School of Engineering-Open Rank-Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Job Description
Faculty Positions in Sensing Controls and Robotics The Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham ( UAB ) invites applications from highly qualified individuals for full-time tenure-track faculty positions in mechanical engineering with a focus on sensing controls and/or robotics. Appointments are available at any rank commensurate with the candidates experience and qualifications. To be competitive for appointment as a tenured Associate Professor or Professor candidates must have a strong track record of research funding and be nationally recognized for their scholarship. Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering or related fields demonstrate strong potential or record in conducting leading-edge research and publishing high-quality scholarly work and be qualified to teach both undergraduate and graduate level courses in the Department. Research Areas Candidates whose research falls in the broad areas of sensing controls and robotics will be considered. Areas such as simulation and machine learning human-machine and human-robot interaction and soft robotics are of particular interest to the department. Preference will be given to candidates whose research can effectively leverage existing strengths at UAB such as biomedical engineering; materials engineering; neuroscience and neuroengineering; rehabilitation occupational therapy and physical therapy; and other areas of biomedical research and medical practice. Relevant UAB resources include the Center for Neuroengineering and Brain-Computer Interfaces ( ) the Center for Engagement in Disability Health and Rehabilitation Science ( ) the UAB Driving Simulator ( ) and the Materials Processing & Applications Development Center ( ) Mechanical and Materials Engineering at UAB The MME Department has 18 faculty members 250 undergraduate majors 70 full-time graduate students and more than 100 online masters students. Current research areas include bioinspired engineering biomedical device development composites computational fluid dynamics and metallurgy. Research expenditures in FY25 exceeded $500000 per tenure-track faculty member; major funders included the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Army Corps of Engineers Department of Energy Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation and Steel Founders Society of America. Department faculty currently lead a Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative ( MURI ) grant a GAANN award from the Department of Education and a nationally recognized online Masters program in Advanced Safety Engineering Management. Major industry partners and employers include the aerospace and defense automotive construction power and steel industries. The School of Engineering The UAB School of Engineering is dedicated to research excellence and providing the highest quality education to a diverse population of future engineers. The School has approximately 50 full-time faculty members and enrolls 900 undergraduates across 6 undergraduate majors in four departments: Biomedical Engineering; Civil Construction and Environmental Engineering; Electrical and Computer Engineering and Mechanical and Materials Engineering. Our undergraduate programs emphasize practical hands-on learning complemented by a guaranteed internship. Approximately 600 graduate students pursue a range of programs including traditional on-campus M.S./Ph.D. pathways as well as online . degrees for working professionals. UAB Engineering is housed in Frances and Miller Gorrie Hall a new state-of-the art $77M building that brings together classrooms teaching labs research labs and a professional engineering group ( EITD ) that builds hardware employed on most missions to the International Space Station. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Spanning more than 100 city blocks UAB is the state of Alabamas largest single employer with nearly 28000 employees and has an annual state-wide economic impact of $12.1 billion. UAB was ranked #1 Young University in the United States for 2018 and 2019 in the Times Higher Education World University 2021 Forbes named UAB as Americas No. 1 Best Large Employer topping a list of more than 500 public and private corporations hospitals universities Fortune 500 companies and more across dozens of industries. U.S. News & World Report s 2025 Americas Best Graduate Schools ranks 19 UAB graduate programs among the nations top 25 and five UAB specialties were ranked among the nations top 50 in the magazines 2025-2026 Best Hospitals report. Required Application Documents Interested candidates should apply online at: . Application review will begin January 1 2026 and continue until the positions are filled. Applications should include a cover letter a CV research and teaching statements and contact information for three to five professional references. References will not be contacted without the permission of applicants and formal letters of reference will be requested for finalists only. Questions may be directed to Dr. Kathy Lu Department Chair of MME at Nondiscrimination Statement UAB is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution dedicated to providing equal opportunities and equal access to all individuals regardless of race color religion ethnic or national origin sex (including pregnancy) genetic information age disability and veterans status. As required by Title IX UAB prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions to UABs Assistant Vice President and Senior Title IX Coordinator. The Title IX notice of nondiscrimination is located at Pre-employment Background Check A pre-employment background check investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.

Required Qualifications
Applicants must hold a doctoral degree in Mechanical Engineering or related fields demonstrate strong potential or record in conducting leading-edge research and publishing high-quality scholarly work and be qualified to teach both undergraduate and graduate level courses in the Department.