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Title: Assistant Specialist and/or Associate Specialist Engineering Faculty Positions

Position Number: Pending

Hiring Unit: College of Engineering

Location: UH Manoa

Date Posted: 05/20/2024

Closing Date: Continuous - application review begins June 14, 2024

Salary Information: Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Monthly Type: 11 Month

Tenure Track: Tenure

Full Time/Part Time: Full Time

Temporary/Permanent: Permanent

Funding: General Funds

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (UHM) College of Engineering invites applications for up to four new tenure-track engineering faculty positions as part of a Ground-Based Astronomy and Instrumentation Engineering Support Center being launched this year in collaboration with the Institute for Astronomy. The Center is part of a broader Space Science and Engineering initiative at UHM that recognizes Hawai’i’s unique geography, cultural positioning, and leadership in the growing fields of ground-based astronomy, space flight, and exploration, and seeks to broaden the university’s capabilities in these fields.

Center faculty members will provide operational and research expertise to directly support ground-based observatory needs including systems engineering, instrumentation and controls, and materials and manufacturing. These new faculty positions are based in Honolulu on the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus and expected to begin January 1, 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. They are part of an initial faculty cohort forming the core of a multidisciplinary, multi-island engineering team. The openings are general fund, full-time, tenure track positions. Given their role within a highly collaborative team environment, they are 11-month positions at the UHM faculty rank of Assistant Specialist or Associate Specialist.

Each faculty position will contribute to engineering research, teaching and service relevant to the Center. This initial cohort provides direct support of ground-based activities for observatory operations including—but not limited to—detectors, high-speed electronics, cryogenic and thermal management systems, optics, adaptive optics and photonics, prototyping, materials and manufacturing, and instrumentation and control systems.

Specifically, applicants are sought in each of the following areas of expertise:

• Systems Engineering
• Instrumentation and Control Systems as applicable to ground-based astronomy
• Materials and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering

This significant, large-scale initiative places an emphasis on a collaborative approach to both research and education, focussing on hands-on-learning, teamwork, complementary technical expertise, and system-level multidisciplinary thinking. It will serve to expand Hawaiʻi’s local high-tech workforce by utilizing and leveraging existing observatory facilities on Maunakea and Haleakalā as platforms for new instrumentation and technology development, facility innovation, and proving grounds for operational upgrades and advancement. The cohort will serve as a dedicated engineering team to develop technical proposals, write grant applications, and perform engineering design tasks both at UHM facilities as well as the Center home on the UH Hilo (UHH) campus.  Additionally, the faculty cohort will develop and deliver courses of importance in relevant disciplines to UHM and/or UHH. Center faculty will have access to well-equipped laboratories and machine shop facilities. Available computer facilities are extensive, including the Maui High-Performance Computing Center and state-of-the-art multimedia computer instructional laboratories.

Progress and achievement of each faculty member will be measured not only by their individual accomplishments, but by their contributions to the success of the overall team and of the Engineering Center, as well.

The University of Hawaiʻi is a Carnegie R1 doctoral university with a strong emphasis on research and graduate education. The electrical & computer engineering and the mechanical engineering departments both offer B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, and their undergraduate programs are accredited by ABET (www.abet.org). Depending on the expertise of the individual faculty, it is envisioned that teaching and graduate student supervision would be assigned through one of these departments. For more information on the College of Engineering, including program-specific enrollment, please visit our website at www.eng.hawaii.edu.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa campus is dedicated to becoming a Native Hawaiian Place of Learning, a place that is responsive to Native Hawaiians and reflective of Indigenous Hawai'i where all can learn, grow, connect, and heal. UH Mānoa is also a designated as a Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center.

 Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Work productively and collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team as well as serve as lead for projects/task items under their respective specialization or as assigned by the Program Lead, Dean of the College of Engineering and/or the Institute for Astronomy Director.
2. Develop an externally-funded research program in direct support of the Engineering Center, in collaboration with other Center faculty. The candidate will also have scope to develop their own independent research portfolio.
3. Conduct and publish research work in leading scholarly journals as a record of scholarly activity.
4. Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in mechanical and/or electrical engineering in person and/or via various distance delivery modes as required.
5. Serve as chair or member of committees in charge of candidates for advanced degrees.
6. Participate in curriculum-related activities including the development of curricular materials and special instructional methods.
7. Supervise independent study activities.
8. Serve as academic advisor to students.
9. Serve on departmental, college, and university committees.
10. Render service to the professional or lay community in areas relevant to the individual’s academic specialty.
11. Engage with and support student internship programs offered by various organizations, including the Akamai internship programs administered by UC Observatories in collaboration with UH Hilo and the UH Institute for Astronomy.
12. Support the recruitment, retention, and graduation of Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and other underrepresented populations in Engineering.
13. Participate in initiatives towards the creation of place-based/Hawaii-based curricula to impact engineering knowledge.
14. Participate in implementing the Native Hawaiian principles from the UH Mānoa Strategic Plan.
15. Perform related tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications for Assistant Specialist:

