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Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Thermal Hydraulics with a focus on Nuclear Engineering

Queen's University

The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering in the Stephen J.R. Smith Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at Queen’s University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor in Thermal Hydraulics with a focus on Nuclear Engineering, with a preferred starting date of July 1, 2027 or January 1, 2028. This posting is to fill an existing vacancy within the University. 

The Department is seeking outstanding candidates in thermal hydraulics, thermofluids, and heat transfer. Prior experience in nuclear applications is an asset but is not required, and the Department will support the successful candidate in developing a nuclear-focused research program and teaching focus.

Qualifications

Candidates must have a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related discipline, completed at the start date of the appointment. The Department welcomes applications from outstanding candidates working anywhere across the breadth of thermal hydraulics, thermofluids, and heat transfer, with expertise that complements and extends existing research areas in the Department. Both experimental and computational approaches are welcome. The appointment is in Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and the successful applicant’s research program will be grounded in the mechanical engineering of thermal and fluid systems. Prior experience in nuclear applications is an asset but is not required. We are also interested in candidates with strong foundations in thermofluids and heat transfer who are motivated to build a research program addressing nuclear energy. The Department will provide mentorship, industrial connections, and access to the Canadian nuclear research community to support the development of nuclear-related research activities. The successful applicant will establish an independent, externally funded research program, with opportunities spanning NSERC, the University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE), Natural Resources Canada, and direct partnership with the Canadian nuclear sector, and will help build a thermal hydraulics capability that complements Queen’s established strength in nuclear materials at the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory and in the new Materials at Extremes Nuclear Research Institute.

The main criteria for selection are academic and teaching excellence, including:

  • evidence of high-quality scholarly output, commensurate with the number of years since the Ph.D. was obtained, that demonstrates potential for independent research leading to peer-assessed publications and the securing of external research funding; 
  • a demonstrable alignment between their current research program and nuclear energy applications and engaging with the Canadian nuclear sector. An established nuclear research record is welcome but is not a prerequisite;
  • strength in experimental and/or computational methods;
  • strong potential for outstanding teaching contributions at both the undergraduate and graduate levels;
  • demonstrate an ongoing commitment to academic and pedagogical excellence in support of the department’s programs, including the ability to teach core thermofluids and heat transfer courses in the Mechanical Engineering program and the interest and capacity to develop contributions to nuclear-related teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels; 
  • A commitment to translation of knowledge and scholarly impact through engagement with collaborative networks, and other diverse forms of scholarship;
  • evidence of an ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary research environment and in an interdisciplinary and student-centred teaching environment; 
  • A demonstrated commitment to the principles of Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility (I-EDIAA) in the teaching and research environment;
  • Professional engineering licensure in Canada, or the eligibility to obtain licensure, is a requirement. Note that all forms of engineering licensure in Canada are considered acceptable (e.g., P.Eng., P.L.Eng). 

The diverse backgrounds of applicants and the type of scholarship appropriate to their research areas, as well as the diverse range of scholarly methodologies and ways of measuring impact will be taken into account when assessing the quality of the scholarly or creative work. Candidates will be evaluated using the principles of the Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) and with attention to the diverse ways excellence can be demonstrated. The successful candidate will also be expected to make contributions through service to the department, the Faculty, the University, and/or the broader community. The annual salary for this appointment is expected to be between $150,000 and $180,000 (CAD). Actual Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

As part of the application process at Queen’s University, our recruitment system uses Artificial Intelligence (AI), as defined under the Ontario Employment Standards Act, to ask job-related questions and confirm eligibility for hire. All final hiring decisions are made using non-AI-related processes. 

Vaccination Requirements

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to declare their COVID-19 vaccination status and provide proof that they were fully vaccinated or had an approved accommodation to engage in in-person University activities. These requirements were suspended effective May 1, 2022, but the University may reinstate them at any point.

