"Assistant Professor- Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering"

The Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering (MNE) of the College of Engineering (CoE) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) invites applications for an Assistant Professor starting in Fall of 2026 in the areas of Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering with a strong emphasis on advanced field robotics, including quadruped, drones, and humanoids, or advanced manufacturing.

VCU is a Carnegie R1 “Very High Research Activity” university, ranking among the top 100 U.S. universities and among the top 50 public universities in federal R&D expenditures, with more than $500 million in sponsored research funding. Located in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia, VCU fosters innovation through strong community and industry partnerships, creating exceptional opportunities for faculty and students.

As part of the premier urban research university in Virginia’s capital city, VCU’s mechanical and nuclear engineering department enrolls over 600 students and offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs including a new graduate program in aerospace engineering. The department faculty collaborates closely with many VCU schools and departments, including VCU’s MCV (medical) campus and have a robust record of extramurally funded research in areas including advanced materials, nuclear science, thermal fluid systems, computational mechanics, aerosol particle technology and drug delivery. Our graduate program and online master’s program are ranked among the best in the nation by US News and World Report and attract top students from across the U.S. and globally. Additional information about the department’s programs and faculty may be found at https://egr.vcu.edu/departments/mechanical/.

Embarked on rapid growth, the MNE department has 25 tenure-track, tenured, and term faculty members. The MNE department boasts exceptional achievements in various areas, including being ranked top 20 in the nation's Nuclear Engineering programs. Located in Richmond, a vibrant, art-filled and culturally rich capital city, VCU brings together individuals from all over, where there is a shared common passion for engineering, education and stewardship for the communities we represent and serve. This position is part of the VCU AI+ Cluster Hire in Artificial Intelligence for Public Good initiative by the Provost’s Office of VCU.

Position Responsibilities: The successful candidate will collaborate with faculty from MNE and other departments (e.g., Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering) to develop robotics or autonomous systems for multiple applications. Candidates will also play a leading role in developing new courses in robotics, AI-driven automation, and advanced manufacturing at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The ability to teach undergraduate and graduate core courses and to develop new courses in these areas is highly desirable.

The MNE department is specifically seeking a scholar for the VCU AI+ Cluster who integrate robotics, controls, and AI/ML.

Example Research Areas (not exhaustive):

• Autonomous Field Robotics including quadrupeds, humanoids, drones, and autonomous vehicles that operate in unstructured, dynamic, or hazardous environments such as nuclear facilities, disaster zones, rescue missions, and industrial sites
• Robotics for advanced manufacturing: multi-axis additive/subtractive, tool path planning, automated inspection and post-processing with manufacturing processes to enable next-generation production systems
• AI/ML-driven robotic process planning, real-time sensing, digital twins, and closed-loop control
• Human–robot collaboration (HRC), cobots, and workforce-aware automation systems

Required qualifications: Candidate must have a doctorate in Mechanical Engineering or a related area with expertise in robotics and AI. The candidate will demonstrate potential for securing extramural funding and conducting impactful research, commitment to high-quality teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels and ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences.

Application Process: Candidates should upload their application, including a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research and teaching statements, and the names and e-mail addresses of four references. Reference letters will be requested by the search committee for finalists. Only complete applications will be considered. Review of applications will start on October 7, 2025, and will continue until the position is filled. For additional information, please contact the Chair of the faculty search committee, Ravi L. Hadimani, Ph.D., email: rhadimani@vcu.edu.

Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Tenure: Tenure Track
Rank: Assistant Professor