Assistant, Associate Or Full Professor

Job Summary:
The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin - Madison seeks to fill a new faculty position with research focused on sensing and assistance agents to promote independence and healthy aging. Applications at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level will be considered. This position is part of the RISE-THRIVE initiative.

The department is interested in candidates whose research explores the use of robotics and sensing to address the challenges of health, well-being, independence, and quality of life in aging. Research addressing the needs of aging individuals, families and communities may focus on new technologies to support awareness, decision making, home safety, health monitoring, physical function, community participation, and related challenges. These technologies are expected to interact with the physical world through sensing and/or actuation, under decision support and task assignment controlled by advanced information systems including artificial intelligence. The ideal candidate will emphasize both technology development and use cases.

This position is complemented by another RISE-THRIVE faculty position in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering focusing on the design or sociotechnical evaluation of human-centered assistive technologies, environments or devices, by two other RISE-THRIVE faculty in the College of Engineering, and by other new hires across WU-Madison under a campus-wide initiative (posted on jobs.wisc.edu). The individual hired in this position will complement strong research in Biomechanics, Sensing, and Robotics within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, research in Health Systems Engineering in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and other aging and health research throughout the UW-Madison campus.

The department welcomes candidates who transcend the traditional boundaries of Mechanical Engineering and can incorporate insights from Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Ergonomics, or related disciplines to holistically address high impact societal problems related to the areas described above. Such interdisciplinary candidates should articulate how their research will engage and attract Mechanical Engineering students.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering advances the mission of the College of Engineering to foster a respectful, diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all members of our community. The Department also strives to create a culture of belonging for all members of our growing department.
Responsibilities:
Teaching and developing inclusive undergraduate and graduate courses for a diverse student body in Mechanical Engineering, mentoring graduate students and supervising their research; developing and directing a successful, extramurally funded research program; participating in departmental and university faculty governance; contributing to professional and public service; and participating in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with other departments, schools and colleges.
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion
Education:
Required
PhD in Robotics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Computer Science or a closely related field.
Qualifications:
Candidates will have a demonstrated record of academic achievement such as peer-reviewed publications and grant awards appropriate for the appointment level sought, exceptional potential in establishing a world-class research program and a demonstrated commitment to high-quality and inclusive undergraduate and graduate instruction in traditional mechanical engineering courses.

Associate and Full professor candidates must possess experience and scholarly credentials that meet the tenure standards of the UW-Madison Divisional Committee and of the College of Engineering.
Work Type:
Full Time: 100%

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.
Appointment Type, Duration:
Ongoing/Renewable
Anticipated Begin Date:
AUGUST 18, 2025
Salary:
Negotiable
ACADEMIC (9 months)
Additional Information:
This position is part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student and educational opportunities, RISE addresses complex societal challenges of importance to the state, nation and world. Building on UW-Madison's strengths, RISE expands the University's successful track record of connecting with communities and industry on collaborative solutions. RISE-THRIVE, which stands for Transforming Healthspan through Research, Innovation, and Education, is set to harness and grow the university's reputation as a global powerhouse in interdisciplinary health research - translating both medical discoveries and innovative social science approaches into tangibly healthier lives for Wisconsinites and people and communities around the world.

Over the next three academic years, UW-Madison will substantially increase current hiring levels, bringing 150 new RISE faculty to campus. Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration.

Further information regarding RISE can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/

Through the campus RISE hiring initiative and the College of Engineering RISE faculty hiring matching program, the College of Engineering will increase by nearly 50 tenure-track faculty members representing a more than a 20% growth in the total faculty body. The RISE THRIVE hiring initiative will add 4 new faculty members to this vibrant community in the College of Engineering.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is rapidly expanding, with growing student enrollment and a dynamic wave of faculty hires, making it one of the university's most vibrant and fast-evolving departments. The Department offers and fosters a transdisciplinary research and educational environment and provides the infrastructure to address grand technological challenges. Candidates who can contribute to these priorities are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in these areas in their cover letter, research statement, and/or teaching statement.

Current research areas in the ME Department include energy systems and storage, electrochemical systems, and sustainability; robotics, sensing and autonomous systems; computer-aided engineering, data-driven approaches, AI/ML and design; engineering mechanics and aerospace engineering; cell mechanics, biomechanics and biorobotics; and advanced materials design and manufacturing. New research directions will continue to be launched and nurtured to facilitate creative solutions to transformative technical challenges.
How to Apply:
Please apply directly to the website by clicking on "Apply Now". Upload a SINGLE PDF document containing a cover letter, a detailed curriculum vitae (CV) including a complete list of publications, and the names and contact information for three references. Applicants should also include a maximum three-page research statement and a one-page teaching statement describing how the applicant's research and teaching goals fit the solicitation described above. A criminal background check will be conducted prior to hiring.

The deadline for assuring full consideration is December 2, 2024. However, this position will remain open and applications may be considered until this position is filled.

Employment will require an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct. To be considered, applicants must upload a signed 'Authorization to Release Information' form as part of the application. The authorization form and a definition of 'misconduct' can be found here: https://hr.wisc.edu/institutional-reference-check/
Contact:
Catherine Carter
clcarter2@wisc.edu
608-265-2155
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.
Official Title:
Professor(FA020) or Associate Professor(FA030) or Assistant Professor(FA040)
Department(s):
A19-COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING/MECHANICAL ENGR
Employment Class:
Faculty
Job Number:
306854-FA