Open Rank Faculty Position in Robotics, Autonomous/Intelligent Systems, or Controls – UMBC

The Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County invites  applications for an open rank (i.e., tenured or tenure-track) faculty position in robotics,  autonomous/intelligent systems, or controls. In addition to scholarly activity and funded research, expected  duties will also include undergraduate and graduate teaching, supervision and mentoring of student  researchers, and professional service to the community. Applicants must have an earned doctoral degree in  mechanical engineering or related field, and should be involved in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusive  excellence.  

The ME department currently consists of about 20 faculty members (including 14 tenured or tenure track  faculty, professors of practice, lecturers and adjunct faculty), approximately 590 undergraduate majors and 70  full-time graduate students. The faculty are engaged in a broad effort to provide high quality education, by  continuous improvement of the curriculum, by fostering student research, practical training, and internship,  by promoting diversity and inclusion at all levels, and by providing all students with opportunities for peer 

support, mentoring, and financial assistance. ME is actively partnering with the Society of Women Engineers  (SWE), the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers  (SHPE), and the UMBC Center for Women in Technology (CWIT) to foster increased involvement of  women, veterans, and other under-represented groups in engineering and technology-creation, at all levels.  The department has a dynamic and vibrant graduate program that offers M.S. and Ph.D. degree programs in  four thematic areas: Biomechanical Engineering, Dynamic Systems and Design, Engineering Education, Solid  Mechanics and Materials Science, and Thermal/Fluids Sciences. ME faculty with interests in robotics and  controls will find ample opportunity for collaboration, within the department, with other departments  particularly Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, and/or with other nearby institutions and  companies. 

UMBC is a dynamic public research university integrating teaching, research and service. Its 500+ acre campus  is located in a thriving prosperous region with excellent infrastructure. As an Honors University, UMBC offers  academically talented students a strong undergraduate liberal arts foundation as preparation for graduate and  professional study, entry into the workforce, and community service and leadership. UMBC is dedicated to  promoting cultural and ethnic diversity, social responsibility, and lifelong learning. The 2018 US News and  World Report Best Colleges report ranked UMBC 9th in the Most Innovative National Universities category  and 8th in Best Undergraduate Teaching in the National Universities category. The Chronicle of Higher  Education named UMBC as a Great College to Work For and distinguished its commitment to work-life  balance. Our strategic location in the Baltimore-Washington corridor assures easy access to the resources of  many federal laboratories, state agencies, and high-tech companies, and facilitates equipment-sharing and  scientific collaboration. 

There are 25+ research centers at UMBC and 130+ companies housed in its two adjacent research parks. The  campus is < 10 minutes from an international airport (BWI) and multiple rail stations (Amtrak, MARC).  UMBC has special programs supporting startup mainly in cybersecurity, transportation, clean energy, life  sciences, and/or microfabrication. The campus is surrounded by one of the greatest concentrations of  commercial, cultural and scientific activity in the nation. Located on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay,  Baltimore offers all of the advantages of modern, urban life, including professional sports, major art galleries, 

theaters and a world class symphony orchestra. The city’s Inner Harbor area is an exciting center for  entertainment and commerce. The nation’s capital, Washington DC, is a great tourist attraction with historical  monuments and museums. Other nearby institutions include the John Hopkins University, UMB, UMCP,  Naval Academy, U Pennsylvania, George Mason, and U Delaware plus a very large number of high tech  companies, military bases, and federal agencies. UMBC is one of nine partners in The Universities at Shady  Grove, a new consortium of teaching universities operating within the University System of Maryland, and  located in Rockville, MD.  

Since its inception, UMBC has stood for opportunity, diversity, and inclusive excellence. Times Higher  Education recently ranked UMBC #3 in the nation for social and economic impact. Many of its faculty are  engaged in cutting edge science, technology development, and/or entrepreneurial activity and ME research  has been funded by a large number of federal agencies (e.g., DOD, NASA, NSF, NIH, ARO, ARL, ONR,  AFOSP, DOE, DARPA, USDA, NIST), not-for-profit entities (e.g, World Bank, CIMMYT, TEDCO),  and/or corporations. All ME faculty and many ME students attend national or international conferences on  a regular basis.  

All applications will be processed in Interfolio: http://apply.interfolio.com/81842.

The initial application should include a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and three separate statements regarding the applicant’s 1)  research interests and plans, 2) teaching experience and philosophy, and 3) commitment to inclusive excellence  (see https://facultydiversity.umbc.edu/). Contact information for 3 professional references may also be  requested but at a later date. Review of application materials will begin February 16, 2021 and will continue  until the position is filled. Questions may be sent to mesearchtt@umbc.edu. 

UMBC is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Minorities, women, Veterans and individuals  with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  

As an institution that receives federal financial assistance, UMBC adheres to Title IX and does not  discriminate on the basis of sex. For more information about Title IX and contact information for Title IX  Coordinator click here.