Assistant / Associate Professor: AI Applications in Robotics

Job description

Posting Detail Information


Working TitleAssistant / Associate Professor: AI Applications in Robotics

Position LocationFort Collins, CO

Work LocationPosition is fully in-office/in-person

Posting Number202500264F

Proposed Annual Salary RangeAssistant: $100K - $110K, Associate: $110K - $140K

Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service.

With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

+ Review our detailed benefits information here.

(https://hr.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2021/01/benefits-summary-afap.pdf)

+ Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

+ For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator (https://hr.colostate.edu/total-compensation-calculator/) .

+ Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in (https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-community/) !


Position TypeFaculty

Work Hours/Week40

Description of Work Unit
As one of the nation’s top public research universities, Colorado State University ( CSU ) in Fort Collins, Colorado, is a land-grant institution, with enrollment of more than 34,000 students.

CSU offers 76 undergraduate degree programs, 114 graduate degree programs, 21 professional master’s degree programs, and a Professional Veterinary Medicine program.

CSU’s world-class research and scholarship attract more than $500 million in research funding annually, putting the university among top federally funded public universities without a medical school.

Fort Collins is an attractive community of approximately 170,000 located along the Colorado Front Range at the base of the Rocky Mountains, 65 miles north of Denver.

The city is routinely recognized as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States.

It consistently ranks high on quality-of-life measures by numerous publications; seehttps://www.fcgov.com/visitor/awardsfor the complete list.

The Front Range has developed into a high-tech hub with companies such as Woodward, Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, IBM , Intel, Keysight Technologies, Broadcomm, AMD , Ball Aerospace, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman located in or near Fort Collins.

The city offers a pleasant climate, excellent schools, and abundant cultural and recreational opportunities nearby.

For more information on Fort Collins, check out the City’s website:www.visitftcollins.com.

The Walter Scott Jr. College of Engineering ( WSCOE ) at Colorado State University is a dynamic and diverse college comprising approximately 170 faculty, 300 postdoctoral scholars and research scientists, 95 academic and administrative staff, 2,500 undergraduate students, and 1,050 graduate students.

The College is home to four academic departments serving both graduate and undergraduate students, two departments with graduate- only programs, two interdisciplinary degree-granting programs, and a federal cooperative research institute.

WSCOE prides itself on its “hands-on” experiential approach to engineering education, offering extensive laboratory and team-based coursework alongside research opportunities.

The Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering is actively expanding its expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI).Through a recent AI cluster hire, more than five new faculty members have joined the College, advancing research in areas such as data-driven sciences, AI for energy systems, and AI-enabled risk assessment for structures and infrastructure networks.

In addition, the College is constructing the Don and Susie Law Engineering Future Technologies Building, which will feature facilities such as an AI Makerspace, Digital and Physical Prototyping Labs, and start-up garages designed to accelerate student and faculty innovation and entrepreneurship.

The building will also include state-of-the-art classrooms and will serve as home to 10 new faculty hires across engineering disciplines with expertise in AI.

Complementing these efforts, the college recently established a new high-end GPU -based high-performance computing system designed specifically for AI applications.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering ( MECH ) at CSU offers a curriculum that integrates exceptional classroom learning and in-depth engineering practice for an unparalleled educational experience.

Made up of 37 faculty members, 16 staff members, 1,200 undergraduate students, and 150 graduate students, MECH is one of the largest departments on CSU’s campus.

State-of-the-art labs provide unmatched, hands-on experience to help undergraduate students conceptualize industry environments, and $20M in annual research expenditures provide groundbreaking opportunities focusing on health, materials, and energy, for graduate students to enhance their educational concentrations.

The department aims to expand its robotics curriculum and develop a major research pillar, and is actively recruiting new faculty to build strength in this area.

Our faculty offer industry and academic perspective and equip each graduate with the tools needed to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields.

The Mechanical Engineering program combines classroom learning with engineering practice.

Our goal is to give our graduates the engineering skills they need to obtain leading positions in advanced technology fields.

Our students are integral members of our research groups, and their thesis and dissertation topics focus on cutting-edge research.

Further information about the Department can be found atwww.engr.colostate.edu/me/.

Tenure/Tenure Track?Yes

% Research50%

% Teaching40%

% Service10%

% Administration0%

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on12/01/2025

Number of Vacancies

Desired Start Date08/16/2026

Position End Date

Position Summary
Colorado State University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering invites applications for a tenure-track/tenured faculty position at the assistant or associate professor level in the area ofRobotics and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

We seek candidates who will establish a nationally and internationally recognized research program that will advance either fundamental methods or promising applications in robotics.

We are interested in methodologies such as AI-driven design, autonomy, and control of robotic systems; model-based and data-driven control.