 

The Faculty and Department

As one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities, Queen’s University is focused on being the quality leader in Canadian higher education and is dedicated to promoting research and scholarship of national and international distinction. The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering is comprised of approximately 30 faculty members, 800 undergraduate students and 200 graduate students. Research excellence in the Department is supported by five research chairs: a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Mechanics of Materials, a Tier 1 CRC in Cell Mechanics and Mechanobiology, a McGeachy Chair for Biomedical Engineering, and a University Network of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering (UNENE) Research Chair in Nuclear Materials. The Department houses a number of world-class experimental research facilities, including the Optical Towing Tank for Energetics Research Laboratory (OTTER Lab) and the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory (RMTL), along with strong ties to Ingenuity Labs and the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC). The Department is also home to the Chair for Women in Engineering. More details about the Department can be found here.

Queen’s is among Canada’s leading academic centres for nuclear research. The Department is home to the Reactor Materials Testing Laboratory, a facility built around a proton and helium accelerator that reproduces reactor irradiation damage in materials, together with mechanical testing, corrosion, and advanced characterisation suites. It anchors the Queen’s Nuclear Materials Group, which comprises several faculty members and a substantial cohort of students and postdoctoral fellows. The Department holds a UNENE Research Chair and a Canada Excellence Research Chair in the Impact of Radiation in Energy and Advanced Technologies, and its nuclear programme is sustained through UNENE and its industrial sponsors, including Ontario Power Generation, Bruce Power, Conexus Nuclear (formerly the CANDU Owners Group), and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, alongside a research agreement with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited. This capacity in nuclear materials sits alongside established departmental strength in fluid mechanics and energy systems, including the Optical Towing Tank for Energetics Research Laboratory. Thermal hydraulics is a deliberate area of growth for the Department, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to build a new capability at the intersection of these existing strengths, supported by sustained Canadian Foundation for Innovation (CFI) and tri-agency investment.

Our rapidly changing world presents unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges. Smith Engineering is changing the face of engineering education, so future engineers can be leaders in the face of complex and multidisciplinary global issues. This new model of engineering education will be technically rigorous, experientially focused, socially conscious and creatively inspired. It will ensure graduates have the knowledge and tools to not only create our technology and processes but to guide their evolution, and how they integrate with society and the world. To promote on-going teaching success, there is support for course development and delivery provided by the Engineering Teaching and Learning Team, the Queen’s Centre for Teaching and Learning, the Department, and Smith Engineering.

Smith Engineering delivers 10 undergraduate programs to over 3000 undergraduate students, and 5 graduate programs to over 500 graduate students. The Faculty is well known for its record of leadership in interdisciplinary engineering education, including being one of the first engineering schools in Canada to establish an Integrated Learning Centre, significant community service learning modules in First-Year instruction, an interdisciplinary “design spine” coordinated across all undergraduate programs in the Faculty, and a course in Technology Engineering and Management that draws students from engineering, business, arts and science, and law.

Among our top priorities in Smith Engineering is providing opportunities for early career academics to develop exceptional research and teaching contributions while fostering an inclusive environment where all faculty can thrive. Support for faculty to develop strong research programs includes Special Research Grant opportunities, grant writing workshops and review services, and one-to-one mentorship from experienced colleagues.

Smith Engineering understands that we need to focus on making Engineering for Everyone and is working toward a more diverse and inclusive community in an effort to make our learning and working environment better, and to advance the practice of engineering. The Faculty strives to make a difference through commitments such as the establishment of a Chair for Women in Engineering to improve the proportional representation of women in engineering, the new Engineering Strategic Plan, the dynamic outreach programs including Indigenous Futures in Engineering and Black Youth in STEM.  Visit Inclusive Queen’s for more information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.

Institution

From Nobel Prize-winning research exploring the building blocks of the universe to cancer care and treatment to sustainable technologies, our university is tackling humanity’s most pressing challenges. 

A member of the U15 group of Canadian research universities, Queen’s is home to a vibrant research community that includes 46 Canada Research Chairs, two Canada Excellence Research Chairs, and over 20 research institutes who work in partnership with communities, governments, and industry to advance research and innovation, making a measured impact on Canada and the world.

