Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/Professor (Open Rank), Physical AI, Robotics & Autonomous Systems, Communication Sciences and Disorders

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 214,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance

Wellness & life benefits

Commuting & transportation

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston invites applications for open rank tenure-track or tenure-on-entry positions in Physical AI, Robotics & Autonomous Systems within CSD, with joint appointments possible in Engineering or CAMD. The successful candidate will develop and apply semi-autonomous AI systems for health, sensing, and human collaboration across translational contexts.

The role emphasizes interdisciplinary work, mentoring, and a strong faculty development plan, with a competitive pay range

Qualifications

• PhD, EdD or ScD in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Rehabilitation Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Neuroscience, Computational Psycholinguistics, Human-Centered Design, Industrial Design, Human Factors Engineering or related fields by the employment start date.
• Expertise in physical AI, robotics, or embodied/wearable sensing systems applied to communication or rehabilitation sciences with evidence of impact.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Build and lead an externally funded research program.
• Participate in departmental, college, and university service and faculty development activities.

Skills

PhD/EdD/ScD

Physical AI

Robotics

Embodied sensing

Human-Centered Design

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD/EdD/ScD in CSD/Engineering/CS/Neuroscience

Job description

About the Opportunity

About the Opportunity About Northeastern: Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experience-driven lifelong learning. Our world-renowned experiential approach empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create impact far beyond the confines of discipline, degree, and campus. Our locations—in Boston; Arlington; Charlotte; New York City; Miami; London; Portland, Maine; Oakland; San Francisco; Seattle; Silicon Valley; Toronto; Vancouver; and the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant—are nodes in our growing global university system. Through this network, we expand opportunities for flexible, student-centered learning and collaborative, solutions-focused research. Northeastern’s comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs— in a variety of on-campus and online formats—lead to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools. Among these, we offer more than 195 multi-discipline majors and degrees designed to prepare students for purposeful lives and careers. The Bouvé College of Health Sciences has over 250 faculty members, with approximately 2,000 undergraduate and 2,400 graduate students. It is the leading national model for education and research in the health, psychosocial and biomedical sciences and supports the University’s mission of educating students for a life of fulfillment and accomplishment and creating and translating knowledge to meet global and societal needs. The Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders at Northeastern University offers minors, a Bachelor of Science, and a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MS-SLP). The MS-SLP program is offered on the Boston and Charlotte campuses and is a 60-credit ASHA accredited degree program. About the Opportunity Bouvé College of Health Sciences invites applications for open rank tenure-track or tenure-on-entry positions with a possibility of a joint appointment in the College of Engineering or the College of Arts, Media, and Design (CAMD) or the College of Engineering (COE) beginning in academic year 2027-2028 or 2028-2029. This interdisciplinary hire is part of our hiring theme in Physical AI, Robotics & Autonomous Systems. The successful candidate will develop and apply semi-autonomous and autonomous physical AI systems for modeling, monitoring, and collaborating with humans in health and healthcare contexts, spanning digital twins to embodied health technologies within translational and implementation science. Within Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), this translates into building the physical AI systems that sense, model, and act on the human body and communication behavior — for example, voice-controlled assistive technology, mobile health, virtual reality, socially assistive robotics, wearable biosensors, or digital twins — developed through user needs research, concept development, and usability/use-related risk evaluation for regulated health products. Candidates whose work sits at the intersection of CSD and engineering, robotics, industrial design, or computer science are strongly encouraged to apply regardless of their disciplinary training. Our tenure and promotion process values collaborative research and teamwork. Hires will be mentored for success, with mentoring teams and group guidance. In addition, a strong and effective faculty development strategy is part of the Northeastern institutional mission. The ADVANCE Office of Faculty Development office works in conjunction with the Office of Research Development (ORD), the Office of Belonging, the Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Research (CATLR), and University Decision Support (UDS) to provide programs and trainings to further develop and support a thriving faculty.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, conducting an independent and externally funded research program, and participating in departmental, college, and university service. Qualified candidates must be prepared to work with global student populations.

Qualifications

PhD, EdD, ScD in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Rehabilitation Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Robotics, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Neuroscience, Computational Psycholinguistics, Human-Centered Design, Industrial Design, Human Factors Engineering, or broadly related fields by the employment start date. Expertise in physical AI, robotics, or embodied/wearable sensing systems applied to communication or rehabilitation sciences, evidenced by publications, funded research, developed technologies, design portfolios, usability/human factors validation studies, or regulatory submissions. Appointments at the Associate Professor rank require a minimum of 5 years of related experience. Appointments at the Full Professor rank require a minimum of 10 years of related experience.

Additional Information

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by the law.

Position Type Academic Additional Information Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Pay Range: Assistant Professor: $99,000.00 - $120,000.00 | Associate Professor: $117,000.00 - $139,000.00 | Professor: $182,000.00 - $214,000.00 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.