Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Robot Dexterity

About the role

Northwestern University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or tenured Associate Professor position in robot dexterity. This is a cross-disciplinary joint search in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. The successful candidate is expected to be affiliated with the Mechanical Engineering department, but may also hold an appointment in Materials Science and Engineering, Computer Science, or Electrical and Computer Engineering, as best fits their interests and qualifications. The candidate will be invited to join the NSF Engineering Research Center for Human AugmentatioN via Dexterity (HAND ERC) and will have the opportunity to contribute to and draw on HAND’s resources, testbeds, outreach programs, and collaborative network, which includes partner universities Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Texas A&M, Florida A&M, and the University of Wisconsin‑Madison, as well as over 70 industry, national lab, and other partners. Additionally, the candidate may participate in other research initiatives and centers at Northwestern, including the Center for Robotics and Biosystems, the Center for Synthetic Biology, the Center for Deep Learning, the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, the Center for Human‑Computer Interaction + Design, and the Center for Foundation Models and Generative AI. The university is especially interested in candidates who would like to translate fundamental advances to real‑world deployment.

Requirements

• PhD, or near completion of doctoral studies, in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated research potential and a record of contributions in one or more of the priority areas: actuation, tactile sensing, haptic feedback, physics‑based simulation relevant to robotic manipulation, robot learning, foundation models for manipulation, human‑robot interaction, teleoperation, perception, and other areas related to advanced robotic dexterity.
• Interest in translating fundamental advances to real‑world deployment.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Paid medical/sick and parental leave
• Tuition benefits for the employee and dependents
• Pre‑tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care
• Generous retirement savings options
• Wellness programs

Pay

• Assistant Professor level: expected base pay range $133,000 – $143,000
• Associate Professor level: expected base pay range $145,000 – $158,000
• Base pay is for a nine‑month academic appointment; does not include summer salary and is subject to negotiation.

Schedule

Nine‑month academic appointment.