Faculty Position in Biomechanics and Biorobotics

Penn State University•University Park, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Kinesiology and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, in partnership with the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, invite applications for a tenure-line faculty position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in Biomechanics and Biorobotics. The successful candidate will also serve as the Director of the Center for Movement Science and Technology (C-MOST) within the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences. This is a strategic leadership opportunity for an internationally recognized scholar to help shape the future of biomechanics and biorobotics at Penn State. The successful candidate will lead the continued development of C-MOST while establishing a broader interdisciplinary Biorobotics Research Cluster that connects and facilitates world-class research across Penn State's colleges, institutes, and campuses. Penn State has longstanding strengths in biomechanics, movement science, engineering, the life sciences, neuroscience, materials, computation, medicine, and human health. C-MOST provides a foundation for bringing these complementary strengths together around fundamental questions of movement and the development of transformative technologies. We seek an accomplished scientist, engineer, or physician-scientist with an outstanding record of scholarly achievement, external research funding, interdisciplinary collaboration, and scientific leadership. The successful candidate will develop and advance a compelling vision for C-MOST and create new opportunities for collaboration among researchers, engineers, clinicians, and external partners. The Director will be expected to build C-MOST as a platform for interdisciplinary discovery and technology development while advancing a broader vision for Biorobotics at Penn State. This effort will bring together expertise spanning biomechanics and neuromechanics, robotics and control, biological systems, materials, computation, medicine, rehabilitation, and human performance. The position provides an opportunity for a senior scholar to help define a field at the intersection of biology, movement, engineering, and robotics and to build research programs that extend from fundamental discovery to technologies with meaningful applications in health, medicine, performance, and beyond. The Director will also contribute to the strategic activities and administration of C-MOST, including personnel, budgetary resources, research infrastructure, development activities, education and outreach, and engagement with internal and external partners. Importantly, this is a faculty leadership position. The successful candidate will maintain an independent, externally funded research program and will contribute to undergraduate and graduate education and mentorship.

Requirements

An earned doctorate or equivalent terminal degree in biomechanics, kinesiology, mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering, robotics, neuroscience, medicine, or a closely related discipline.
An outstanding record of research excellence and scholarly productivity appropriate to the rank of Associate or Full Professor.
A sustained record of peer-reviewed extramural research funding, including active awards.
A record of leadership in interdisciplinary research initiatives and collaborations.
National or international recognition for scholarly contributions.
Demonstrated ability to develop and sustain productive collaborations across disciplinary and organizational boundaries.
Experience developing large-scale research programs or multidisciplinary research initiatives.
Experience translating fundamental research, technologies, or discoveries toward clinical, industrial, or other applications.
Evidence of effective teaching and mentorship at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels.
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated ability to bring together individuals and groups with diverse scientific and technical expertise around shared research goals.
For Full Professor: a sustained record of national or international scholarly leadership, significant external funding, and contributions to the development of interdisciplinary research programs.
For Associate Professor: a strong record of scholarly achievement, external funding, interdisciplinary collaboration, and leadership appropriate to the rank.

Nice To Haves

Scholarship contributes to the broad and rapidly evolving field of biomechanics and biorobotics.
Research crosses disciplinary boundaries.
Demonstrated ability to build collaborative programs involving scientists, engineers, clinicians, and/or external partners.

Responsibilities

Lead the continued development of C-MOST.
Establish a broader interdisciplinary Biorobotics Research Cluster.
Build C-MOST as a platform for interdisciplinary discovery and technology development.
Advance a broader vision for Biorobotics at Penn State.
Contribute to the strategic activities and administration of C-MOST, including personnel, budgetary resources, research infrastructure, development activities, education and outreach, and engagement with internal and external partners.
Maintain an independent, externally funded research program.
Contribute to undergraduate and graduate education and mentorship.