Assistant Professor - Tenure Track - Intelligent Robotic Systems - AY 24/25

  • California Polytechnic State University
  • San Luis Obispo, California
  • Mar 07, 2024
Education and Training Public Health

Job Description

Assistant Professor - Tenure Track - Intelligent Robotic Systems -AY 24/25

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING TENURE-TRACK FACULTY POSITION - The Mechanical Engineering Department in the College of Engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) invites qualified applicants to apply for a full-time, academic year, tenure-track faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor rank in the area of Intelligent Robotic Systems. This is an opportunity for candidates who are passionate about undergraduate education to join a unique institution that values teaching and applied research activities through a “Learn by Doing” approach.

Salary commensurate with education and experience of the individual selected. Anticipated hiring range: $96,408 - $107,000 per year.

As part of its strategic initiative in Intelligent Robotic Systems, the department seeks faculty to develop and lead hands-on learning activities that foster student innovation and creativity. The position start date is September 16, 2024, for the 2024-2025 academic year. Review of applications will begin December 1, 2023. Applications received after this date may be considered.

Successful candidates will be expected to teach a variety of mechanics and controls courses to undergraduate and graduate students in classroom and laboratory settings. Specific courses may include Statics, Dynamics, Mechanical Vibrations, System Dynamics, Control theory and Mechatronics. They will also be expected to develop and teach upper division technical electives and master’s level courses related to their expertise. Additional responsibilities include advising students, participating in university service activities, and conducting applied research in mechanical engineering. Research areas of interest include field robotics, automation and autonomous systems, adaptive learning systems, artificial intelligence, internet of things (IoT) and electric vehicles. Outcomes assessment and Learn by Doing are important components of Cal Poly’s curriculum. Specific assignments will depend on department and program needs.

The Cal Poly College of Engineering strongly values diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as part of our focus on equitable student success. The Cal Poly College of Engineering is excited to invite applications to fill multiple tenure-track faculty positions across eight departments to start September 2024. Successful applicants will show evidence of, or demonstrate, the potential to implement inclusive and equity-minded teaching strategies as well as increase curricular coverage of the intersection of engineering and computing with societal challenges, particularly around DEI issues. Successful candidates will be expected to contribute to the college’s goals in these areas.

The college is searching for positions in the following disciplines:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science / Software Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering

In addition to the standard new faculty support, candidates with DEI focused scholarship and/or pedagogy may be awarded additional start-up funds to support their DEI work. Once hired, candidates will collaborate with their dean and others to develop a plan for utilizing these funds.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

An earned doctorate (Ph.D. or equivalent) in mechanical engineering or a closely related field from an accredited institution or international equivalent is required for appointment. Candidates in their terminal year of a doctoral program will also be considered; the position is contingent on completion of the degree.

Candidates are expected to demonstrate a commitment to teaching excellence and scholarly activity at the university level and continued professional development in the general areas of robotics, mechatronics, control theory and/or system. Cal Poly is committed to the teacher-scholar model: As teachers, faculty are expected to exhibit strong pedagogic skills and to continually improve their teaching. As scholars, faculty members are expected to maintain competency in the field and enhance the vitality of our programs. As colleagues, it is expected that all faculty contribute to service activities at various levels of the university. Additionally, faculty members should build collaborative relationships within the university and with colleagues at other universities. An ability to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with students, faculty, staff, and administration from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds is essential.

The ideal candidate will show evidence of attention to and/or the potential to contribute on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion across their teaching, scholarship, and service.

Applicants must submit a diversity statement which demonstrates the candidate's experience or potential with respect to supporting the college of engineering’s goals related to diversity, equity and inclusion. In particular, our vision statement is: “The Cal Poly College of Engineering will be nationally recognized for its rapidly diversifying student population and unique, inclusive Learn by Doing educational and applied research experiences." Candidate’s diversity statement should convey how their teaching, research, and/or service at Cal Poly will contribute to this vision. Examples include highlighting the candidate’s experience and/or intentions with respect to: implementing inclusive classroom environments, the intersection of DEI in your research/scholarship, mentoring students with diverse backgrounds, outreach to under-represented student populations, and previous professional development in diversity and inclusion topics.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Background in intelligent robotic systems such as field robotics, automation and autonomous systems, adaptive learning systems, artificial intelligence applications in robotics, internet of things (IoT), and electric vehicle technology.
  • Active engagement in scholarship and professional development.
  • Excellence in university level teaching and research (commensurate with time since degree).
  • Knowledge of industry practices.
  • Excellence in laboratory-based, hands-on instruction.
  • Willingness to teach in multiple areas of the undergraduate and graduate mechanical engineering curriculum.

Preference will be given to those who can show evidence of working with diverse populations and fostering a collaborative, supportive and inclusive environment.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. NOTE: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

Faculty employees who wish to apply for permanent residency will be responsible for retaining an immigration attorney. All filing and attorney's fees will be incurred by the faculty member.

For health and wellbeing, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

In accordance with the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU related work outside of California. At Cal Poly, tenure-line faculty are expected to establish an on-campus presence.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Mechanical Engineering Department at Cal Poly is large and diverse. Located on the central coast of California, the program is nationally recognized for its strong focus on undergraduate and master's level education through a lab intensive, hands-on curriculum. The current student population is approximately 1280 BSME and 50 MSME students. The undergraduate program includes five concentrations: HVAC&R, Manufacturing, Mechatronics, Energy Resources, and General. The department has many student clubs involved in mechanical design, ranging from the more traditional SAE competition clubs to specialized clubs such as those associated with the amusement and entertainment industries. Support of these highly motivated students is an especially rewarding part of this assignment. At the graduate level, the department offers an MSME program supporting graduates on thesis and non-thesis tracks. We also support a master's degree program in Fire Protection Engineering geared in large part to distance learning. For more information about the department, please visit http://me.calpoly.edu . Cal Poly offers generous benefits for our faculty which can be found here: https://afd.calpoly.edu/hr/benefits/ .

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should attach (1) a cover letter, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) a statement of your teaching philosophy (4) a statement of your research experience and goals, (5) a statement on diversity as described in the required qualifications section above, (6) evidence of successful teaching, and 7) unofficial undergraduate and graduate transcripts.

Please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses when completing the online faculty application. Applicants are encouraged to submit materials by December 1, 2023 for full consideration; however, the position will remain open until filled. For questions, please contact Dr. John Chen at jchen24@calpoly.edu.

Advertised: Aug 31 2023 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close:

Closing Date/Time:

Job Address

San Luis Obispo, California 93405 United States View Map