Assistant Professor Jobs in Tennessee
Assistant Professor jobs in Tennessee concentrate in higher education, research, and healthcare sciences, with active hiring at universities, medical schools, and liberal arts colleges throughout the state. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville are the largest hiring markets, anchored by institutions like Vanderbilt University, the University of Tennessee, and Tennessee State University. The most consistent openings are in nursing and health sciences, business and management, and STEM disciplines. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine-Chattanooga, is seeking a full-time non-tenured Assistant Professor. The Geriatrics/Palliative Care Clerkship Director provides educational leadership and oversight of the Geriatrics/Palliative Care clerkship with UT Health Sciences College of Medicine. The Clerkship Director is responsible for ensuring a high-quality, well-coordinated clinical learning experience that meets College of Medicine curricular objectives and applicable accreditation standards. The Director works collaboratively with faculty, clinical preceptors, the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education, and relevant departmental and College leadership to support student learning, assessment, and continuing improvement of the clerkship.
- Provide overall leadership and oversight of the Geriatrics/Palliative Care clerkship, including coordination of clinical experiences and learning objectives.
- Ensure the clerkship curriculum aligns with UT Health Sciences College of Medicine educational objectives and required competencies.
- Recruit, orient, and collaborate with faculty and clinical preceptors to provide appropriate and consistent educational experiences.
- Monitor student clinical experiences and address concerns related to student learning, clinical sites, or the learning environment.
- Oversee student assessment and evaluation processes, ensuring timely, meaningful, and consistent feedback.
- Review clerkship evaluations and other outcome data to identify strengths, concerns, and opportunities for improvement.
- Lead ongoing curriculum review and quality improvement efforts in collaboration with the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education and relevant faculty.
- Communicate regularly with students, faculty, preceptors, clerkship staff, and UME leadership regarding clerkship expectations, performance, and operational needs.
- Participate in relevant UT Health Sciences of Medicine committees, faculty development, and educational initiatives as appropriate.
- Maintain appropriate documentation and ensure the clerkship meets applicable institutional and accreditation requirements. Complete other educational and administrative responsibilities related to the clerkship as assigned
PATIENT CARE- 80%:
Provide clinical care consistent with the faculty member’s specialty and clinical appointment, with responsibilities including direct patient care, participation in clinical services, and other clinical activities as assigned.
RESEARCH/SCHOLARSHIP- 5%:
Participate in scholarly activities appropriate to the faculty members’ interests and role, which may include clinical or educational research, quality improvement, presentations, publications, or other scholarly work.
EDUCATION- 5%:
Participate in medical student, resident, and/or interprofessional education through clinical teaching, didactic instruction, mentorship, and other educational activities consistent with the needs of the College of Medicine.
SERVICE/LEADERSHIP- 10%:
Serve as the Geriatrics/Palliative Care Clerkship Director, providing leadership and administrative oversight of the clerkship as outlined in the position description. Responsibilities include curriculum oversight, faculty and preceptor coordination, student assessment and evaluation, communication with students and faculty, and ongoing curriculum improvement.
EDUCATION: MD, DO, or equivalent terminal clinical degree.
LICENSES: Board-certification or eligibility in an appropriate clinical specialty. Active Tennessee Medical License in good standing.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCES, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE - CHATTANOOGA
Chattanooga’s metro area population is approximately 430,000, and the city was recently selected as Forbes Magazine’s Top 50 places to visit in the world! Surrounded by mountains, rivers and lakes, Chattanooga and Hamilton County, Tennessee, offer a little bit of everything – the fastest internet service in the western hemisphere, a thriving innovation business district and a booming downtown along the Tennessee River brimming with shops, dining and history. Awarded Outdoor Magazine’s “Best Town Ever” title for two years, the Scenic City always delivers.
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Find Assistant Professor JobsAssistant Professor Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Assistant Professor Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center19

- University of Tennessee17

- Austin Peay State University15

- The University of Tennessee Health Science Center11

- Belmont University4

Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in assistant professor jobs across Tennessee.
- Terminal degree (PhD, MFA, MD, or equivalent) required in the relevant discipline
- Demonstrated record of scholarly research, publication, or creative practice in the field
- Evidence of effective undergraduate or graduate teaching experience
- Active or eligible for professional licensure where discipline requires Tennessee certification
- Ability to advise students and contribute to departmental curriculum development
- Experience securing or supporting external grants or sponsored research funding
Assistant Professor Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an assistant professor in Tennessee?
Becoming an assistant professor in Tennessee requires completing a terminal degree in your discipline, typically a PhD, MFA, or professional doctorate such as an MD or JD. Research-focused roles also expect a record of peer-reviewed publication or creative output before hire. Disciplines like nursing and clinical health sciences may additionally require an active Tennessee professional license issued by the relevant state board, such as the Tennessee Board of Nursing, alongside the academic credential.
Which companies hire assistant professors in Tennessee?
Employers hiring assistant professors in Tennessee right now include University of Tennessee Health Science Center, University of Tennessee, and Austin Peay State University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Tennessee's concentration of research universities, medical schools, and private liberal arts colleges means hiring is distributed across the state rather than limited to a single dominant institution.
Which Tennessee cities have the most assistant professor jobs?
Memphis, Knoxville, and Clarksville post the most assistant professor openings in Tennessee. Nashville leads because of its dense cluster of universities, medical schools, and healthcare systems, while Knoxville is driven by the University of Tennessee's flagship campus, and Memphis by its medical research institutions and historically Black colleges and universities.
Are there remote assistant professor jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, but they are less common than in many other fields. About 0% of assistant professor openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting that most faculty roles involve in-person teaching, lab supervision, and campus service. Online-focused colleges and continuing education programs are the most likely source of fully remote assistant professor positions in Tennessee.
How can I get hired as an assistant professor in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is completing a postdoctoral fellowship or visiting faculty appointment, which large Tennessee research universities regularly offer to recent doctoral graduates. Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee system both run postdoctoral and visiting instructor programs that serve as pipelines into tenure-track roles. Teaching experience as a graduate instructor, a strong dissertation, and at least one publication substantially improve candidacy even without a full prior faculty position.
Where can I find and apply to assistant professor jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to assistant professor jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings across the state. Search for roles that match your discipline, experience level, and preferred location, then apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 81 Assistant Professor Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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