Research Assistant Professor in Microelectronics and Semiconductors (3 Positions)

Research Assistant Professor in Microelectronics and Semiconductors (3 Positions)

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Electrical and Computer Engineering Locations:

El Paso, TX Posted:

Jul 18, 2025

Closes:

Open Until Filled Type:

Full-time Ref. No.: 26-COEN-15

Position ID:

190578 Share About The University of Texas at

El Paso:

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) is a Carnegie R1, opportunity, and community engaged university at the heart of the U.S.-Mexico border region that is increasing access to excellent higher education. We advance discovery of public value and positively impact the health, culture, education, and economy of the community we serve. UTEP enrolls more than 25,000 students - 85% of whom are Hispanic and half of whom are the first in their families to attend college. UTEP offers 171 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs at the only open-access, top-tier research university in America. The city's location on the Rio Grande in the Southwest where two countries and three states meet makes it an ideal venue for academic programs and research studies on topics of national interest, including bilingual education/language acquisition, health and health disparities, international relations, international trade, migration, and environmental sustainability and infrastructure. The University enjoys strategic partnerships with two DOE national laboratories in the region and sits on the edge of White Sands Missile Range, making engineering and scientific research both a priority and an opportunity. Along with its top designation as an R1 research university, UTEP is also nationally recognized as an Opportunity University by the Carnegie Classification for its positive impact on economic mobility for students after graduation. In 2024, Forbes found that UTEP students graduate with the lowest average debt of any college or university in Texas and go on to earn a median salary of more than $100,000 10 years after graduation. Located at the westernmost tip of Texas, El Paso is set against the backdrop of the Franklin Mountains and the Chihuahuan Desert in one of the largest binational communities in the world. The city's active arts and culture community features the state's longest-running symphony orchestra, a nationally recognized chamber music festival, a vibrant street art and mural scene, art galleries, museums, and a full schedule of seasonal events and festivals. In 2024, El Paso opened La Nube, a unique hybrid institution that merges the educational aspects of a science center and children's museum experiences. UTEP adds to the arts and entertainment scene with concerts and live events at the city's largest indoor and outdoor venues; theater, music and dance productions; contemporary and student art galleries; and a natural history museum and desert gardens. El Paso residents can also easily travel to the sister city of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, to enjoy great food, markets and cultural events. El Paso/Juárez is the fifth largest manufacturing region in North America and the center of commerce, education and health services for the region. A family-oriented community, the cost of living in El Paso is very reasonable for a large metropolitan area with the average home value of $224,000 in 2025. Texas has no income tax and, when it comes to public safety, El Paso is the fifth safest large city in the United States. In 2025, U.S. News and World Report named El Paso as the second best big city in the United States in which to live. El Paso is also an ideal location for people who love the outdoors. It is home to one of the nation's largest urban parks - Franklin Mountains State Park - and many options for year-round hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing at Hueco Tanks State Park and nearby White Sands, Guadalupe Mountains and Carlsbad Caverns national parks. For sports fans, the UTEP Miners offer exciting Division I college athletics at several campus venues including Sun Bowl Stadium - where one of the oldest football bowl games takes place annually - and the Don Haskins Center arena. Southwest University Park, located a mile away in lively downtown El Paso, is home to the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Triple-A baseball affiliate of the San Diego Padres, and the El Paso Locomotive FC, a professional soccer team founded in 2019.

