Assistant or Associate Professor - AI-Enabled Manufacturing Systems

About the role

The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) in the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston invites applications for a Presidential Frontier Faculty (PFF) position at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank in AI-Enabled Manufacturing Systems. We seek candidates who will advance the design and operation of intelligent, automated, resilient, and human-centered manufacturing systems through cutting-edge interdisciplinary research, innovative teaching, and student mentorship. The PFF program is a university-wide interdisciplinary hiring initiative overseen by university leadership to recruit a large cohort of convergence research faculty working in areas related to energy, health, sustainability, and security.

The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university and the flagship institution of the University of Houston System, with more than 49,000 students, recognized for academic excellence, research innovation, and community engagement. Faculty have access to outstanding research facilities and strong institutional support for pursuing competitive external funding. Advanced materials and manufacturing is a major institutional research priority, supported by a growing ecosystem of interdisciplinary centers, shared facilities, computational infrastructure, and industry partnerships.

The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering has 24 full-time faculty members and approximately 900 students enrolled in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. The department is experiencing significant growth in research activity and student enrollment and seeks to expand its leadership in advanced manufacturing and AI-enabled decision-making. Faculty have opportunities to collaborate across the college, university, and greater Houston community in areas including smart manufacturing, automation, energy systems, resilience, supply chains, healthcare, sustainability, and data-driven operations.

The University of Houston’s 600-acre campus is located near downtown Houston, the fourth-largest city in the United States and a global center for energy, aerospace, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. Recent investments include Apple’s Advanced Manufacturing Center and advanced AI server manufacturing operations, as well as Eli Lilly’s planned $6.5 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility. This growing industrial ecosystem offers exceptional opportunities for research and collaboration in AI-enabled manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Earned Ph.D. in industrial engineering or a closely related field by the time of appointment.
• Research interests that explore how artificial intelligence, quantum computing, digital twins, human judgment, and operational decision-making can be integrated to create reliable, scalable, and resilient manufacturing systems.
• Demonstrated strong potential for, or an established record of, developing a well-funded nationally recognized research program, publishing peer-reviewed scholarship, securing external funding, advising students, and contributing to teaching innovation, with accomplishments commensurate with the rank sought.
• Expected to maintain a home address in the state of Texas for the duration of the appointment.