Assistant – Associate or Professor of Practice

The University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) appreciates your interest in employment at our growing institution. We want your application process to go smoothly and quickly. Final applications must be submitted prior to the close of the recruitment.

If you need assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please contact our recruitment helpline at (775) 784-1495 or [email protected]. For UNR Med professional job postings, please contact the Office of Professional Recruitment at (775) 784-6778. 

The Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering (MME) at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) invites applications for a 9-month contract, non-tenure Assistant, Associate or Professor of Practice in Mining Engineering. This position is designed for individuals with substantial industry experience who are eager to share their expertise with students and help shape the next generation of mining professionals. We welcome applicants from across the mining industry. Candidates with experience in surface and underground mining operations are encouraged to apply, particularly those who have held leadership roles in production, planning, operations, or mine management.

We also place special emphasis on professionals from the aggregate and quarry industry, including those with demonstrated expertise in production, operations, or management. Both general mining and quarry-focused candidates will be considered, and applicants from all areas of mining are strongly encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

Teaching & Mentorship

• Design and deliver undergraduate and graduate courses in mining engineering, ensuring students gain both theoretical foundations and practical, industry-relevant skills.

• Mentor and advise students to foster career readiness and professional growth.

Industry & Professional Engagement

• Build strong connections between the department and the mining industry through guest lectures, site-based projects, and collaborative initiatives.

• Engage actively with professional organizations such as SME, NSSGA, or similar societies, encouraging student participation and industry visibility.

• Where appropriate, organize or contribute to industry-focused conferences, workshops, or summits.

Outreach & Workforce Development

• Support departmental outreach, workforce training, and applied research partnerships.

• Help prepare students for leadership roles in both traditional mining and aggregate/quarry operations.

Required Qualifications

All candidates are required to have the below required qualifications. Please see detailed breakdown of required qualifications per level (Assistant/Associate/Professor of Practice) below.

• A Master’s degree in Mining Engineering or a closely related discipline.

• A minimum of six (6) years of industry experience in mining operations, engineering, or management.

Assistant Professor of Practice

• Minimum six (6) years of relevant industry experience in mining engineering or related areas

• Minimum one (1) year of teaching, mentoring, training, or student engagement experience

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to contribute to applied and industry-focused education

Associate Professor of Practice

• Minimum (ten) 10 years of relevant industry experience with increasing professional responsibility

• Minimum three (3) years of teaching, mentoring, workforce development, or training experience

• Strong communication and leadership skills

• Ability to contribute to curriculum development and industry engagement

Professor of Practice

• Minimum (fifteen) 15 years of significant industry experience with senior-level responsibilities and recognized professional expertise

• Minimum (five) 5 years of teaching, mentoring, workforce development, or industry training experience

• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills

• Ability to support program growth, industry partnerships, and student professional development

Preferred Qualifications

• Ten (10) or more years of progressive industry experience in mining, with demonstrated expertise in production, operations, or management. Relevant experience may be in aggregate and quarry mining, or in open-pit and underground operations.

• A Ph.D. in Mining Engineering or a closely related field.

• Evidence of leadership, mentoring, or workforce development within the mining sector.

• Active engagement in professional organizations such as Society for Mining Metallurgy & Exploration (SME), National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA), or similar

Compensation Grade based on the Engineering Salary Scales

Assistant Professor, 9 month

Associate Professor, 9 month

Professor, 9 month

To view the salary schedule for this position, please visit: Salary Schedules and select Academic Faculty (Engineering Nine-month). Salary is competitive and commensurate with related education and experience.

Remarkable Retirement!

Our retirement plan is beyond compare. Your 19.25% contribution is generously matched by the University.  With the faculty retirement plan, you are 100% vested on your first day. Sit back and watch your retirement dollars grow!  All permanent employees on an annual "A" or "B" contract who are employed at least 50% full-time are eligible to participate in the NSHE retirement program unless they are members of PERS of Nevada. 

Perks of Working at UNR!

• Health insurance options including dental and vision - Health Insurance

• E. L. Wiegand Fitness Center offers annual or semester memberships and spouse/domestic partner membership options.  E.L. Wiegand Fitness Center

• Reno is proud to be a University town! Many local businesses offer discounts to WolfCard holders

• Mountain EAP supports employees (and eligible dependents) through life's difficult moments. Mountain EAP is located in Reno and specializes in counseling and advising services for personal or interpersonal issues.

• Faculty Senate is the principal representing body for faculty. Its membership includes representatives from each academic and administrative major unit of the University. Faculty Senate

• No state income tax!

Grants-in-Aid for Faculty Employees

The University is proud to provide a reduced-rate tuition benefit to faculty and qualified dependents. Faculty can take up to six credits per semester at a reduced rate. Dependents of faculty have unlimited credits but, in order to be eligible, children must be unmarried and under the age of 24 and must receive at least 50% of their financial support from the employee and/or employee’s spouse or domestic partner.  Faculty Grants-in-Aid

Faculty Dual Career Assistance Program

The University of Nevada, Reno recognizes the importance of addressing dual-career couples’ professional needs. We offer a dual career assistance program to newly hired faculty spouses/partners that provides resources and assists them to identify career opportunities in Northern Nevada. Dual Career Assistance Program

Department Information

The University of Nevada, Reno has a deep-rooted history in mining, dating back 150 years to the Comstock Lode era. The Department of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, part of the Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, has played a central role in the university’s success and Nevada’s economic development. The state, historically known for its gold and silver production, is now a critical player in the sustainable resource sector, boasting seven of the largest lithium deposits in the United States. This positions UNR and the Mackay School at the forefront of modern mining, contributing to the nation's transition toward a sustainable future.

