Announcement: Multiple Positions in Quantum Computing:

Multiple Positions in Quantum Computing: Tenure-Track Assistant Professor & Research Assistant Professor

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

College of Engineering and Computer Science

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Position Overview

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) invites applications for two faculty positions in Quantum Computing, effective January 1, 2027:

• Tenure-Track Assistant Professor;

• Research Assistant Professor.

These positions are part of a deliberate, university-wide cluster hire in quantum computing, science, and technology spanning across engineering, computer science, mathematics, and physics. This coordinated institutional investment will build a critical mass of quantum faculty who will collaborate across disciplines, compete for large-scale federal funding, and position UTC as a national leader in quantum research and education.

This cluster hire directly advances UTC’s 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, anchored by Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce’s vision of UTC as a model metropolitan university and the university’s aspiration to achieve Carnegie R2 classification as a high research activity institution by 2030. Quantum computing is among the chancellor’s explicitly stated research priorities, and these positions represent the academic core of that commitment.

A Research Ecosystem Built for Quantum

UTC has moved decisively beyond early-stage quantum exploration. The university operates an active Quantum Center within the UTC Research Institute, connected to the EPB Quantum Network — the nation’s first commercially available quantum networking infrastructure — through a 10-year access agreement. UTC holds an active Memorandum of Understanding with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for collaborative research in quantum information science and engineering (QISE), and the Quantum Center is supported by a $6.5 million federal investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce through NIST.

In May 2026, EPB’s Board of Directors approved a landmark expanded partnership with UTC to advance applied quantum research and create new commercialization pathways — an investment projected to generate up to $1.1 billion in community benefit. UTC is already operating at the intersection of research, workforce development, and economic impact in quantum technology.

Expanding Graduate Programs

Successful candidates will join the department with a generous startup package at a pivotal moment of graduate program growth. UTC currently offers a PhD in Computational Science with Computer Science concentration. Two additional doctoral programs are in active development and anticipated to launch in the 2027–28 academic year:

• PhD in Quantum Information Science and Engineering — a dedicated doctoral program reflecting UTC’s standing as one of a small number of universities in the nation with the infrastructure and partnerships to support doctoral-level quantum research;

• PhD in Engineering — a college-wide program spanning all five CECS departments, designed to grow interdisciplinary research capacity and support UTC’s path to R2 status.

New faculty hired through this cluster will be positioned as founding contributors to these programs — shaping curriculum, recruiting students, and building research groups from the ground up.

Undergraduate and Graduate Instruction

UTC launched Tennessee’s first undergraduate quantum certificate program and the state’s first undergraduate degree in quantum physics, creating a growing pipeline of students prepared for quantum careers. The CSE department offers degrees at the BS, BAS, MS, and PhD levels, including concentrations in Software Systems, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Cybersecurity. Faculty hired through this cluster will have opportunities to develop new quantum-focused courses and contribute to curriculum that bridges computing, physics, and real-world quantum systems.

Qualifications

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor

A successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A doctoral degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Quantum Computing, or a closely related field. Candidates who are ABD will be considered; the degree must be conferred prior to the start date;

• A record of, or strong potential for, impactful research in Quantum Computing, with the ability to attract external funding from federal agencies (NSF, DOE, DOD, or equivalent) and publish in high-quality peer-reviewed venues;

• Effectiveness in teaching, with the capacity to develop and deliver undergraduate and graduate courses in Quantum Computing, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering;

• Enthusiasm for mentoring graduate students, including potential PhD advisees in the anticipated Quantum Science and Technology and Engineering doctoral programs;

• Interest in collaborative, applied research engaging UTC’s Quantum Center, EPB, ORNL, and other regional and national partners;

• Commitment to inclusive, student-centered pedagogy consistent with UTC’s mission as a metropolitan research university;

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Research Assistant Professor

A successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A doctoral degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Quantum Computing, or a closely related field;

• A demonstrated research record in Quantum Computing, with evidence of, or clear potential for externally funded research activity;

• Experience working in collaborative, applied research environments, ideally involving quantum computing, hardware, networking, and/or algorithms;

• Experience or strong interest in mentoring graduate and undergraduate students in a research setting;

• Ability to contribute to the department’s instructional mission through occasional course or seminar offerings;

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Candidates with interests spanning quantum computing, algorithms, networking, error correction, machine learning, or the intersection of quantum computing with cybersecurity and artificial intelligence are particularly encouraged to apply.

Application Procedures

Applicants should indicate in their materials which position they are applying for (Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, Research Assistant Professor, or both). Applications are accepted through UTC’s online Faculty Career Site.

Please submit the following:

• Letter of interest describing research vision, teaching philosophy, and specific fit with UTC’s quantum computing initiative and cluster hire strategy;

• Curriculum vitae with current contact information;

• Research statement;

• Teaching statement;

• Unofficial transcripts;

• Names, titles, and email addresses for three professional references who will be asked to provide confidential letters of recommendation for finalists.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until both positions are filled. Full consideration is assured for complete applications received by September 1, 2026.

To apply, visit the UTC Faculty Career Site at utc.edu/human-resources/employment and search for “Assistant Professor” or “Research Assistant Professor.”

About UTC and Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is the second-largest campus in the UT System, serving more than 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students across five academic colleges. Founded in 1886, UTC has built a reputation on a distinctive blend of public mission and private tradition — and today is pursuing an ambitious trajectory toward R2 research university status, grounded in community partnership and applied impact.

Chattanooga is a city of genuine momentum — a mid-sized urban center with a nationally recognized innovation ecosystem, a thriving outdoor culture, and a quality of life that consistently ranks among the best in the Southeast. For quantum researchers specifically, Chattanooga is one of a very small number of cities in the world where cutting-edge quantum infrastructure is already deployed at commercial scale and available for academic research.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.