• A Master’s degree and an additional 30 credits of graduate study in mechanical, electrical or systems engineering, or a closely-related field, from a university of recognized standing.
• Minimum three years of relevant experience past the master’s degree.
• Demonstrated abililty to plan and organize assigned activities, including the work of assistants when appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and administrators as necessary.
• Experience in working with a multi-disciplinary team and leading assigned tasks.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to engage successfully in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment.
• Demonstrated scholarly achievement, evidenced by a track record of conducting research and publishing scholarly materials, commensurate with academic rank of Assistant Specialist.
• Ability to teach graduate courses in area of specialty, as well as undergraduate courses in mechanical or electrical engineering and a strong commitment to mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including students from different backgrounds with diverse life experiences and learning styles.
• For systems engineering positions, demonstrated expertise in systems engineering and/or integration.
• For materials and advanced manufacturing positions, demonstrated expertise in materials, precision machining, or prototyping relevant to ground-based astronomy needs.
• For instrumentation and control systems positions, demonstrated expertise in development and implementation of advanced instrumentation and controls systems relevant to ground-based astronomy.

Desirable Qualifications for Assistant Specialist:

• An earned Ph.D. (“All but dissertation” will be considered) in mechanical, electrical or systems engineering, or a closely-related field, from a university of recognized standing.
• Expertise in emerging research areas directly related to supporting ground-based astronomy or other sectors of high precision manufacturing, testing, and commissioning of equipment and instrumentation, including artificial intelligence.
• Research emphasis applicable to or experience with Hawai'i and/or the Asian/Pacific region.
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
• Ability to recruit, retain, and graduate Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or other underrepresented populations in Engineering.
• Willingness to learn about, develop, and implement Native Hawaiian, Indigenous, and/or place-based principles into curriculum, programming, and work culture.

Minimum Qualifications for Associate Specialist:

• An earned Ph.D. in mechanical, electrical or systems engineering, or a closely-related field, from a university of recognized standing.
• Minimum four years of relevant experience past the doctoral degree, including two years directly related to the specified position expertise.
• Demonstrated abililty to plan and organize assigned activities, including the work of assistants when appropriate.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and administrators as necessary.
• Experience in working with a multi-disciplinary team and leading assigned tasks.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to engage successfully in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic environment.
• Demonstrated scholarly achievement, evidenced by a track record of conducting research and publishing scholarly materials, commensurate with academic rank of Associate Specialist.
• Ability to teach graduate courses in area of specialty, as well as undergraduate courses in mechanical or electrical engineering and a strong commitment to mentoring at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including students from different backgrounds with diverse life experiences and learning styles.
• For systems engineering positions, demonstrated expertise in systems engineering and/or integration.
• For materials and advanced manufacturing positions, demonstrated expertise in materials, precision machining, or prototyping relevant to ground-based astronomy needs.
• For instrumentation and control systems positions, demonstrated expertise in development and implementation of advanced instrumentation and controls systems relevant to ground-based astronomy.

 Desirable Qualifications for Associate Specialist:

• Expertise in emerging research areas directly related to supporting ground-based astronomy or other sectors of high precision manufacturing, testing, and commissioning of equipment and instrumentation, including artificial intelligence.
• Research emphasis applicable to or experience with Hawai'i and/or the Asian/Pacific region.
• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
• Ability to recruit, retain, and graduate Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and/or other underrepresented populations in Engineering.
• Willingness to learn about, develop, and implement Native Hawaiian, Indigenous, and/or place-based principles into curriculum, programming, and work culture.

To Apply:

Apply option to be directed to the UH’s website. Review of applications will begin on June 14, 2024. While candidates who complete their applications by June 14, 2024 will receive full consideration, the review process will continue until the position is filled. Applications will continue to be accepted, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Click on the “Apply” button to complete an application and attach required documents to the online application. The applicants should submit:

(1) A cover letter specifying the position specialization including a general statement of how their research interest aligns with the purpose of the faculty cohort and the Ground-Based Astronomy and Instrumentation Engineering Support Center

(2) A one-page statement of contribution to diversity, equity, and inclusion;

(3) A curriculum vitae detailing research accomplishments and teaching/mentoring experience;

(4) Graduate transcripts (unofficial copies accepted, however, official transcripts will be required upon hire);

(5) Copies of up to three relevant publications; and

(6) The names, addresses, e-mail, and telephone numbers of up to 4 references. Please do not upload or ask references to forward letters; they will be requested when required.

Applicants are advised that their cover letter and/or curriculum vita should address each of the position minimum qualifications, as well as any desirable qualifications they possess.

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Inquiries:

Inquiries regarding this position may be directed to Dr. Steve Durbin, the Search Committee Chair (durbin@hawaii.edu).