ABOUT THE ECE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UTEP (http://ece.utep.edu) offers Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Master of Science (M.S.) degrees in Electrical Engineering and in Computer Engineering, and a Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering. The department has an enrollment of over 700 undergraduate and graduate students. The ECE faculty is actively involved in sponsored research with annual expenditures of more than $4.9 million in fiscal year 2024. Research activities are carried out in multiple research laboratories at the Department and at research centers in the College of Engineering and the University. The ECE department has developed significant capabilities, which include faculty hires and development of laboratory and metrology infrastructure to support research, workforce development, and commercialization in microelectronics and semiconductors. The faculty in the area are currently conducting funded multidisciplinary semiconductor research in various areas of expertise. In one example, UTEP is the lead institution of a funded 5 year, Consortium for Electronics in Extreme Environments (E3C) comprised of three universities and three national labs with the mission to establish an enduring research capacity and a pipeline of highly skilled engineers ready to enter employment at national laboratories. In another example, UTEP is a partner in the $840M project funded by DARPA's Next Generation Microelectronics Manufacturing program led by the Texas Institute for Electronics to build a Microelectronics Manufacturing Center. Moreover, UTEP is a partner of the Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Enhancement (SCALE) network to train the workforce for microelectronics. Other significant external funding agencies include NNSA, DOE, NSA, Sandia National Labs, Intel, DARPA, and NSF. The ECE department manages a cleanroom facility designed for fabrication and characterization of semiconductors. The cleanroom is a 6,000 square-feet facility with 2,500 square-feet of class-100 and class-1000 space. Major fabrication capabilities include; nanoscale 3D printing, thin-film deposition, plasma etching, photolithography, oxidation, and diffusion. Major characterization capabilities include; scanning electron microscopy, optical digital microscopy, temperature-controlled Raman and photoluminescence, film thickness measurement via stylus profilometry and light interferometry, UV-vis-IR spectrophotometer, Hall-effect measurement, four-point probe for resistivity, deep-level transient spectroscopy, and a semiconductor parameter analyzer.

Job Description:

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) invites applications for three non-tenure-track Research Assistant Professor positions in the area of microelectronics and semiconductors. These positions are part of UTEP's strategic initiative to develop a world-class research cluster in this field, supported by the UT System Regents' Research Excellence Program. Research Assistant Professors will contribute to high-impact research and dissemination, help secure extramural research funding, support the management of research facilities, and engage in collaborative efforts across departments and institutions. This is a research-focused, non-tenure-track appointment. While formal teaching is not required, candidates will play a key role in mentoring and training students and research staff in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment. Key Responsibilities Conduct and support cutting-edge research in microelectronics, semiconductors, or related areas. Develop proposals and help secure extramural funding to support sustainable research activity. Collaborate with faculty within UTEP's semiconductor cluster and with external partners (e.g., universities, national labs, and industry). Disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and reports. Contribute to the management and technical advancement of UTEP's semiconductor research and teaching facility, including: Stewardship of cleanroom and research infrastructure (e.g., fabrication and metrology equipment). Development of new technologies and process capabilities. Training of graduate and undergraduate students and visiting researchers. Oversight and continuous improvement of facility operations. Application materials should clearly demonstrate the candidate's ability to meet these expectations and contribute meaningfully to the growth of the semiconductor research cluster.

Requirements:

Ph.D. in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field conducting research in microelectronics, semiconductors or related areas. Strong record of research productivity, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and contributions to funded projects. Demonstrated ability to contribute effectively to team-based research. Commitment to training and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in a research setting. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

At least 2 years of postdoctoral or equivalent experience in a research-intensive environment such as a university, national laboratory, or industry R D. Hands-on experience with advanced semiconductor research infrastructure (e.g., cleanroom operations, lithography, deposition, etching, metrology). Demonstrated experience mentoring graduate and/or undergraduate students, or postdoctoral researchers. Experience in proposal writing. A track record of securing extramural funding.

Additional Information:

SALARY :

Rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications and experience. Hiring decisions are based on budget approval. Funding will be provided for a three-year period. Appointments will be renewed annually depending on funding availability and performance. The successful applicant will be expected to secure external funding by year four of their appointment to support their research programs. In keeping with its access, excellence, and impact mission, The University of Texas at El Paso is committed to an open, diverse, and inclusive learning and working environment that honors the talents, respects the differences, and nurtures the growth and development of all. We seek to attract faculty and staff who share our commitment. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity in employment or the provision of services in accordance with state and federal law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes an employee's or prospective employee's right to be free from sexual harassment under Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972. Inquiries-including the filing of a Formal Complaint or reporting an incident-about the application of Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached by phone at (915) 747-8358, by email at titleix@utep.edu , or by mail at 500 W. University Ave., El Paso, TX, Kelly Hall, Room 312. For accommodation information for employees and applicants with disabilities, please contact UTEP's Equal Opportunity Office at eoaa@utep.edu .

Application Instructions:

Applicants must submit the following: 1) a cover letter describing their interest in the position and how they meet position requirements; 2) a detailed curriculum vita; 3) research statement (up to 3 pages); 4) copies of the candidate's two most representative publications; and 4) name and complete contact information of at least three references. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply by September 1, 2025. For information/inquiries regarding the position, please email, ECE_Faculty_Search@utep.edu Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Powered by