The Robotics Department in the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor invites applications and nominations for the position of Department Chair.
The successful candidate for Department Chair will be a leading world-class scholar with a distinguished track record in robotics and related disciplines. The candidate should not only possess an exemplary record of achievement in research, teaching, leadership, and service at a level commensurate with the appointment as a tenured full professor, but also command a vision for the future of the Robotics discipline. This vision should leverage and build on the strengths of our existing department and programs at the University of Michigan, leading them into an increasingly commanding position in the multidisciplinary field of Robotics.
Key attributes of successful candidates include:
- Demonstrated leadership experience at the candidate’s home institution as well as nationally and internationally.
- Proven communication, management, and interpersonal skills.
- A strong research track record demonstrated through publications, national and international collaborations, grants, and fundraising.
- Demonstrated excellence in teaching and curriculum development in Robotics.
- Significant experience in bridging from the academic lab to serving society.
- A Ph.D. in robotics, computer science, or other engineering discipline.
About Michigan Robotics
The University of Michigan Robotics Department creates the next generation of robotics and roboticists for the benefit of society. Operating out of the new world-class Ford Motor Company Robotics Building, the Department is one of the first free-standing robotics departments among leading engineering schools. Growing out of a successful Robotics Institute, the Department was established in 2022 to offer Bachelor's degrees in addition to Master's and PhD degrees (since 2014), with the goal of defining the discipline of Robotics. Michigan Robotics pursues fundamental research across core areas of sensing, reasoning, acting, and interacting with humans. Roboticists from the Department join colleagues across the College of Engineering, Medical School, School of Information, School of Kinesiology, College of Architecture & Urban Planning, and School of Art & Design to work on robot learning and foundational models, perception and computer vision, manipulation and grasping, and motion planning and control. Faculty also study human-robot interaction and teaming, the design and soft robotics that give machines their physical form, and the safe autonomy that keeps these systems reliable in the real world. Michigan Robotics comprises 24 tenured and tenure-track faculty members, with more than 180,000 undergraduate students and over 250,000 graduate students, and is supported by an annual research budget of approximately $15 million dollars (FY2026). Our department is distinguished by its core values: robotics with respect, enthusiasm for outreach, and integrity in action. We ensure our designs and robots treat human interactions respectfully, inspire future students through outreach to change the world, and report both our successes and failures to show true progress in the field. For more information about our values, please see: https://robotics.umich.edu/about/values/.
About Michigan Engineering
Located on the University of Michigan’s North Campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan Engineering’s mission is to educate, innovate, and lead by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, advancing knowledge, and preparing engineers to solve society’s greatest challenges. As a top-ranked engineering college, all of our graduate and undergraduate programs have a strong reputation for excellence. Michigan Engineering’s graduate and undergraduate programs rank 12th and 5th in the nation, respectively. Our world-renowned faculty are educating visionary leaders and advancing bold discoveries to shape a better world. Michigan Engineering has 13 academic departments and $369 million in annual research expenditures (FY2025), including within several large centers and institutes such as the Biointerfaces Institute and the AI & Digital Health Innovation Center. The College community includes more than 755 instructional and research faculty—including 35 National Academy of Engineering and National Academy of Science members—more than 12,200 enrolled students, and boasts more than 100,000 living alumni.
About University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is one of the world’s leading research universities, with $2.16B in research expenditures (FY2025). Consistently ranked among the top research universities by USNews and NSF, it has 19 schools and colleges, many of which are ranked in the top ten. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, approximately 25 miles from Detroit Metro International Airport, the University is rich with opportunities for collaboration and cross-disciplinary inquiry, as it's situated near a hub of advanced technology, life sciences, and industries. We are ranked the #2 Best College Town in the U.S. by WalletHub (2026), and #4 Best Places to Live for Families by Fortune (2024).
Applying to the Chair Position
Applicants should electronically submit their cover letter, detailed curriculum vitae, research statement, teaching statement, and leadership experience statement (each two pages). In addition, applicants are asked to submit a two-page vision statement on where they would lead the future of the Robotics discipline, including education and research, in the next two decades. Applicants should be prepared to share a list of names and contact information for at least five references upon being shortlisted.
The deadline for ensuring full consideration of an application is November 15, 2026, but the position will remain open, and applications will continue to be considered until the position is filled. The search will be conducted in confidence until finalists are identified prior to a public campus visit.
Please submit your application here: https://apply.interfolio.com/190127.
If you have any questions regarding the search process or would like to nominate a candidate, please contact Professor Jason Corso (jjcorso@umich.edu), Search Committee Chair.
Employment will require both a criminal background check and an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct. Candidates will be required to submit a self-disclosure form as well as an authorization to release information.
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer with an Active Dual-Career Assistance Program. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.