Competition No. A104049231
https://www.careers.ualberta.ca/Competition/A104049231/
The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta invites applications for up to two full-time, tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant-Professor level (applicants at the Associate and Full Professor levels may also be considered) in the area of Robotics and AI.
Applications are invited from outstanding candidates with research expertise on autonomous human-aware robotic systems at the intersection of machine learning and artificial intelligence, intelligent control, real-time embedded systems, and machine vision and robot perception. The ideal candidate works in domains such as robot reinforcement learning, robot autonomy and shared autonomy, human-centric and human-augmentation robotic systems, and assistive, interactive and collaborative robotics with applications in areas such as human-centric soft robotics and medical robotics.
Successful candidates will be nominated for a Canada CIFAR Artificial Intelligence (CCAI) Chair by the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). Amii is one of three institutes named in the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy and represents more than 35 artificial intelligence (AI) & machine learning (ML) researchers at the U of A, as well as CCAI Chairs at post-secondary institutions across Western Canada. The CCAI Chair includes research funding for at least five years.
This position is part of a University of Alberta cluster hire in the areas of research strength that include Health, Energy and Indigenous Initiatives in health and humanities, among others. The University of Alberta is world-renowned for its strength in AI; this cohort will bring together and foster the next generation of scientists leading the development of machine learning for societal benefit, fulfilling Amii's mandate of AI for good and all.
The new faculty members will have the opportunity to work with a group of robotics faculty members in the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Computing Science. The existing expertise at the University of Alberta include surgical robotics, rehabilitation and assistive robotics, wearable robotics, aerial and mobile robotics, manufacturing robotics, human-robot interaction and interfaces, human movement analysis, haptics and telerobotics, cooperative autonomous systems, computer vision, robot control, robot learning and computational intelligence for robotic systems, to name a few. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with researchers at various centres of expertise at the University of Alberta including Amii, the Autonomous Systems Initiative, SMART Network, and AI4Society.
The successful candidate will have a PhD in Electrical and/or Computer Engineering or related fields such as mechanical engineering, mechatronics or computer science . They are expected to be or become a licensed Professional Engineer through the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA, https://www.apega.ca/). Licensure must be obtained within five years from the date of hire.
The Department believes that innovation, professionalism, and excellence in engineering stems from leaders who value diversity, equity, and inclusion of all perspectives and people. We are seeking candidates who value and demonstrate these in their research, teaching, and service work, both past and future. The candidate will have a publication record in reputable, peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings. They will have demonstrated the impact of their research with industry partnerships, with established and respected teaching skills, and with a record of service and volunteerism related to their research, teaching, and/or equity, diversity, and inclusivity. The successful candidate will obtain grants and develop external partnerships to attract research funding for research personnel and infrastructure.
As we build our team, we recognize that our people are and will continue to be our greatest strength. You’ll join one of the top five Electrical and Computer Engineering departments in Canada. We help students develop the skills they need to dream of and invent the technology of the future through hands-on experiences in state-of-the-art labs and instruction from skilled faculty. The Department has over 60 faculty members with expertise in the areas of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering and Intelligent Systems. We have world-class research and teaching facilities and a range of research and education programs. The Department welcomes creativity, diversity, perseverance, and a collaborative spirit and recognizes the importance of excellence in conjunction with work/life balance, interdisciplinary research, and mentorship. We received the Rising to the Challenge Award in 2021 for our innovative response to the pandemic from the ECE Head Association. Our graduate program attracts outstanding students from schools worldwide and presently has an enrollment of over 450 students, including approximately 220 PhD students.
The University of Alberta in Edmonton is one of Canada's top research and teaching universities, with an international reputation for excellence across the humanities, sciences, creative arts, business, engineering, and health sciences. The University of Alberta offers close to 900 undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in 18 faculties on five campuses, including one rural and one francophone campus, and has more than 275,000 alumni worldwide. The university and its people remain dedicated to the promise made in 1908 by founding president Henry Marshall Tory that knowledge shall be used for "uplifting the whole people."
The University of Alberta is in Edmonton, home to over one million people and Alberta’s capital. Edmonton offers a vibrant start-up ecosystem, federal and provincial government offices, a city council dedicated to urban development and ending homelessness, international airport, and a major industrial corridor with several opportunities for partnerships. The city offers the amenities of a large urban center while maintaining a friendly atmosphere. Edmonton is known internationally for its thriving arts scene with a variety of family activities, an array of indoor and outdoor sports and fitness opportunities, one of North America’s largest stretches of urban parkland, and top-ranked health care services. Campus offers child care, and there are multiple housing options within steps of campus. Faculty members are offered parental and medical leaves, retirement benefits, and healthcare benefits. We invite you to visit these websites for information about the University of Alberta (www.ualberta.ca/faculty-and-staff/index.html), the Faculty of Engineering (www.ualberta.ca/engineering/index.html), and the City of Edmonton (www.edmonton.ca).
How to Apply
Cover letter that includes highlights of your profile and the names of three referees (see below for more information)
Curriculum vitae (CV)
Research statement that outlines main areas of current research and short- and long-term research goals (submit under “Research Plan”), including a list of publications and conference presentations.
Up to 3 samples of recent peer-reviewed research publications (submit under “List of Publications”)
Teaching dossier that includes a brief teaching philosophy, evidence of, or potential for, teaching effectiveness, and sample course outline(s) (submit as an attachment under "Statement of Teaching/Research Interests")
Equity, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI) statement that outlines the candidate’s philosophy, experience, training, and future interests and goals in these areas related to research, teaching, and service. The future interest and goals section should be aligned with institutional and disciplinary strategies, including the University of Alberta’s Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity: https://www.ualberta.ca/equity-diversity- inclusivity/about/strategic-plan-for-edi/index.html; and Engineers Canada’s Strategy: https://engineerscanada.ca/diversity/about-diversity-in-engineering; (2 pages maximum; submit under “EDI Statement”)
Letters of reference will be requested from applicants selected for interviews. Only those applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.
To assist the University in complying with mandatory reporting requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (R203 (3)(e), please include the first digit of your Canadian Social Insurance Number at the bottom of your cover letter. If you do not have a Canadian Social Insurance Number, please indicate this at the bottom of your cover letter.
Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The starting date is anticipated to be July 1, 2023. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Only those applicants short-listed for interviews will be contacted.
The University of Alberta is committed to an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workforce. We welcome applications from all qualified persons. We encourage women, First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons, members of visible minority groups, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity and expression, and all those who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas and the University to apply. The University of Alberta aims to increase our diversity, equity, and inclusivity and has 5-year plans in the Strategic Plan for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and the Indigenous Strategic Plan. Alongside this plan, the Faculty of Engineering is taking active steps in our student recruitment and hiring processes to support Engineers Canada’s 30 by 30 Goal to increase the proportion of newly licensed female-identifying engineers to 30% by the year 2030.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot be found, additional candidates will be considered.
To apply, visit http://www.careers.ualberta.ca/Competition/A104049231/Apply/.
