Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Robot Dexterity

Department: MCC Mechanical Engineering

Assistant or Associate Professor, Robot Dexterity, Northwestern University

Northwestern University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or tenured Associate Professor position in robot dexterity.

This is a cross-disciplinary joint search in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. The successful candidate is expected to be affiliated with the Mechanical Engineering department, but they may have also have an appointment in any of Materials Science and Engineering, Computer Science, or Electrical and Computer Engineering, as best fits their interests and qualifications. Applicants should hold a PhD, or be near completion of their doctoral studies, in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with demonstrated research potential and a record of contributions in one or more of the priority areas below. We are especially interested in candidates who would like to translate fundamental advances to real-world deployment.

Research Areas: We seek candidates who will lead pioneering research in robot dexterity. Priority areas include, but are not limited to, actuation, tactile sensing, haptic feedback, physics-based simulation relevant to robotic manipulation, robot learning, foundation models for manipulation, human-robot interaction, teleoperation, perception, and other areas related to advanced robotic dexterity.

A Unique Opportunity: The successful candidate will be invited to join the NSF Engineering Research Center for Human Augmentation via Dexterity (HAND ERC, hand-erc.org), headquartered at Northwestern. HAND's mission is to transform robot hands into dexterous, versatile, easy-to-integrate tools that augment human labor, targeting applications spanning high-mix manufacturing, food preparation, caregiving, high-consequence manipulation, and more. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to, and draw on, HAND’s resources, testbeds, outreach programs, and collaborative network from day one. This network includes partner universities Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Texas A&M, Florida A&M, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a highly active Innovation Ecosystem consisting of over 70 industry, national lab, and other partners.

The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to participate in other research initiatives and centers at Northwestern, including the Center for Robotics and Biosystems, the Center for Synthetic Biology, the Center for Deep Learning, the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, the Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design, and the Center for Foundation Models and Generative AI.

Application Instructions: Candidates are requested to upload a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research statement, teaching statement, and contact information for three to five references. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full consideration, all materials including reference letters should be received by November 30, 2026. Application materials must be submitted via the web interface at https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/mechanical/careers/.

Compensation: The expected base pay range for this position at the Assistant Professor level is $133,000 – $143,000 and at the Associate Professor level is $145,000 – $158,000. This base pay range is for a nine-month academic appointment, does not include summer salary, and is subject to negotiation. Sponsorship for an H-1B visa may be available for qualified candidates, subject to institutional policies and applicable immigration regulations.

Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate, including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal comparators; and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at Northwestern Benefits to learn more.

Please read ALL instructions and make preparations before proceeding to the application page:

• Applications will only be accepted via online submission (see link below).
• Please prepare all documents in advance as Adobe PDF files, and please be sure all information is entered correctly and accurately (especially names and email addresses), as there will be no opportunity for online revision after your application has been submitted.
• Please also prepare a list of names and email addresses for your external academic references; your references will be contacted directly by the online system and invited to upload their letters on your behalf.
• All required fields in the application form are marked with an asterisk and must be filled before clicking the “Submit” button.
• Be aware that incomplete applications cannot be saved.

Applications accepted here: Apply for Job

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s non-discrimination statement . Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process .