Assistant/Associate Professor

About the Role

The School of Computing (SoC) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) is seeking an exceptional candidate for a tenured/tenure-track faculty position at the assistant or associate professor rank, to begin in Fall 2027. The position focuses on Robotics, with a particular emphasis on the validation and verification of software systems that control safety-critical and mission-critical functionalities in autonomous aerial and ground vehicles.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a high-impact, nationally recognized research program in an area of applied robotics or a closely related field.
• Effectively obtain and leverage external and internal support for research.
• Work with interdisciplinary teams.
• Mentor students.
• Publish in high-quality, high-impact peer-reviewed conferences and journals.
• Participate in scientific meetings and other appropriate professional activities.
• Develop robotic systems to interact closely with the natural and built environment, working with end users.
• Advance the dependability, safety, security, and resilience of software for autonomous vehicles and robotic platforms.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field by the start date of the appointment.
• Demonstrated research expertise in Robotics, Autonomous Systems, Perception, Human-Robot Interactions, Software Engineering, or closely related areas.
• Evidence of high scholarly productivity (e.g., peer-reviewed publications).
• Evidence of or potential to establish and sustain an externally funded research program.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education.
• Strong electrical, computing, and/or mechanical engineering skills.
• Interest in developing a collaborative program of applied research in robotics.
• Areas of interest include Formal Methods, Model-Based Design, Software Assurance, Testing, Verification, Validation, Runtime Monitoring, Digital Twins, Simulation-Based Evaluation, and Certification of Autonomous and Robotic Systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the development and offering of innovative undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Potential to contribute to curriculum innovation and program development in robotics, computer science, or computer engineering.
• Experience collaborating on interdisciplinary research teams or with industry, federal agencies, or national laboratories.

The position includes a competitive startup package designed to establish a strong research program, providing funding for equipment, graduate student support, and research expenses, along with a reduced teaching load during the initial years.

Access to modern laboratory space and shared resources, including advanced computational infrastructure provided through Holland Computing Center (hcc.unl.edu).