Assistant/Associate Professor - School of Computing

The School of Computing (SoC) at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) is undergoing strategic expansion and invites applications for a tenured/tenure-track faculty position at the assistant or associate professor rank to begin in Fall 2027. SoC offers a collegial, collaborative culture and broad opportunities for interdisciplinary research across campus. We seek exceptional candidates who can establish a substantial scholarly research and teaching program in Robotics, with particular emphasis on the validation and verification of software systems that control safety-critical and mission-critical functionalities in autonomous aerial and ground vehicles. Areas of interest include formal methods, model-based design, software assurance, testing, verification, validation, runtime monitoring, digital twins, simulation-based evaluation, and certification of autonomous and robotic systems. The successful candidate will advance the dependability, safety, security, and resilience of software that enables perception, planning, decision-making, navigation, and control in next-generation autonomous vehicles and robotic platforms operating in complex and dynamic environments.

Position Description

The successful applicant will work in a team environment whose mission is to develop robotic systems to interact closely with the natural and built environment while working with end users of these systems. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a high-impact, nationally recognized research program in a self-identified area of applied robotics research or another closely related area. They will be expected to effectively obtain and leverage external and internal support for research; work with interdisciplinary teams; mentor students; publish in high-quality, high-impact peer-reviewed conferences and journals; and participate in scientific meetings and other appropriate professional activities. The successful candidate will have strong electrical, computing, and/or mechanical engineering skills and be interested in developing a collaborative program of applied research in robotics. For example, this may include sensor development, applied robotic perception, algorithm development, or other areas of interest.

To support early-career success, the position includes a competitive startup package designed to establish a strong research program. This package provides funding for equipment, graduate student support, and research expenses, along with a reduced teaching load during the initial years. The successful candidate will also have access to modern laboratory space in our state-of-the-art facilities and shared resources, including advanced computational infrastructure provided through Holland Computing Center (hcc.unl.edu).

School of Computing Overview

The SoC is undergoing an exciting period of significant growth and has hired 14 tenured/tenure-track faculty members since 2019. We are committed to promoting inclusive excellence of our faculty and seek to attract and retain a high-performing and diverse workforce in which employees’ differences are respected and valued to meet the varying needs of the diverse populations we serve.

The NIMBUS lab in SoC excels at developing Uncrewed Aircraft Systems for agricultural and scientific applications and also contributes to the $25 million Heartland Robotics Cluster. SoC is enhancing research in Data Science, AI, and Machine Learning, launching a new Data Science undergraduate major, and aiming to develop leading programs in health, agriculture, biocomputing, and robotics. The school also leads a Cybersecurity Initiative to tackle security challenges with AI and ML techniques. Additionally, SoC is a leader in IoT and Agricultural IoT, spearheading the Nebraska IoT Initiative through a public-private partnership. This includes collaborations on major infrastructure projects and the formation of the interlocal agency iLNK. Furthermore, SoC is also recognized for its work in Empirical Software Engineering, Testing, and Formal Methods, and is expanding into areas like Mining Software Repositories, Software Security, and Human-centered Software Engineering.

College Growth

The College of Engineering has hired more than 70 new faculty members over the past five years and continues to grow its faculty base to support future expansion. The School of Computing is central to advancing the College’s ambitious research goals, supported by state-of-the-art facilities, including a new $75 million research building and a $115 million engineering education building that opened in 2024. The College is committed to providing a world-class engineering education through initiatives such as the nationally recognized Complete Engineer® Program. Notably, UNL’s College of Engineering was among the first three institutions in the country to earn the ASEE Diversity Recognition Program Silver Award. We are seeking an innovative leader with a clear vision for growth and a strong commitment to excellence in research, education, and engagement within the School of Computing.

About UNL, Lincoln, and Omaha

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is Nebraska’s land-grant research university, is a member of the Big Ten, and ranks among Doctoral Universities with the Highest Research Activity [Carnegie CIHE]. As the state’s flagship institution, UNL plays a key role in the region’s research and innovation landscape and leverages CoE presence in Lincoln and Omaha. The city of Omaha, the largest metropolitan area in Nebraska, is a rising tech hub in the Midwest. Lincoln, the state capital, is also part of a growing high-tech region known as the ‘Midwest Silicon Prairie’. Taking advantage of both communities, UNL offers a vibrant, welcoming, family-friendly community with a strong economy, excellent public school systems, a modest cost of living, and a high quality of life. Learn more about life in Lincoln and Omaha at placetobelnk.com, aboutlincoln.unl.edu, and visitomaha.com.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field by the start date of the appointment.
• Demonstrated research expertise in robotics, autonomous systems, perception, human-robot interactions, software engineering, or closely related areas.
• Evidence of high scholarly productivity (e.g., peer-reviewed publications).
• Evidence of or potential to establish and sustain an externally funded research program.
• A demonstrated commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the development and offering of innovative undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Potential to contribute to curriculum innovation and program development in robotics, computer science, or computer engineering.
• Experience collaborating on interdisciplinary research teams or with industry, federal agencies, or national laboratories.

Posted Salary

How to Apply

Rolling reviews will continue until the position has been filled. Interested applicants are encouraged to continue to apply after the review of applications date.

Click “Apply for this Job,” complete the faculty information form, and attach the following documents:

• Cover letter explaining your interest in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

• Curriculum vitae.

• A statement describing your research and scholarly activities, future directions, and broader impacts.

• A statement describing your teaching and mentoring practices.

• A statement of how your combined professional and academic experiences have equipped you to make a valuable contribution to the COE Complete Engineer ® Program (engineering.unl.edu/complete-engineer).

• A list of at least three (3) professional references including contact information.

The statements for items 3, 4, and 5 together should total no more than six (6) pages. Please combine them into a single document and attach as “Other Document.”

For more information about the position, please contact Dr. Brittany Duncan, [email protected].