Assistant or Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering

Penn State; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering in University Park invites applications for a tenure-line Assistant or Associate Professor in construction robotics. This position aligns with Penn State’s growing construction-tech and robotics programs and is co-funded by the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation.

The successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in engineering by the start date, demonstrated teaching or research achievement, and evidence of scholarly

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in engineering by appointment start date.
• Demonstrated ability as a teacher or research worker.
• Evidence of growth in scholarly or professional achievement.

Responsibilities

• Teach courses at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Develop an internationally recognized, externally-funded research program.
• Contribute to the operation and promotion of the department, college, university, and profession through service.
• Assume a key role in interdisciplinary research collaborations, particularly with the Cocoziello Institute.

Skills

Teaching experience

Research

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Leadership

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in engineering or closely related field

Job description

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University in University Park is pleased to invite applications for a tenure-line position in Mechanical Engineering at the **Assistant** or **Associate Professor** level in the area of construction robotics. Funding for construction robotics is seeing explosive growth, with global construction-tech markets surging and major startups raising massive rounds. This position would align with efforts across Penn State in the areas of robotics and the built environment. This position is co-funded by the Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation. The Department of Mechanical Engineering is home to more than 65 faculty, 350 graduate students, and 1110 undergraduate students. The faculty conduct in excess of $48M per year of funded research across a broad spectrum of traditional and emerging areas. Penn State actively encourages and provides resources for interdisciplinary research collaboration through university-level institutes primarily focused on materials, health, and energy. The Department offers separate B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degree programs in mechanical engineering including online graduate programs in mechanical engineering and in additive manufacturing and design. The Department has a dedicated faculty and staff forming a strong sense of community and belonging. Further information on the Department can be found at: http://www.me.psu.edu/. Penn State’s Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation is a university-wide research institute within the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research focused on advancing innovation across the built environment. The Institute brings together over 150 interdisciplinary experts in engineering, artificial intelligence, construction, energy, materials, health, and public polict to address complex challenges in how buildings and infrastructure are designed, built, operated, and experienced. Institute faculty gain access to interdisciplinary collaborators across Penn State, industry and government partners, grant and proposal-development support, opportunities for industry-sponsored and applied research, Living Laboratory projects and testbeds, and competitive seed funding. Further information on Cocoziello Institute can be found at https://cocoziello.psu.edu/ The Assistant Professor should possess a Ph.D. in engineering or a closely related field by the appointment start date; must have demonstrated ability as a teacher or research worker; and must have shown definite evidence of growth in scholarly or professional achievement. The Associate Professor should possess the same qualifications as the Assistant Professor, but must also provide evidence of an established reputation in scholarly or professional achievement. The successful candidates are expected to teach courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels, to develop an internationally recognized, externally-funded research program, and to contribute to the operation and promotion of the department, college, university, and profession through service. The successful candidate will also assume a key role in interdisciplinary research collaborations, particularly in partnership with the Cocoziello Institute. The successful candidate should be a collaborative leader who will promote and enhance excellence and innovation in interdisciplinary research. Nominations and applications will be considered until the positions are filled. Screening of applicants will begin on November 16, 2026. Applicants should submit the following documents: a cover letter; a curriculum vitae; a statement on research; a statement on teaching; a statement on alignment with and experience related to Penn State’s Values of Respect and Community; copies of 3 key publications; and names and addresses of five professional references. **System limitations allow for a total of 5 documents (5mb per document) as part of your application. Please combine all materials into a** ***single PDF*** **to meet the 5-document limit*****.***