Description

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt University invites applications for an open-rank, tenured/tenure-track faculty position in robotics and autonomous systems, to begin in Fall 2027. We seek outstanding candidates whose research advances the fundamentals of robotics and autonomy and who are eager to apply that work to pressing challenges in national security and defense. The successful candidate is expected to be an experienced researcher with an established research program and a strong track record of securing external funding.

This position is part of an interdisciplinary cluster hire affiliated with the Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security, founded in 2024. The Institute advances its mission by sponsoring research in areas such as AI resilience and cyber defense while connecting Vanderbilt faculty and students with leaders across the military, government, and industry. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help shape this rapidly growing enterprise. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, aerial, underwater, and ground-based autonomous vehicles and wearable robotics for human performance augmentation. The candidate's expertise should complement and strengthen existing departmental strengths in dynamics and control, robotics, thermofluid sciences, materials, and manufacturing, and they should bring a strong theoretical foundation and a clear vision for applying fundamental mechanical engineering principles to problems of national consequence.

Qualifications

The successful candidate is expected to develop a strong, externally funded research program and to pursue excellence in both scholarship and teaching. They should be capable of teaching one or more core mechanical engineering courses and contributing to the expansion of graduate-level offerings. Applicants with expertise in either experimental or computational research are encouraged to apply. Experience with the application of AI and machine-learning tools in research, and the incorporation of these technologies into teaching, will be considered a significant advantage.

 
Application Instructions

Applications should include the following materials to be submitted online at https://apply.interfolio.com/195543. Applications will be reviewed as they are received; those received by December 1, 2026, will be given full consideration.

 1.           Cover letter

2.           Complete curriculum vitae

3.           Statement of research interests

4.           Statement of teaching philosophy

5.           Service statement (required only for tenured applicants)

6.           Contact information for at least three references

 Vanderbilt University has a strong institutional commitment to recruiting and retaining an academically and culturally representative community of faculty. Minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and members of other underrepresented groups, in particular, are encouraged to apply. Vanderbilt is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

About the Department and University

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at Vanderbilt University includes 26 primary faculty members (19 tenured/tenure-track, 6 teaching, 2 research members), 8 staff members, more than 300 undergraduate students, and 60 Ph.D. students. The department maintains a vibrant research environment with annual research expenditures of approximately $8 million. Our faculty are internationally recognized for research excellence in areas such as surgical robotics and rehabilitation engineering, nanophotonics, nanoscale energy transport, biomaterials and biomedical microdevices, fluid-structure interaction, combustion diagnostics, and additive manufacturing.

The Department of Mechanical Engineering fosters a highly collegial environment with a strong culture of collaboration and interdisciplinary research. Faculty members play integral roles in several major research centers at Vanderbilt, including the Vanderbilt Institute of Surgery and Engineering (VISE), Vanderbilt Institute of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (VINSE), the FRIST Center for Autism and Innovation, the newly established Vanderbilt University Institute of National Security, and the Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy, and Climate (VSEC). In addition to internal collaborations, the department has established extensive partnerships beyond the University, most notably with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, which is co-located on the same campus.

Ranked #17 nationally according to the U.S. News and World Report, Vanderbilt University is a private, internationally recognized research university located on 330 park-like acres 1.5 miles from downtown Nashville, Tennessee. Its 11 distinct schools, including the newly established College of Connected Computing, share a single cohesive campus that values collaboration. The University enrolls over 13,700 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, with women comprising over 50% of both the overall undergraduate student body and recent cohorts in the School of Engineering.

With over two million metro population, Nashville’s top employers include trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; professional and business services; government; and leisure and hospitality. Other industries include manufacturing, financial activities, construction, and information. Long known as a hub for health care and music, Nashville is a technology center with a considerable pool of health care, AI, and defense-related jobs available. In recent years, the city has experienced an influx of major office openings by some of the largest global tech companies and prime Silicon Valley startups.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Vanderbilt University shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR §§ 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status or disability.