About this role
Assistant Professor- Petroleum Engineering
Position Description: The Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering in the Whitacre College of Engineering at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 9-month tenure-track, Assistant Professor position in Petroleum Engineering to begin 09/01/2027.
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About the University: Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University began with a mission to serve the needs of West Texas, but its impact has always reached far beyond. Today, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock (pop. 300,000+), is home to a vibrant community of more than 42,000 students.Texas Tech's 1,800-acre campus showcases Spanish Renaissance architecture and is home to one of the country's largest public art collections. Its 13 colleges include a prestigious School of Law and a distinguished School of Veterinary Medicine. These programs equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their respective fields. Built on the values of West Texas — hard work, grit and authenticity — the university graduates students who are deeply engaged in service to their communities and well-positioned to succeed in the world. Texas Tech is committed to achieving research and scholarly accomplishments that compare favorably to the member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU). For more than 100 years, Texas Tech has been a premier destination for those seeking a world-class education and a unique, personalized experience as a member of the Red Raider family.
About the College: The Whitacre College of Engineering (WCOE, https://www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/) serves approximately 5900 undergraduate and over 1000 graduate students, supported by 230 faculty and instructors. The college had 855 BS, 580 MS and 84 PhD graduates in the 2025-26 fiscal year. All incoming first year students are enrolled into a common foundational curriculum for all undergraduate programs. Foundational students declare a program of choice and can move into upper division after completing the foundational classes with a TTU GPA of minimum of 2.5 TTU GPA or higher. The WCOE consists of the Departments of Chemical Engineering; Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical & Computer Engineering; Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Petroleum Engineering. All BS programs and the Environmental Engineering Master’s program are ABET accredited. All departments have Master’s and PhD programs. Annual research expenditures at the college are around $38M.
About the Department/School/Area: The Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering is flourishing with alumni involvement and corporate participation in the heart of the most active oil and gas basin in the world, the Permian Basin. The department has 11 full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty and instructors, five full-time staff members, and two technicians. The Terry Fuller Petroleum Engineering Research Building on the Engineering Key was completed in 2014. The building includes more than 42,000 square feet of modern classrooms, cutting-edge laboratories, and administrative space. The facility assists with recruiting students and internationally renowned faculty to further advance petroleum engineering. In addition, the Oilfield Technology Center (OTC) was completed in 2017. The OTC is a 10-acre teaching and research facility in the oilfield on Texas Tech property, 15 minutes from campus. It has a 4,000-square-foot building, a 4,000-foot test well, tank batteries, gas facilities, and a functional drilling rig.
Major/Essential Functions: In line with TTU’s strategic priorities to engage and empower a student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with various student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service. As a faculty member in the Bob L. Herd Department of Petroleum Engineering, you will be expected to:
• Teach undergraduate and graduate level courses in petroleum engineering and related areas • Establish an externally funded research program, supporting graduate student research in areas strategic to the department such as geothermal energy, production/artificial lift, critical minerals, produced water, and enhanced oil recovery • Serve the department in activities that advance the mission and vision of the department
Faculty Qualifications: • PhD in Petroleum Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline such as Chemical, Mechanical, or Civil Engineering, completed by the anticipated start date. ABD candidates may apply, provided the PhD will be completed by the anticipated start date. This position is designated as involving access to critical infrastructure systems and/or research, as defined by Texas Executive Order GA-48. As such, candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check prior to employment. Employees are required to comply with all applicable state and federal regulations related to the protection of critical infrastructure. Ongoing employment is dependent upon maintaining eligibility for access and successfully passing periodic security and compliance reviews.
Preferred Qualifications: In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply: • Evidence of preparedness to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in petroleum engineering. • Track record of research in areas that align with strategic priorities of the department and evidence of a clear plan for developing an externally funded research program. • Evidence of scholarly achievement through conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications. • Relevant industry experience in petroleum engineering, including drilling, production, reservoir, facilities, or related disciplines.
Safety Information: Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.
Special Instructions to Applicants: Please include the following documents in your application:
• Curriculum Vitae • Research Statement (2 pages maximum) • Teaching Statement (2 pages maximum) • List with contact information of 3 references Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. Smith Leggett, Search Committee Chair at [email protected]. If you need assistance with the application process, contact Human Resources, Talent Acquisition at [email protected] or 806-742-3851.
Pay Statement: Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan.
EEO Statement: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.