Lecturer in Materials Engineering

Te Tari Pūhanga Pūrere | Mechanical Engineering Department

Located in Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa | New Zealand

• Full-time 37.5 hours per week (1.0 FTE)
• Continuing (permanent) position
• Generous annual leave provisions and professional development opportunities

Kia hiwa rā, kia hiwa rā!
He hiahia, he pūkenga nōu ki te mahi a te Pūkenga? Nāia te pōwhiri nā Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha kia tono mai i te tūranga nei.

Āu Mahi | What You Will Do and Mōu | Who You Are

Applications are invited for a continuing position of Lecturer (equivalent to Assistant Professor in US system) in Materials Science and Engineering within our dynamic and growing Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.

We are looking for an outstanding candidate to join our vibrant materials science and engineering research group and contribute to the development and delivery of our materials engineering curriculum.

The Department seeks applicants with proven track-records in experimental metallurgy and characterisation aligning with at least one of the following areas:

1. Failure analysis of materials, e.g. fracture mechanics, fatigue, creep  
2. Corrosion engineering
3. Structural alloys for aerospace applications
4. Structural alloys for biomedical applications

A PhD degree or equivalent is required for this position.

We are seeking candidates who are motivated to maintain and/or develop a vigorous research programme in their area(s) of expertise and who relish collaboration with other researchers and industrial partners. The candidate is expected to establish a research group of masters and PhD post-graduate students that is sustained by external funding sources. The University encourages interdisciplinary research, and our Department has strong links with industry and academic groups in New Zealand and overseas to support the new appointee in growing strong and productive networks.

This position offers the opportunity to help further develop and enhance our teaching programme. The successful applicant will be required to deliver core undergraduate courses in materials science and engineering, and to offer other elective courses in line with their specific area of expertise. Previous teaching experience would be beneficial.

Mahi Ngātahi | Who You Will Work With

The ambition of the Department of Mechanical Engineering is to remain at the forefront of research and technology and preserve our strong international reputation for high quality teaching. We aim to constantly develop our alumni and industry partnerships, to provide students with an education that is relevant to industry at the highest level, and to expand the scope of our research expertise by attracting and retaining highly-skilled academic and support staff.

The Department hosts Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering BE(Hons) undergraduate degrees and is home to approximately 10 taught masters students and 100 post-graduate research students. The Mechanical Engineering undergraduate degree programme has grown significantly to 180 new students per year, and the Mechatronics Engineering programme has expanded to 130 per year. The candidate will have opportunities to develop collaborative teaching across the two BE(Hons) programmes and at the taught masters degree level.

For more information about the department and our team, please visit our website.

Ngā Painga o UC | Why UC

Tangata Tū, Tangata Ora -- Engaged, Empowered, Making a Difference. 

Ngā Uara | Our Values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and tiakitanga guide our decisions and behaviour and provide a roadmap for how we do things at UC, affirming our commitment to pastoral care and support for our ākonga and staff. They challenge and inspire us to be the best we can, and make UC a great place to work and study. For more info on Ngā Uara | Our Values visit us here.

We are committed to accessible higher education, service to the community and the encouragement of talent without barriers of distance, wealth, class, gender or ethnicity. The University explicitly aims to produce graduates and to support staff who are engaged with their communities, empowered to act for good and determined to make a difference in the world.

We recognise our obligation under the Treaty of Waitangi | Te Tiriti o Waitangi and are committed to supporting Equity and Diversity, recognising that a sense of 'belonging' is an integral part of university life. At the University of Canterbury we have a diverse, culture-rich, and cooperative environment with policies and practices that ensure all staff and students are given the opportunity and support to grow as individuals and as part of the wider community. There are range of communities within University of Canterbury including, Māori, Pacifica and Rainbow communities, for more information please visit Communities | University of Canterbury

What we offer

The University is committed to providing an excellent working environment, this includes:

• Relocation support
• Onsite childcare facilities
• Five weeks annual leave and five days university holidays.
• UC Parental Leave (up to 9 weeks paid) + 26 weeks Government paid parental leave.
• Widely accessible sabbatical provision
• Generous employer contribution to superannuation (up to 6.75%)
• University and Faculty scholarship support for post-graduate students
• A unique bequest funded endowment (Erskine Fund) that supports an extensive visiting fellowship programme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Supportive working environment
• Professional development and study opportunities
• Living in revitalised Ōtautahi | Christchurch, Aotearoa New Zealand
• A unique working environment in a beautiful campus with access to UC facilities such as the recreation centre and Staff Club at discounted rates plus onsite cafés and eateries, and more.

For more information on our Benefits, please visit https://www.canterbury.ac.nz/joinus/benefits/

This role sits within the Academic Staff, Associated Staff and Academic Support Staff Collective Agreement and the following salary scale applies: Lecturer $89,645 - $108,144 p.a.

The closing date for this position is: 3^rd October 2024 (midnight NZ time)

Please note, applications will be reviewed after the close date.

Pēhea te tono mai | How You Apply

Applications for this position must be submitted on our careers website and should include the following:

• A cover letter that includes a 2-3 page statement outlining your research interests and goals, teaching philosophy and your thoughts on how you would contribute to the success of materials science and engineering education in the department (combined)
• A CV/resume that includes a list of relevant research publications with DOIs.

We value inclusivity and diversity at the University of Canterbury. We know that candidates from underrepresented backgrounds often only apply for roles if they meet all of the criteria. We like to make our hiring decisions based on more than just your previous job experience and qualifications, so if you're keen to apply but are not sure you meet all of the requirements or need additional support please let us know (catherine.bishop@canterbury.ac.nz). If you would like the panel to be aware of your pronouns, please feel welcome and comfortable to share them.

We do not accept applications by email, however, we are happy to answer any general queries at WorkatUC@canterbury.ac.nz

For further information specifically about the role, please contact: Prof Catherine Bishop (catherine.bishop@canterbury.ac.nz) or A/Prof Mark Staiger (mark.staiger@canterbury.ac.nz

For overseas applicants, please visit Immigration New Zealand website, to review the latest health and visa requirements for visiting and working in New Zealand.