Tenure-Track Assistant Professor - National Security

Description

National Security

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Vanderbilt University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in microelectronics and digital systems with emphasis on national security. We seek a scholar who will advance resilient, intelligent, and adaptive hardware for computation and wired/wireless communication systems, integrating IC-level and system-level design with AI/ML to meet stringent performance and reliability demands in contested environments. The successful candidate will build on Vanderbilt's internationally recognized strengths in extreme-environment microelectronics, radiation effects, and resilient systems; collaborate closely across the School of Engineering and with the College of Connected Computing; and engage partners in government and industry to translate research into systems-level impact.

In alignment with the VUSE strategic plan, the position supports multidisciplinary research that addresses grand societal challenges-including national security, energy systems reliability and resilience (including nuclear), and secure, stable communications infrastructure-while elevating ECE's national and international prominence. The hire will catalyze collaborations with DoD, DARPA, DTRA, DOE, and NNSA; complement existing programs; and leverage Vanderbilt's research neighborhoods in Systems Risk, Reliability, and Resilience; Robotics and Automation; Materials and Nanotechnology; Energy Transition and Resilience; and Infrastructural Innovations and Sustainability.

About Vanderbilt University and Nashville

Vanderbilt University is a top-ranked private research institution located in the vibrant, fast-growing city of Nashville, offering faculty an exceptional environment for scholarship, teaching, and engagement. Our culture emphasizes radical collaboration across disciplines-spanning engineering, computing, medicine, the social sciences, and the humanities-with world-class facilities, trans-institutional centers, and strong partnerships with Vanderbilt University Medical Center. We are committed to access and advancement for all, cultivating a diverse and inclusive community where faculty, staff, and students can thrive and amplify their impact locally and globally. Vanderbilt's robust research ecosystem, supportive mentoring and career development, and a student body drawn from across the nation and the world make it a premier destination for faculty seeking to build high-impact programs and train the next generation of leaders and change-makers. The University enrolls over 13,500 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across 11 schools on a single, collaborative campus. Consistently ranked among the nation's top universities by U.S. News & World Report, Vanderbilt's educational offerings pair rigorous, research-driven learning with extensive experiential opportunities, mentoring, and cross-disciplinary collaboration that prepare students to lead in academia, industry, and society.

Nashville is a dynamic, fast-growing city with a diverse economy anchored by health care, music, advanced manufacturing, finance, and a rapidly expanding technology sector. In recent years, major global tech companies and leading startups have opened significant offices here, accelerating an innovation ecosystem that spans AI, defense, and data-driven industries. Vanderbilt serves as a key catalyst in this environment-linking research strengths, entrepreneurial resources, and public-private partnerships to drive translational impact across the region. Through campus-wide initiatives and discovery centers that connect engineering, medicine, computing, and the humanities, Vanderbilt helps power Nashville's momentum, fostering collaboration with the city and industry to advance new technologies, talent development, and community-focused solutions.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a PhD in Electrical Engineering or related fields and must show potential for excellent research and teaching in their chosen field. The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Establish a nationally recognized research program supported by extramural funding.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in microelectronics, IC design, and Computing systems. Vanderbilt emphasizes excellence in teaching and mentoring next generation engineers and a successful candidate is expected to either become a highly effective educator (for tenure-track applicants) or with a proven track-record of teaching and mentoring excellence (for tenured applicants).
• Contribute to departmental, school-wide, and university-wide initiatives, fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment.

Application Instructions

Applications should include the following materials:

1. Cover letter
2. Complete curriculum vitae
3. Statement of research interests, highlighting potential collaborative opportunities within and beyond the microelectronics and computing systems group
4. Statement of teaching philosophy, including innovative approaches to teaching and curriculum development
5. Service statement
6. Contact information for at least three references

Review will begin upon receipt, and applications received by January 31, 2026, will receive full consideration.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Vanderbilt University shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.