Assistant Professor

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) seeks applicants for a tenure-track faculty position in the area of Applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Mechatronics and Controls available at the assistant professor level.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The successful candidate will possess a strong background in Mechatronics and Controls, demonstrate proficiency in applying AI techniques to these application areas, and strengthen the connection with the Robotics Engineering Department. Expertise in intelligent sensing and perception, cyber-physical systems, data-driven modeling and control, and AI/deep learning is essential. Applications may include autonomous systems and mobility, intelligent infrastructure, human–robot interaction, smart health, advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0/5.0, mechatronics for sustainability, and other areas complementary to the department’s existing strengths. A proven ability to integrate multidisciplinary methodologies to solve complex challenges is highly desirable. The candidate will be expected to develop an active externally funded research program and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in mechanical engineering. Candidate is required to have a PhD or equivalent degree in mechanical engineering, robotics engineering, or another relevant discipline. This position may be appointed to 25% or a more suitable fraction in the Robotics Engineering Department, as agreed by the successful candidate and the two departments. This position is expected to be filled at the Assistant Professor level. For experienced candidates, rank will be commensurate with experience.

The Mechanical and Materials Engineering Department at WPI (https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/mechanical-materials-engineering) has 27 dual-mission faculty, 9 full-time teaching faculty, and 12 research faculty. MME offers undergraduate degrees in mechanical engineering to over 1100 students. The department offers graduate degrees in mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, and manufacturing engineering to about 200 graduate students. The department’s annual externally sponsored research expenditures have exceeded $16M.

WPI Robotics Engineering Department (www.wpi.edu/+RBE) is the first-of-its-kind department in the nation with a vision to be an exemplary multidisciplinary center of education, research, and innovation in robotics. It is built on an ABET-accredited Robotics Engineering program. RBE counts ~800 undergraduate and graduate students and offers robotics engineering BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees. In 2016 the Robotics Engineering program was awarded the inaugural ABET Innovation Award for its truly interdisciplinary, project-based curriculum. The department has 23 faculty members and 20+ affiliated faculty members. Our faculty has research support from NSF, NIH, AFRL, Army, ONR, NASA, DARPA, and industry funding. We expect the new faculty member to contribute to the exceptionally close-knit, collaborative, and collegial atmosphere we currently enjoy

WPI’s reputation as a rigorous and innovative university rests on the shoulders of its faculty. A highly selective, private technological university and one of the nation’s first, WPI believes that when great minds work together, great advances follow. At WPI the boundaries to multidisciplinary collaboration are low - faculty members, students, and other partners work together on the real-world projects and purposeful research that are hallmarks of the WPI experience. Located one hour west of Boston, the university’s campus is in Worcester, Massachusetts, a thriving 21st century college city recognized as a growing hub of scientific and technological innovation.

Applications should include curriculum vitae, statements of teaching and research interests, and a list of five professional references submitted. This search will remain open until the position is filled. Questions can be addressed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Professor Zhu Mao, zmao2@wpi.edu.