12/01/2026 Description The Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University (ASU) and the School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks seek applicants for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position in Physical Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Robotics & Manufacturing. The School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks ( https://msn.engineering.asu.edu/), one of the eight Fulton Schools, houses a vibrant community conducting research at the intersection of robotics/autonomous systems, manufacturing processes, and AI/data science engineering (learn more at https://research.engineering.asu.edu/ ). We seek applicants who can enhance our abilities in these areas as part of a community of experts. Particular areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
Embodied AI & Autonomous Systems:
Multimodal perception, reasoning, learning, planning, control, and edge computing for intelligent robotic and physical systems.
AI Hardware Co-Design & Physical Intelligence:
Integrated design of AI, sensing, actuation, embedded computing, materials, mechanical systems, and control.
Digital Physical Systems & Autonomous Manufacturing:
Digital twins, physics-informed AI, sim-to-real learning, intelligent experimentation, generative design of manufacturing systems, and closed-loop manufacturing.
Trustworthy & Resilient Physical AI:
Safe, reliable, real-time, and secure AI-enabled physical systems operating under uncertainty and/or in extreme environments. Preference will be given to candidates whose research tightly integrates advances in artificial intelligence with physical hardware, sensing, actuation, computation, dynamics, and control, and who demonstrate these advances on real robotic, manufacturing, or cyber-physical systems. We search for applicants who will contribute to our academic programs, promote transdisciplinary teaching and research, and help the university to achieve its aspirations, including enabling student success, transforming society, valuing entrepreneurship, and conducting use-inspired research. Faculty members in the Fulton Schools are expected to develop an internationally recognized and externally funded research program, adopt effective pedagogical practices in the development and delivery of undergraduate and graduate courses, advise both undergraduate and graduate student research and projects, and undertake service activities. The School of Manufacturing Systems and Networks (SMSN) is dedicated to advancing innovation in manufacturing science and engineering. SMSN has a dynamic group of 23 faculty members, including nine recipients of the
NSF CAREER
award, who collaborate across various research areas like manufacturing process science, automation & robotics, smart manufacturing, data analytics, and AI. Faculty are encouraged to create broader impacts through their research, not only by generating knowledge but also through technology transfer and entrepreneurial ventures. SMSN's location in the Phoenix metro offers close ties to the aerospace & defense industry, semiconductor/microelectronics industry, and national laboratories, facilitating collaborative research. SMSN also contributes significantly to the
NSF IUCRC
on Digital Twins in Manufacturing, Southwest Advanced Prototyping Hub (SWAP), Global Futures Laboratory, and the ASU Space Initiatives. SMSN stands out for offering an integrated suite of programs in Manufacturing and Robotics and Autonomous Systems Engineering respectively. SMSN's faculty is currently housed within a state-of-the-art, approximately 170,000-square-foot facility, further enhancing its leadership in manufacturing & Robotics innovation. We are seeking faculty who can contribute to SMSN's mission and specifically invite candidates to address how they can do so in their cover letter. Appointment will be at the Assistant/Associate/(full) Professor rank, commensurate with the candidate's experience and accomplishments, beginning August 2027. Essential Functions Contribute to curriculum development. Deliver instruction in-person and/or online. Supervise undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students. Conduct research publishable in top-tier journals and/or conferences in the discipline. Develop grant proposals for external funding as PI or co-PI. Participate in professional and internal service. Qualifications Required qualifications Earned doctorate in Manufacturing, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related discipline by the time of appointment. Evidence of excellence in research, as appropriate to the candidate's rank. Evidence of excellence in teaching, as appropriate to the candidate's rank. Desired qualifications Demonstrated commitment to a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach to research and teaching. Application Instructions The application deadline is December 1, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. To apply, visit https://hiring.engineering.asu.edu/ and select "apply now" next to the corresponding position. Candidates will be asked to create or use an existing Interfolio Dossier to submit the following: Cover letter Curriculum Vitae Statement describing research interests (three pages maximum) Statement describing teaching interests and philosophy (two pages maximum) Contact information for three references The ASU Charter states, "ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves." The Fulton Schools of Engineering is dedicated to cultivating excellence, delivering innovation that matters, encouraging bold thinking, fostering a community of learning and collaboration, and building a foundation for all to be successful. Applicants are encouraged to address how their past, current, and future activities align with the ASU Charter and Fulton Schools of Engineering values in their application materials. For additional information regarding position specifics, please contact the search committee chair, Professor Wenlong Zhang via email at wenlong.zhang@asu.edu. For more information and to apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/9888205 je-bb7079c765914750aaf926f2e71234a4