Queen’s is in the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings. In 2025, for the fifth straight year, Queen’s ranked among the global top 10 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings.  THE Impact Rankings, an international ranking of universities that are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals within and beyond their local communities. Queen's placed sixth worldwide and first in Canada out of over 2,300 universities in more than 120 countries.

At Queen’s University, we are committed to advancing Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti‑Racism (I‑EDIAA) as core priorities that shape our workplace and research culture. We recognize that diversity drives innovation, strengthens collaboration, and helps remove barriers so that everyone can thrive. Our eight employee resource groups (ERGs) play a vital role in fostering belonging, amplifying diverse voices, and supporting employees across the university. Faculty and their dependents are eligible for an extensive benefits package that includes prescription drug coverage, vision care, dental care, long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, and access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program. Employees also participate in a pension plan, and tuition assistance is available for qualifying employees, their spouses, and dependent children. Queen’s values families and provides a “top up” to government parental leave benefits for eligible employees on maternity/parental leave, as well as partial reimbursement for eligible daycare expenses. Full details are outlined in the Queen’s–QUFA Collective Agreement, and more information on employee benefits can be found through Queen’s Human Resources. 

The City

The University is situated on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, in historic Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario. Queen’s is an integral part of the Kingston community, with the campus nestled in the core of the city, only a 10-minute walk to downtown. Kingston’s residents enjoy an outstanding quality of life with a wide range of cultural and creative opportunities, with access to many natural areas and proximity to vibrant First Nations Communities including Tyendinaga and Akwesasne. Kingston is a unique Canadian city of 132,000 with a distinct blend of history, recreation, industry, and learning. Kingston offers unique waterfront living with many recreational opportunities. It is within a two-and-a-half hour drive (two-hour train ride) to the commercial, industrial and political hubs of Toronto, Montreal, and the nation’s capital, Ottawa, and a thirty minute drive from the international bridge linking Ontario and upstate New York. The city is also the origin of the Rideau Canal system – a UNESCO International Heritage site, and is close to Frontenac Provincial Park, the Thousand Islands National Park, and the Frontenac Arch UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The Queen’s University Biological Station, north of the city, encompasses 34 km2 of diverse lands, affording premier learning and research opportunities. Visit Inclusive Queen’s for information on equity, diversity and inclusion resources and initiatives.

How to Apply 

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Queen’s is strongly committed to employment equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace and encourages applications from Black, racialized/visible minority and Indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons. 

Applications from all qualified candidates will be considered in the applicant pool. The successful candidate must be legally eligible to work in Canada at the time of appointment. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, priority will be given to Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and any qualified individuals who have a valid legal work status in Canada. Please indicate in your application if you have a valid legal work status in Canada.

We recognize that certain circumstances, including career interruptions, caregiving responsibilities, health conditions, or systemic barriers, may affect a nominee’s record of research achievement. Applicants are encouraged to provide relevant information to contextualize their research record.

The University will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs.  If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact the MME Administrative Assistant in the Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at mmeadmin@queensu.ca.

Those interested in this position should submit a complete application package, including the following documents: 

  • a cover letter, indicating whether or not you have a valid legal work status in Canada 
  • a current Curriculum Vitae (including a list of publications); 
  • a statement of research interests; 
  • a statement of teaching interests and experience (including teaching outlines and evaluations if available); and, 
  • a statement of experience with, and commitment to, facilitation and promotion of Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility; and,
  • names and contact information of three referees. 

The deadline for applications is December 15, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to apply and upload all documents in their application packages electronically as PDFs on the following website: https://apply.smithengineering.queensu.ca/124106 

Academic staff at Queen’s University are governed by a Collective Agreement between the University and the Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA), which is posted at http://queensu.ca/facultyrelations/faculty-librarians-and-archivists/collective-agreement and at http://www.qufa.ca.