The Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in robotics. This search is part of sustained growth in robotics at Notre Dame. Recent investments include the Physical AI and Robotics (PAIR) initiative, a cross-departmental effort that connects Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering with Computer Science and Engineering and with Electrical Engineering. Robotics at Notre Dame is organized around a distinctive identity in human-centered robotics, built on established strengths in mechanics, modeling, control, and experimentally grounded robotic systems.
While Applications Are Welcome From All Areas Of Robotics, The Department Is Especially Interested In Candidates Working In One Or More Of The Following Areas
- Sensing, actuation, and robotic materials, including soft, multifunctional, and biohybrid systems
- Dexterous manipulation and physical interaction with complex or unstructured environments
- Wearable, assistive, and rehabilitation robotics, with particular interest in upper limbs
- Robotic mobility for terrestrial, aerial, and aquatic systems operating autonomously in extreme environments
- Integrated design, modeling, control, and estimation for emerging robotic systems
Across these areas, the Department is particularly interested in candidates who advance robot learning and data-driven reasoning in ways that are grounded in the physics, mechanics, sensing, and control of real robotic systems and demonstrated through meaningful experimental deployment.
The successful candidate will join an interconnected robotics community with active collaborations across engineering, computing, the health sciences, and industry, and with shared experimental facilities and testbeds that support work at the intersection of hardware, control, and learning. Additional information about robotics at Notre Dame is available at robotics.nd.edu.
Qualifications
The Department seeks to attract, develop, and retain exceptional faculty members with strong records of achievement and significant future potential. The search is primarily aimed at the assistant professor level; however, candidates at all ranks with strong records and promise will be considered, and possible position titles include Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor. Candidates at the entry level must have completed all requirements for a Ph.D. degree, or have completed all but the dissertation, in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Robotics, or a closely related field; candidates at the advanced assistant, associate, or full professor level must hold a Ph.D. in one of these fields. Duties for a successful candidate will include teaching, research and service. Successful candidates will demonstrate the potential to achieve an internationally distinguished record of scholarship, establish an externally funded research program, excel in undergraduate and graduate education, and contribute actively to their research community and to the University.
Application Instructions
Applicants are invited to provide any or all of the following: a cover letter; a curriculum vitae; a comprehensive research plan; a statement of teaching philosophy and interests; contact information for three professional references; and a statement regarding potential engagement with and commitment to the mission of the University of Notre Dame. All materials should be submitted via the application website. To guarantee full consideration, applications must be received by November 1, 2026; however, applications will be accepted until December 1, 2026. Questions regarding this position may be directed to the search chair, Professor Tengfei Luo (
[email protected]).
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The University of Notre Dame seeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover, Notre Dame prohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). We strongly encourage applications from candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.
Dual Career Assistance
To support relocating families, Notre Dame’s Dual Career Assistance Program helps spouses and partners pursue local career opportunities.
Background Check
This appointment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Applicants will be asked to identify all felony convictions and/or pending felony charges. Felony convictions do not automatically bar an individual from employment. Each case will be examined separately to determine the appropriateness of employment in the particular position. Failure to be forthcoming or dishonesty with respect to felony disclosures can result in the disqualification of a candidate. The full procedure can be viewed at https://facultyhandbook.nd.edu/?id=link-73597.
