Job Summary

The Sessional Instructor (Mechanics of Solids) at the Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, is a high-level academic appointment for the Spring 2026 term (May 1 – June 28, 2026). Operating as a “Structural Mentor,” you are responsible for delivering ENCI 317, a foundational course that transitions students from basic statics to the complex analysis of deformable bodies. This role requires the “wit” to translate abstract stress-strain tensors into practical engineering intuition and the “grit” to manage a compressed, intensive spring schedule involving lectures, labs, and tutorials.

Job Details

Employer: University of Calgary, Department of Civil Engineering.
Term: Spring 2026 (May 1 – June 28, 2026).
Position Type: Sessional Instructor (Contract).
Location: In-person, Main Campus, Calgary, AB.
Schedule: * Lecture: Mon/Wed (15:00–17:45)
- Lab: Tuesday (14:00–16:45)
- Tutorial: Friday (15:00–17:45)

Core Course Content: ENCI 317

You will be responsible for teaching the fundamental principles of how solid materials respond to external loads, including:

- Internal Forces: Axial, shear, and bending-moment diagrams.

Stress Analysis: Stress-strain relations, elastic/plastic behavior, and Mohr’s Circle for plane stress.
Structural Elements: Torsion of circular shafts, bending of composite beams, and shear stresses in symmetrical cross-sections.
Advanced Mechanics: Thin-walled pressure vessels, beam deflection by integration, and Euler buckling of columns.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

The “Professional Educator”: Must hold a Master’s degree in Engineering (PhD preferred) with a demonstrated background in solid mechanics.
Licensure: Must be a licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) with APEGA or an equivalent Canadian provincial association to meet CEAB accreditation standards.
Teaching Wit: Proven track record of excellent teaching performance or strong potential for high-quality engineering education delivery.
Integrity-First: Commitment to the University’s Indigenous Strategy (ii’ taa’poh’to’p) and EDI (Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) initiatives.
Priority: Canadian citizens and permanent residents are given priority per immigration requirements.

Technical Insights: The Mechanics of Solids Framework

Teaching ENCI 317 requires bridging the gap between theoretical physics and applied civil design.

Elastic vs. Plastic Behavior: You will guide students through the transition from the Linear Elastic region (Hooke’s Law) to Plastic Deformation, where permanent sets occur.
Second Moment of Area: A deep dive into the geometry of cross-sections (Moment of Inertia) is critical for students to understand how shape influences a beam’s resistance to bending.
Statically Indeterminate Problems: You will teach students to use compatibility equations to solve structures where the number of unknowns exceeds the available equilibrium equations.

Diversity and Statistics at UCalgary

The University of Calgary explicitly encourages applications from designated groups to enrich the campus experience. According to recent institutional data:

Indigenous Representation: Calgary has a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people.
Institutional Goals: The university has an institution-wide goal to increase the representation of visible minorities and women in STEM faculties like Schulich, where historically these groups have encountered barriers.
Student Body: UCalgary serves approximately 36,000 students and is a leader in Canadian start-up creation.

Job Description

Do you believe that the strength of a city is built on the mastery of its engineers? The Schulich School of Engineering is seeking a Sessional Instructor to lead our future civil engineers through the complexities of Mechanics of Solids. We aren’t just teaching formulas; we are training the minds that will design the next generation of resilient infrastructure. If you have the “grit” to lead an intensive spring term and the “wit” to make Mohr’s Circle second nature for your students, you belong at UCalgary.

In this role, you are a “Knowledge Architect.” You understand that ENCI 317 is the cornerstone of structural engineering. Your goal is to provide “Excellence in Engineering Pedagogy,” ensuring that every lecture and lab session reinforces a deep, accredited understanding of material behavior. We look for “Integrity-first” professionals who are committed to a culturally competent campus and the professional success of a diverse student body.

Joining the University of Calgary means joining Canada’s most entrepreneurial university in its most enterprising city. We offer an innovative learning environment located just an hour from the Rocky Mountains. If you are a licensed P.Eng. with a passion for “Mechanics and Mentorship,” we invite you to submit your application by April 2, 2026, and start something today.

University of Calgary: Daring to Imagine Ahead of Tomorrow

The University of Calgary (UCalgary) is defined by a culture of entrepreneurial spirit, audacity, and “can-do” Western energy. As one of Canada’s top five research universities, its mission—codified in the “Ahead of Tomorrow” strategic plan—is to tackle “wicked” societal challenges through transdisciplinary innovation. The workplace culture is rooted in collegiality and respect, emphasizing that “curiosity-driven investigation” thrives best in an inclusive environment. UCalgary moves with the speed of a startup but the responsibility of a public institution, fostering a “Living Lab” ecosystem where students and faculty are encouraged to be “pioneers at heart.”

The UCalgary footprint is a massive, multi-campus network that mirrors the diversity of the Alberta landscape:

Main Campus (NW Calgary): Spanning over 200 hectares, this is the university’s vibrant heart. It features the Taylor Family Digital Library, one of North America’s most technology-rich hubs, and the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, the first of its kind in Canada. The northern side is a powerhouse for Science and Engineering, while the south houses professional faculties like Law and Business (Scurfield Hall).
The Olympic Oval: A legacy of the 1988 Winter Games, this iconic facility is known for having the “Fastest Ice on Earth” and serves as a premier high-performance training center for athletes globally.
Foothills Campus: Located south of the main site, this is the epicenter of health innovation, home to the Cumming School of Medicine and the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, adjacent to the Foothills Medical Centre.
Specialized Field Stations: UCalgary’s reach extends into the wild, with the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory near Priddis and the Barrier Lake Ecological Research Station in the Kananaskis Valley, where scientists study everything from climate change to forest evolution.

Working or studying here means being part of a “top 100 global university for entrepreneurs.” Whether you are at the downtown campus engaging with Calgary’s business core or conducting genomics research at the Spy Hill campus, the experience is defined by the university’s commitment to “ii’ taa’poh’to’p”—its Indigenous Strategy—walking a parallel path toward truth and reconciliation while building a sustainable future.

To apply for this job please visit careers.ucalgary.ca.