Assistant/Associate/Professor in Bionics

About the job

Details

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Utah (https://mech.utah.edu/) invites applications for a tenured or tenure-track faculty position in Bionics, with an anticipated start date in the Fall Semester 2027.

Candidates with exceptional backgrounds and experience across diverse areas of bionics are strongly encouraged to apply. Relevant areas of interest include: Upper-Extremity Bionics & Manipulation (with an emphasis on prosthetics and orthotics), Invasive Neural Interfaces & Sensory Restoration, Soft Robotics & Smart Materials (for assistance and rehabilitation), Computational Neuromechanics (with an emphasis on neural decoding), Bionic Reconstruction and Tissue-Machine Interfaces, Neuromuscular and Functional Electrical Stimulation (NMES/FES), Biohybrid Systems, and other new and emerging areas in Bionics. Although all areas of Bionics will be considered, preference will be given to individuals focused on collaborating with clinical partners within the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (such as the Craig H. Neilsen Rehabilitation Hospital, the University Orthopaedic Center, and the Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Plastics) and the nearby George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Candidates must have a demonstrated track record of high-quality research, as evidenced by highly regarded scholarly publications, and must exhibit strong potential (junior faculty) or an established record (senior faculty) of securing extramural funding. Successful candidates will be expected to actively contribute to the College’s growing research presence and strategic center-level initiatives in Bionics. Additionally, candidates are expected to teach core undergraduate engineering courses and develop new specialized graduate coursework in bionics-related areas. Applicants must hold an earned Ph.D. or Sc.D. in Engineering, Robotics, or a closely related field.

The University of Utah is a research-focused institution home to more than 35,000 students, world-class faculty, and a vibrant start-up ecosystem. A unique advantage of the university is the co-location of the engineering and medical campuses, fostering seamless translational research. The Department of Mechanical Engineering has grown tremendously over the past decade, fueled by the State of Utah’s Engineering Initiative, and now includes more than 45 tenure-line faculty members, over 1,500 undergraduate students, and 250 graduate students. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to engage with established interdisciplinary hubs like the Utah Robotics Center, the Interdepartmental Center for Neural Interfaces, the Neurotechnology Training Program, the Neuroscience Program, and the Rocky Mountain Center for Occupational and Environmental Health. Joint appointments with the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine will be considered as appropriate for each candidate.

The University of Utah campus is situated in Salt Lake City, a growing, increasingly diverse metropolitan area with a population of over 1.2 million, nestled against the backdrop of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains. The greater SLC valley is a major economic hub of the Mountain West and home to a rapidly expanding technology sector and numerous Fortune 500 companies. Residents benefit from a highly accessible, walkable downtown featuring vibrant restaurants, professional sports, nightlife, and cultural events. The region also offers unparalleled access to outdoor recreation, including eight national parks within a few hours’ drive, world-class skiing and snowboarding at seven resorts within an hour, and exceptional hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and rafting. In addition, faculty members receive free access to public transportation and the convenience of a major international airport located just 15 minutes from campus.

Notice

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

[

https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/

](https://publicsafety.utah.edu/safetyreport/)

This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

Special Instructions for Candidates

All applications received by January 15, 2027 will receive full consideration. Applications must be submitted electronically and should include: a cover letter highlighting the applicant’s qualifications and relevance to this search, a current curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests and plans (2 pages), a statement of teaching interests (2 pages), and contact information for three to five references.