On the applications side, candidates may pursue research that connects these methods to high-impact domains such as robotic manipulation and locomotion; soft and bio-inspired robotics; medical, surgical, and wearable systems; space and field robotics; and advanced manufacturing and automation.

The listed areas are not exhaustive, and candidates pursuing other innovative directions in robotics and AI are also encouraged to apply.

Candidates whose work bridges multiple domains and creates opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration will be well aligned with the department’s vision.

The successful candidate will contribute to both undergraduate and graduate teaching in Mechanical Engineering, especially the new Robotics and Automation Concentration, and will also participate in building interdisciplinary collaborations across the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering and with external partners.

The individual selected will be assigned one of two tenure-track faculty working titles based on qualifications and record of accomplishment.

Specifically, a selected individual with a PhD and limited postdoctoral or equivalent experience will be appointed as Assistant Professor.

A selected individual with a PhD who has more than 5 years of independent, post-PhD professional experience beyond the postdoctoral stage, with evidence of an established research program, effective teaching, and professional service, may be appointed as Associate Professor.

This faculty position is a full-time, nine-month appointment.

Candidates applying at the Associate Professor level must demonstrate a strong record of research accomplishments, including success in securing competitive external funding, mentoring graduate students, and contributing to high-impact scholarship.

In addition, they should articulate a clear and compelling vision for how their research program will accelerate CSU’s leadership in robotics research, expand interdisciplinary collaborations, and enhance the national and international reputation of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

We seek individuals who are enthusiastic about developing and sustaining a robust, externally funded research program while contributing to the department’s educational mission and engaging in service to the University and broader community.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to teach and mentor at all levels, from undergraduate students to PhD candidates, while cultivating advanced courses that reflect their expertise.

As an integral member of our faculty, they will help shape the future of robotics and AI in mechanical engineering through innovative research, teaching, and mentorship.

Conditions of EmploymentPre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)

Required Job Qualifications

+ PhD degree or equivalent degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field by the start date of the appointment.

+ Demonstrated research expertise and scholarly contributions in areas relevant to robotics and AI, as outlined in the position summary.

+ Potential to teach and develop courses in robotics, automation, and related areas at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

+ For Assistant Professor candidates:

+ Evidence of potential for research success.



+ For Associate Professor candidates:

+ Demonstrated effectiveness in establishing an internationally recognized research program, including a sustained record of publications, external funding, and graduate student mentoring.



Preferred Job Qualifications

+ Record of scholarly achievement commensurate with career stage, including high-quality peer-reviewed publications.

+ Demonstrated potential to establish and sustain a robust, externally funded research program.

+ Evidence of, or potential for, teaching effectiveness in higher education, commensurate with career stage.

+ Potential for interdisciplinary collaboration in areas such as design, control, autonomy, or related fields.


Special Instructions to Applicants
Interested applicants must submit acover letter, which addresses how professional experiences align with identified required and preferred qualifications of the position, acurrent resume or CV, astatement of research philosophy, astatement of teaching interests, and the names, email addresses, and telephone numbers ofthree (3) professional references.

References will not be contacted without prior notification to candidates.

The research statement should outline your past contributions, articulate your long-term research vision, and describe major future research directions, including their significance, methods, potential funding, and integration with student teaching and mentorship (2–4 pages).

The teaching statement should describe your teaching philosophy, past teaching experience including any evidence of teaching effectiveness, approaches to fostering student learning, strategies for inclusive and effective instruction, and plans for mentoring and curriculum development (1–2 pages).

CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals.

If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students.

To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer.

The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification.

Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO
Colorado State University ( CSU ) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Search ContactJianguo Zhao, jianguo.zhao@colostate.edu


Essential Duties


Job Duty CategoryConduct and Publish Research

Duty/Responsibility

+ Develop proposals and secure grants from industrial and federal entities, and

+ Design, analyze and publish theoretical or applied research results in peer-reviewed publications to the scientific community.


Percentage Of Time50%


Job Duty CategoryTeaching and Advising

Duty/Responsibility

+ Prepare and deliver to undergraduate and graduate students up to three courses per year within the Mechanical Engineering curriculum, and

+ Advise and mentor undergraduate and MS / PhD graduate students.


Percentage Of Time40%


Job Duty CategoryService to Department, College, University and Discipline

Duty/Responsibility

+ Contribute to the success of the department, college, and university through activities such as service on committees, and

+ Serve the scientific/engineering discipline through activities such as membership on academic society committees and reviewing manuscripts for journals and conferences.


Percentage Of Time10%



References Requested

References Requested


Minimum Requested3

Maximum Requested3


Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).




Applicant Documents
Required Documents

+ Cover Letter

+ Resume or CV

+ Statement of Research Philosophy

+ Statement of Teaching Interests

Optional Documents

Required Skill Profession

Other General