Assistant Professor in Mechatronics

Assistant Professor in Mechatronics

The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus, invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in mechatronics at the rank of Assistant Professor, starting July 1, 2024, or shortly thereafter. A tenured Associate or Full Professor appointment will be considered in exceptional cases.

We encourage applicants with research expertise such as instrumentation, precision engineering, precision optics, micro/nano-positioning, sensors and actuators, embedded systems, augmented/virtual reality interfacing with mechanical systems, assistive devices, automation, haptics, instrumentation for robotic systems, bio-mechatronics and computer vision are especially encouraged to apply. Previous industrial experience is an asset.

UBC established a unique B.A.Sc./M.A.Sc. Mechatronics program over 30 years ago, and the program continues to attract exceptionally bright engineering students. Since its establishment the program has spawned an ecosystem of successful Vancouver-based companies that hire Mechatronics graduates and collaborate with faculty in generating new research and commercial opportunities.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, and should demonstrate the potential to achieve excellence in research and teaching. The successful applicant will develop an independent, internationally recognized research program, teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels, supervise and mentor Master’s and Ph.D. students, and provide service to the University and the community. The successful applicant will be expected to register as a Professional Engineer in the Province of British Columbia.

UBC’s Vancouver campus is situated at the tip of ʔəlqsən (Point Grey) on the unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) people, surrounded by forest, ocean and mountains. Vancouver is consistently ranked as one of the most diverse cities in Canada, and one of the most livable cities in the world. UBC seeks to recruit and retain a workforce that is representative of Vancouver’s diversity, to maintain the excellence of the University, and to offer students richly varied disciplines, perspectives and ways of knowing and learning.

All of our work is shaped by our values: professionalism and integrity; scholarship and teaching excellence; commitment to students; partnerships and collegiality; initiative, innovation, and willingness to change; community, the environment, and sustainability. We hold these values as an integral frame of reference to inform our decisions and actions at every level and in every situation.

Interested applicants should submit a single .PDF file that includes a CV, a list of four references, and statements on research, teaching, and diversity. For more details regarding expectations for these statements, please see below. Applications must be submitted online at https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/ubcfacultyjobs/job/UBC-Vancouver-Campus/Assistant-Professor-in-Mechatronics_JR13381.

Review of applications will begin on October 1, 2023; applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.

Details on Research Statement: In up to 4 pages, please include both information about your research expertise and experience and about your research plan as a new faculty member, including as appropriate current and potential collaborators (at UBC and elsewhere) and sources of funding.

Details on Teaching Statement: In up to 2-3 pages, please describe your teaching interests and experience at any and all scales from one-on-one tutoring to small group tutorials to teaching large section courses. Also, explain your teaching philosophy, including specific examples that have informed the evolution of that teaching philosophy.

Details on Diversity Statement: UBC’s strategic plan identifies inclusive excellence as one of our key priorities. We welcome colleagues with the experiences and competencies that can contribute to our principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout campus life. In up to 1-2 pages, please describe your experience working with a diverse student body and your contributions to creating/advancing a culture of equity and inclusion on campus or within your discipline.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students, and is essential to fostering an outstanding work environment. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are accepted, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities). Confidential accommodations are available on request for applicants who are short-listed; please see our website FAQ under ‘How to Apply’.

To learn more about UBC’s Center for Workplace Accessibility, visit the website here https://hr.ubc.ca/CWA.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the BC Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Métis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents of Canada will be given priority consideration.