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Title: Assistant  Engineering Faculty Positions (Specialist and/or Associate Specialist)
Position Number: Pending
Hiring Unit: College of Engineering
Location: UH Manoa
Date Posted: 12/15/2023
Closing Date: Continuous
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 Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) College of Engineering (COE) invites applications for five new Assistant Specialist and/or Associate Specialist faculty positions. These faculty members will provide operational and research expertise in support of ground-based activities for observatory operations including, but not limited to, additive manufacturing, materials science, instruments and instrumentation in aerospace fields, control systems and artificial intelligence-focused control and communications systems. These five new faculty positions are based in Honolulu at the UH Manoa campus and expected to begin August 1, 2024 or as soon as possible thereafter. The openings are comprised of full-time, general fund, tenure track, Assistant Specialist or Associate Specialist faculty positions.
 
Recognizing Hawaii’s unique geography, cultural positioning, and leadership in the growing fields of ground-based astronomy, space flight, and exploration, UHM has embarked on a Space Science and Engineering Initiative to broaden the university’s capabilities. As part of this initiative, successful candidates will join a core multi-disciplinary team, thereby forming an initial cohort of ten faculty directly supporting a newly proposed Engineering Support Center (ESC) located at the Institute for Astronomy (IfA) and focused on ground-based astronomy in Hawaii. Each faculty position will contribute to research, teaching and service relevant to the ESC. This initial cohort provides direct support of ground-based activities for observatory operations including, but not limited to, additive manufacturing and prototyping, electronics, cryogenic systems, mechanical systems and servo/controls, optics, adaptive optics and photonics, software, and instrumentation.
 
Specifically, applicants are sought in each of the following areas of expertise:

• Additive Manufacturing
• Materials Science as applied to support Ground-based Astronomy
• Ground-based Astronomy or Aerospace Instrumentation
• Control Systems as applied to support Ground-based Astronomy or Aerospace Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence as applied to AI-based Control and Communications Systems

This significant, large-scale initiative places an emphasis on a collaborative approach to both research and education, focusing on hands-on-learning, teamwork, complementary technical expertise, and system-level multidisciplinary thinking. It will serve to expand Hawaii’s local high-tech workforce by utilizing and leveraging existing observatory facilities on Maunakea and Haleakala 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 new ESC 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.

Successful candidates 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 Support Center, as well.
 
The University of Hawaii is a Carnegie R1 doctoral university with a strong emphasis on research and graduate education. Both the electrical & computer engineering and the mechanical engineering departments offer B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees, and their undergraduate programs are accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). For more information on the COE, including program-specific enrollment, please visit our website at www.eng.hawaii.edu.

The University of Hawaii at Manoa 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 Manoa is also a designated Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Center.
 
Duties and Responsibilities: 

1. Work productively and collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team as well as to serve as a team leader for projects/task items under their respective specialization or as assigned by the Program Lead, COE Dean and/or IfA Director.
2. Develop an externally funded research program in direct support of the Engineering Support Center, in collaboration with other Engineering Support Center faculty.  The candidate can also 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/electrical engineering in person and/or via various distance delivery modes as required. Courses taught at UHH will primarily focus on pre-engineering pathway courses and may include (but not be limited to) introductory chemistry and physics, calculus, statics, dynamics, and introductory circuits and electronics.
5. Serve as chair or member of committees in charge of candidates for advanced degrees. 
6. Participate in curriculum development 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 Manoa Strategic Plan. 
15. Perform related tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications for Assistant Specialist (faculty positions): 

• A Master’s degree and an additional 30 credits of graduate study in mechanical or electrical engineering, optics, 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 additive manufacturing positions, demonstrated expertise in additive manufacturing.
• For materials science positions, demonstrated expertise in materials science with application to support ground-based astronomy.
• For aerospace or grand-based astronomy positions, demonstrated expertise in aerospace or ground-based astronomy instruments and instrumentation.
• For control systems positions, demonstrated expertise in control systems as they apply to ground-based astronomy and/or aerospace engineering.
• For artificial intelligence positions, demonstrated expertise in AI-based control and communication systems.

Desirable Qualifications for Assistant Specialist (faculty positions):

• An earned Ph.D. (“All but dissertation” will be considered) in mechanical or electrical 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.
• 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 (faculty positions): 

• An earned Ph.D. in mechanical or electrical engineering, optics, 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 additive manufacturing positions, demonstrated expertise in additive manufacturing.
• For materials science positions, demonstrated expertise in materials science with application to support ground-based astronomy.
• For aerospace or grand-based astronomy positions, demonstrated expertise in aerospace or ground-based astronomy instruments and instrumentation.
• For control systems positions, demonstrated expertise in control systems as they apply to ground-based astronomy and/or aerospace engineering.
• For artificial intelligence positions, demonstrated expertise in AI-based control and communication systems.

Desirable Qualifications for Associate Specialist (faculty positions):

• 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.
• 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: 
Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. 

Please use this link 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 Engineering Support Center;
(2) a statement of contribution to diversity, equity, and inclusion;
(3) a curriculum vitae detailing research and teaching accomplishments;
(4) graduate transcripts (unofficial copies accepted, however, official transcripts will be required upon hire);
(5) copies of up to three relevant publications;
(6) the names, addresses, e-mail, and telephone numbers of up to 4 references.
 
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Inquiries: 
Inquiries regarding this position may be directed to Dr. Luke Flynn, the Search Committee Chair (flynn@hsfl.hawaii.edu).