The department remains a hub for students and professionals seeking to advance their careers while shaping the future of responsible resource development. See here for more information: https://www.unr.edu/mining

Contact Information

Search Committee Chair: Dr. Behrooz Abbasi, [email protected] 

Administrative Contact: Beth Jacobsen, (775) 682-8787, [email protected]

Please note, once you submit your application the only attachment/s viewable to you will be the attachment/s to the resume/CV section of the application. Any additional required attachment/s to the cover letter, references, additional documents sections of the application, will not be viewable to you after you submit your application. All uploaded attachment/s will be on the application for the committee to review. To request updates to attachments, prior to the committee review of applications, please contact the candidate helpdesk at [email protected].

Application Materials: The following materials must be submitted with your application:

1) Resume/CV detailing professional achievements, industry roles, and (if applicable) academic or training experience.

2) Cover Letter highlighting qualifications, relevant industry experience, and interest in the position.

3) Contact Information for Three Professional References – references will be contacted only for finalists.

4) Statement of Teaching Philosophy (optional) – describing how you would integrate industry experience into teaching and mentorship. Applicants may include examples from past teaching or training experience, approaches for connecting classroom instruction to real-world mining practices, a teaching plan for future courses, or student evaluations if available.

5) Supporting documents (optional) - demonstrating teaching ability, industry leadership, or professional contributions.

Posting Close Time

This posting will close at 12:00 am on the date listed below. The posting will no longer be available to apply to after 11:59 pm the day prior.

A background check will be conducted on the candidate(s) selected for hire.

HR will attempt to verify academic credentials upon receipt of hiring documents. If the academic credentials cannot be verified, HR will notify the faculty member that an official transcript of their highest degree must be submitted within thirty days of the faculty member’s first day of employment.

References will be contacted at the appropriate phase of the recruitment process.

Applicants hired on a federal contract may be subject to E-Verify.

As part of the hiring process, applicants for positions in the Nevada System of Higher Education may be required to demonstrate the ability to perform job-related tasks.

For positions that require driving, evidence of a valid driver's license will be required at the time of employment and as a condition of continued employment.

Schedules are subject to change based on organizational needs.

The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to providing a place of work and learning free of discrimination on the basis of a person’s age (40 or older), disability, whether actual or perceived by others (including service-connected disabilities), gender (including pregnancy related conditions), military status or military obligations, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, race (including hair texture and protected hairstyles such as natural hairstyles, afros, bantu knots, curls, braids, locks and twists), color, or religion (protected classes). 

About Us

The University of Nevada, Reno is a leading public research university committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. Founded in 1874 as Nevada’s original land-grant university, the University serves more than 23,000 undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and 63 countries.

Classified by the Carnegie® Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as an R1 (“Very High Research”) university, it is also recognized in the Carnegie® Community Engagement classification. The University is also ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the “Best National Universities” and “Best National Public Universities.” It also ranks in the top tier of the WSJ/Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the New York Times’ “Top Colleges for Economic Diversity.”

Since 2009, nearly $1 billion has been has invested in advanced labs, facilities, and residence halls on the main campus. The University is home to Nevada’s first medical school – the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine and the Wayne L. Prim Campus at Lake Tahoe, where education, research, and creative work thrive in a stunning mountain setting. The University delivers on its original land-grant mission with outreach across the state through the University of Nevada, Reno Extension, Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station, Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Nevada Seismological Laboratory, and Wolf Pack Athletics.

The main campus is in Reno, Nevada, a burgeoning global technology hub with a vibrant midtown and downtown. Found where the high desert of the Great Basin meets the High Sierra and Lake Tahoe, the beautiful, 290-acre main campus is also a Nevada State Arboretum. The University’s physical infrastructure is expanding with ongoing construction of the newly named John Tullock Business Building, set to open in fall 2025. Groundbreaking is also planned for a new State Public Health Laboratory Building on campus, alongside the recent acquisition of 16 parcels near campus, known as “University Village,” to provide affordable housing for graduate students and early career faculty.

Collaborating with world-renowned organizations, the University fosters innovation through initiatives such as the Digital Wolf Pack partnership with Apple, which ensures equitable access to technology for students, providing new incoming freshman or transfer students with an iPad Air and accessories. Google’s TechWise initiate is an 18-month program that fully supports undergraduate students in becoming entry-level software engineers by graduation.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced that Nevada – led by the University of Nevada, Reno – was named one of the inaugural 31 Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs (TechHubs). Nevada was selected from a competitive pool of 489 applicants from across the United States and its territories. Nevada’s Tech Hub will strengthen America’s lithium batteries, critical elements and other electric vehicle materials industry sectors within the state.

Through its commitment to high-impact education, world-improving research and creative activity, and outreach that’s transforming Nevada’s communities and businesses, the University continues its 150-year tradition of benefitting our state, nation and world.

The University recognizes that diversity promotes excellence in education and research. The inclusive and engaged community on campus recognizes the added value that students, faculty, and staff from different backgrounds bring to the educational experience.

Today, the University delivers on its original land-grant mission of access to education and knowledge by investing in the academics, facilities, support, engagement and vibrant campus life that promote our diverse students’ cognitive growth and academic achievement – all while remaining one of the best values in American higher education.

For more information, please visit the University’s website.

University of Nevada, Reno