becoming more important, for example: Separation and management of tritium will be critical for the safe, reliable and economic growth of fusion and advanced fission technologies. Novel medical radioisotopes are being discovered and explored using multiple sources, including accelerators, neutron irradiation and fission products. There is a renewed national interest in processing of used nuclear fuel, with multiple value streams being generated across different industry sectors.

NEEP is seeking a new faculty member to expand our research portfolio in one or more of these areas, with collaboration opportunities within the department, across the College of Engineering and the UW-Madison campus, and with local and national industry partners.  In particular, a new faculty member may be able to have affiliations with Medical Physics or Chemical and Biological Engineering, as appropriate. 

UW-Madison offers a rare array of facilities for isotope generation: the UW Nuclear Reactor provides neutron irradiation capabilities with access to hot cell and radiochemical handling; the Ion Beam Lab delivers tunable low-energy ion beams with modern targetry and diagnostics; and the UW Cyclotron Lab supplies high-energy protons and deuterons, with an ongoing expansion to higher energies and currents, alpha-particle capability, and an integrated theragnostic radionuclide production suite adjacent to clinical nuclear medicine capabilities.

The new hire will have a tenure home in the Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics and will join a faculty community with diverse research interests related to nuclear energy applications, both fission and fusion. As a member of a vibrant nuclear engineering research community, the new hire will have many opportunities to establish collaborations with both experimental and computational research groups already active on the UW campus. External partnerships with regional and national facilities are also encouraged. Faculty members are expected to establish and maintain a world-class graduate research program, teach courses, contribute to the education and professional development of a diverse community of undergraduate and graduate students, and engage in department, college, university, and appropriate community and professional service activities. 

Candidates for this position may be eligible for participation in the Excellence in Mentoring Initiative. The Excellence in Mentoring Initiative aims to recruit outstanding faculty who, in addition to their demonstrated excellence or strong potential in research and teaching, are strongly committed to developing, implementing, and promoting effective practices for mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students, and other trainees within their scholarly disciplines. In this case, the faculty member will join a cohort of Excellence in Mentoring Initiative faculty across campus and become part of a growing community of scholars dedicated to inclusive mentorship and student success.

Key Job Responsibilities:

Department: Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

Compensation:

Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable

Required Qualifications:

• The successful candidate will have an excellent academic record, a vision for an innovative, significant and impactful research program, the skills to implement it, and a commitment to high quality and inclusive undergraduate and graduate instruction and mentoring.

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• Demonstrated accomplishments in research and teaching appropriate for a faculty appointment at the indicated level at UW-Madison.

Preferred Qualifications:

Education:

• PhD in Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Medical Physics, Physics, Chemical Engineering - or a closely related field by start date.

Department:

• College of Engineering, Department of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics

How to Apply:

Please upload a SINGLE PDF with the following materials:

• A cover letter outlining your vision for contributing to the NEEP department
• A curriculum vitae highlighting research accomplishments (including complete list of publications), teaching, mentoring experience and administrative roles
• A statement of research 
• A statement on teaching

• The deadline for assuring full consideration is November 30, 2026. However, the position will remain open, and applications may be considered until the position is filled.

Contact Information:

Dina Christenson

Department Administrator

[email protected]

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. 
 
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). 
 
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