Pacific Marine Energy Center Director and Associate/Full Professor

The selected candidate will hold two appointments, a 0.50 FTE professional faculty position as the Pacific Marine Energy Center Director, appointed on a 12-month basis, and the academic faculty portion of the position will be a 0.50 FTE tenure track/tenured position as Associate Professor/Professor in the College of Engineering (COE), which will be appointed on a 9-month basis. Should the incumbent no longer hold the Executive Director position, they are entitled to resume the Associate Professor/Professor appointment at 1.00 FTE, 9-month appointment basis.

Any hiring at the rank of Associate Professor/Professor with indefinite tenure will be subject to a successful out-of-cycle tenure review process: https://academicaffairs.oregonstate.edu/resources-policies-legislation/policies-and-resources/promotion-and-tenure-guidelines/out-cycle.

The Pacific Marine Energy Center (PMEC) is a research consortium between OSU, the University of Washington (UW), and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) that was established in 2008 through competitive funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It has since expanded to include over $50M in research funding and over $240M for testing and affiliated test facilities through support from the Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, state agencies, and private corporations. PMEC’s mission is to connect people to the power of the ocean by responsibly advancing marine energy by expanding scientific understanding, engaging stakeholders, and educating students. This includes closing key gaps in scientific understanding, informing regulatory and policy decisions, and facilitating commercialization. At OSU, PMEC includes over 20 affiliate faculty members and has a focus on student growth and development. PMEC works closely with a variety of stakeholders, including marine energy device developers, community members, ocean users, federal and state regulators, and government officials.

The PMEC Director at OSU will work with the other PMEC co-Directors at UW and UAF, and the Directors of PacWave, the O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory, the Gaulke Center for Marine Innovation and Technology, and the Wallace Energy Systems and Renewables Facility (WESRF) to lead the program with a clear vision, work effectively with university faculty, administration, and a broad range of external stakeholders to stimulate interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach efforts. The PMEC Director at OSU will need to communicate effectively with federal funding agencies and federal and state legislators and staffs and have strong team-building skills. The Director will help maintain PMEC’s leadership status in marine energy research, development, and testing, continue to expand and diversify PMEC’s research capabilities and funding sources, and encourage marine energy industries to partner with PMEC. The PMEC Director reports to the Associate Dean for Research in the College of Engineering.

Upon appointment to the faculty, rank will be determined commensurate with qualifications. The position incumbent will demonstrate capability for building a thriving research program by obtaining federal and industry funding for work that complements existing expertise within COE, utilizes OSU’ facilities and laboratories, and supports the efforts of the Pacific Marine Energy Center. They must also demonstrate passion for and excellence in teaching, with a strong commitment to promoting inclusion and equity for learners from diverse groups. They will be expected to be able to teach undergraduate and graduate level courses in their area(s) of expertise in different modalities as required.

The OSU College of Engineering consists of five multidisciplinary schools. They are the Schools of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering; Civil and Construction Engineering; Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering; and Nuclear Science and Engineering. The tenure line associated with the Director will be at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor and will lie in the School that best matches the incumbent’s area of expertise. Partial appointments in other academic units are also possible. The Oregon State College of Engineering has committed to being a national model of inclusivity and collaboration. We strive to develop a community of faculty, students, and staff that is inclusive, collaborative, diverse, and centered on student success. COE ranks high nationally (currently 3rd among land grant institutions) in terms of the percentage of faculty that identify as female.

OSU has just launched its new strategic plan – Prosperity Widely Shared. Central to this plan is a significant expansion of its research enterprise and broadening its ‘distinction in collaborative, team-based and solutions-oriented work.’ Important components of OSU’s strategic plan and its capabilities are cutting-edge research, innovation, and engineering facilities. For example, OSU is currently constructing the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex (HCIC), a state-of-the-art, team-based transdisciplinary research and teaching center. As part of the HCIC, OSU will also soon take ownership of a $25M NVIDIA super-computer, which will be a university-wide resource for computational research.

OSU is in Corvallis, OR with approximately 35,000 students enrolled. The College of Engineering is the largest college, with approximately 10,000 students. OSU is situated on a beautiful 400-acre campus. Corvallis is a community of 60,000 people in the Willamette Valley between Portland and Eugene and is an idyllic college town. It has been rated one of America’s most livable small cities for its classic structures, tree-lined streets, and Willamette River frontage. Corvallis has been recognized as one of the best college towns, one of the top ten places to live, having the highest Peace Corps volunteers per capita, the most green buildings per capita, and was ranked #1 in patents per capita. Located about 90 miles south of Portland, a major urban area with an international airport and thriving industry, and about 40 miles from the state capitol in Salem, Corvallis sits in the middle of Oregon’s finest recreational and scenic areas; ocean beaches, lakes, rivers, forests, high desert, and the rugged Cascade and Coast mountain ranges are all within a short driving distance.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by January 04, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted after the full consideration date, until a sufficient applicant pool has been achieved or the position is filled. The closing date is subject to change without notice to applicants.

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

1) A Curriculum Vitae

2) A Cover Letter; In your cover letter, please describe how you are uniquely qualified for this position, and what specifically appeals to you about joining our campus community.

3) In a separate document share with the committee, If you were to fill the position, describe your approach to the leadership and management of multidisciplinary teams. (upload as Other Document 1)

You will also be required to submit the names of at least three professional references, their e-mail addresses and telephone numbers as part of the application process.

Starting salary within the salary range will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

For additional information please contact:
Janet Knudson
Janet.knudson@oregonstate.edu

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability, protected veteran, and other protected status.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

OSU is a fair chance employer committed to inclusive hiring. We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system. This job has “critical or security-sensitive” responsibilities. If you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate. Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU’s Employee and Labor Relations team at employee.relations@oregonstate.edu.