Assistant or Associate Professor - Robotics, AI, and Autonomous Systems
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
University of Houston
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at the University of Houston (UH) invites applications for a faculty position at the rank of tenure-track Assistant Professor or tenured Associate Professor, beginning Fall 2026. We seek an outstanding individual with demonstrated expertise or strong research potential in robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and/or autonomous systems. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, human–robot interaction, immersive technologies, and medical, assistive, and collaborative platforms, as well as AI-driven advances in perception, planning, and control with applications in aerospace, healthcare, manufacturing, and resilient infrastructure.
The successful candidate is expected to establish a strong, nationally recognized, and externally funded research program; effectively mentor graduate and undergraduate students; and adopt evidence-based pedagogical practices in developing and teaching courses. Candidates should have a strong record of scholarship, a creative vision for future research, a commitment to engineering education, and excellent written and interpersonal communication skills. A Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) in a related engineering or science discipline is required at the time of employment.
The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UH includes 36 full-time faculty, more than 1,000 undergraduates, and nearly 300 graduate students. Research in the department spans high-impact areas, such as energy and sustainability, advanced materials and devices, intelligent and autonomous systems, and advanced manufacturing. Faculty are active contributors to major university centers and institutes focused on superconductivity, advanced materials, and aerospace systems. More information about the department is available at www.me.uh.edu.
UH is Texas’s premier public metropolitan research and teaching institution, with more than 45,000 students on a park-like campus near downtown Houston, the nation’s fourth-largest city. The university offers a comprehensive range of programs across 15 colleges and is designated as both a Carnegie Tier One research university and a Hispanic-Serving Institution. UH is the nation’s second most ethnically diverse major research university and is committed to a strategic plan of becoming a Top 50 U.S. university, with major initiatives in Energy, Health, Security, and Sustainability. Located in the world’s energy capital, Houston also hosts the Texas Medical Center—the largest in the world—and NASA’s Johnson Space Center, providing unparalleled opportunities for collaboration across energy, healthcare, aerospace, and high-tech industries.
Qualified applicants should submit:
- Cover letter highlighting the candidate’s strengths and interest in the position.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Statement of research vision and plan.
- Statement of teaching philosophy and plan.
- Contact information for at least four references
To apply, please visit https://careers.uh.edu/jobs/assistant-or-associate-professor-robotics-ai-and-autonomous-systems-houston-texas-united-states (position number 494831). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. For questions regarding the position, please contact Dr. Zheng Chen at zchen43@Central.UH.EDU. Official transcripts will be required upon selection of the final candidates. All positions at the University of Houston are security-sensitive and will require a criminal background check.
