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 .

New Recruitment System:

Beginning October 2025, VCU will transition to a new application platform. Applicants who submitted an application on or before this time may be asked to resubmit their application in the new system if the committee continues to consider their candidacy. We appreciate your understanding during this transition and look forward to reviewing your application.

More information about College of Engineering, VCU, and Richmond, VA.

VCU's College of Engineering was established in 1996 as a public-private partnership to address the need for engineering innovation in a 21st-century economy. Under a new Dean of Engineering, the college is undergoing exceptional transformations, expanding its interdisciplinary research and educational offerings and aiming for excellence in impactful thematic areas of global significance. VCU Engineering's research collaborations with industry, community, and academic partners regularly yield breakthroughs in pharmaceutical engineering; smart cities, sustainability, and clean energy; materials development; health care, regenerative medicine, rehabilitation, and medical device development; data science and better security for cyber and cyber-physical systems. Its multidisciplinary, entrepreneurial approach to engineering education immerses undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students in meaningful research investigations throughout their studies.

The College of Engineering is in an extensive growth stage, significantly increasing the number of its faculty as student enrollment rises. It has pioneered several groundbreaking centers, such as the Medicines for All Institute, an international leader in reducing pharmaceuticals' costs for underserved populations, and the recently established Convergence Lab, a landmark new $9 million DoD-funded cross-disciplinary institute focused on solving pressing defense challenges for the U.S. The college leads the Central Virginia Node of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, a state supported engine for research, innovation and commercialization of cybersecurity technologies.

As the commonwealth's capital, Richmond, Virginia, offers a vibrant mix of history, culture and real-world opportunities. In fact, Travel + Leisure named Richmond the best place to live in Virginia in 2023, and Southern Living named Richmond one of the 20 best cities to live in the South in 2024. Richmond's location in the middle of the state allows for day or weekend trips to the beach, the Blue Ridge Mountains or Virginia's many wineries. It's within a two-hour drive of Washington, D.C., and a multitude of excellent institutions of higher education. The Richmond metropolitan area is also home to several Fortune 500 companies, a broad base of financial institutions, hospitals and media firms, high-tech manufacturing companies, and state and local government agencies. Entrepreneurs and artists put down roots in Richmond, and Thrillist named it one of the best U.S. cities for creatives in 2022.