The University of Washington (UW) Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) in partnership with UW’s Global Innovation Exchange invites qualified candidates to apply for a full-time, faculty position at the Teaching Assistant Professor (non-tenure track) level. This position is specifically focused on Robotics, supporting academic programs at GIX and ME.  This position is on a 9-month service period with an anticipated start date of September 16, 2024. The base salary range for this position will be $11,000-13,000 per month, commensurate with experience and qualifications, or as mandated by a U.S. Department of Labor prevailing wage determination. 

This teaching assistant professor will teach classes in GIX’s flagship Master of Science in Technology Innovation, as well as in the undergraduate and graduate programs in Mechanical Engineering. The teaching specialization for this position has a special emphasis on Robotics.

This position will perform teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level, including course development and instruction, and communicate complex technical information and lead high-quality interdisciplinary and interactive graduate courses for emerging and seasoned professionals. The successfull candidate will be expected to develop a academically rigorous and vibrant teaching portfolio within our internationally recognized educational program, as well as to provide innovative, high-quality teaching, including incorporating diverse perspectives into their teaching and service endeavors and using evidence-based practices to support learning outcomes of students from a wide variety of backgrounds. The candidate will have opportunities to collaborate with members of the Department as well as other faculty and staff within the University and Affiliated institutions, participate in the Department’s undergraduate and graduate teaching, and participate in the mentoring, and training of students in the Department.

The successful candidate will teach two courses per academic quarter or six courses per academic year, with a particular emphasis on teaching in the MS, Technology Innovation (MSTI) program at GIX. All UW faculty are expected to engage in scholarship and service in addition to teaching. The faculty role is also expected to participate in program and departmental activities such as recruiting, orientation, graduation, training of teaching assistants, developing and updating lab course assignments, serving on admissions and other departmental committees, mentoring students, and assisting in solicitation and mentoring of industry-sponsored capstone projects. In addition, there are opportunities for teaching in Global Technology Experiences (international short courses) as well as custom professional and executive learning programs in partnership with the UW College of Engineering and Foster School of Business. While this teaching role is oriented toward teaching at UW-GIX, the role is a voting faculty for the host ME department, and the candidate is encouraged to engage in teaching and service within ME as much as time and opportunity allows.

The Mechanical Engineering department’s research and teaching portfolio covers all aspects of the broad field of mechanical engineering, including interdisciplinary work in engineering in medicine, robotics and controls, materials, advanced manufacturing, and alternative energy. The department currently has 39 full-time tenured, tenure track, research, and teaching faculty, 700 undergraduates, 250 Master’s students, 150 PhD students and 30 postdoctoral researchers and continues to grow. More information about the ME department is available at http://www.me.washington.edu.

The University of Washington, located in Seattle, Washington, the heart of the high-tech Pacific Northwest, is one of the world’s leading universities, ranking No. 6 in Best Global Universities in 2023 by U.S. News & World Report (https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings). The College of Engineering and the ME Department foster a highly collegial and collaborative culture. Applications from women, underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities, and covered veterans are strongly encouraged. We are committed to creating innovative and high-quality research and teaching programs that contribute to a diverse and inclusive campus environment. In keeping with our commitment, successful candidates will be expected to contribute to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives and activities.. The University is a first-round awardee of the National Science Foundation’s ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the advancement of women faculty in science, engineering, and math (see www.advance.uw.edu). Moreover, the College of Engineering has consistently had one of the highest percentages of women faculty in the top 50 colleges of engineering (US News and World Report Undergraduate Rankings). Additionally, the University’s Office for Faculty Advancement promotes the hiring, retention, and success of a diverse and inclusive faculty at the University of Washington.

UW Global Innovation Exchange (GIX)

UW’s Global Innovation Exchange (GIX) is a graduate-level institute for interdisciplinary education in engineering, business, and design. Its mission is to inspire global innovators to address the world’s most pressing challenges through the responsible application of advanced technologies. Supported by UW’s College of Engineering and Foster School of Business, GIX is in Bellevue, WA.

UW Master of Science in Technology Innovation (MSTI)

UW’s MSTI is a 60-credit, 18-month, professional master’s degree delivered by UW’s Global Innovation Exchange, an interdisciplinary institute shared by the UW College of Engineering and Foster School of Business. This applied professional program focuses on developing global leaders skilled in technology product development and emerging applications in hardware and software. The program features an integration of industry professionals as project sponsors, instructors, and mentors for students who plan to launch or continue their careers in the technology industry. Graduate courses cover hardware and software technical development skills focused on concepts for IoT and robotics applications, design thinking and human-centered design, technology industry strategy, entrepreneurship, team dynamics, and corporate and IP law.

·         PhD or foreign equivalent in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.

·        Professional expertise relevant to developing hardware and software IoT and robotic applications for new problem areas, in any of the following areas: hardware architecture, processing platforms and sensing technology, data processing and analysis, Machine Learning, database development, robotics, and data visualization.

1)      Cover letter addressing qualifications

2)      Curriculum vitae

3)      Statement of teaching philosophy and interest, including any available evidence of teaching excellence (3 pages max)

4)      A statement of how you have contributed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in your previous teaching and/or service roles and how you plan to contribute to the UW’s efforts and goals in DEI (2 pages max)

5)      Names and contact information for at least three references who will be prepared to submit letters of recommendation upon request

6)      copies of three most significant publications

Applications can be submitted at: APPLY.INTERFOLIO.COM/142306.  Priority review deadline is April 8, 2024, with applications accepted until the position is filled. For any administrative issues or inquiries related to the search, please contact mechair@uw.edu. For technical issues, please contact Interfolio staff at 877-997-8807 or help@interfolio.com.

The University of Washington is committed to building diversity among its faculty, librarian, staff, and student communities, and articulates that commitment in the UW Diversity Blueprint (http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/). Additionally, the University’s Faculty Code recognizes faculty efforts in research, teaching and/or service that address diversity and equal opportunity as important contributions to a faculty member’s academic profile and responsibilities (https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html#2432).