Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in Electrical & Computer Engineering - Physical AI

The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering seeks to hire a faculty member with expertise in physical artificial intelligence, advancing the foundations and technologies that enable intelligent systems to sense, learn, and act reliably/safely in the physical world. Desired areas include perception and multimodal sensing, learning and modeling of physical dynamics, and the foundations of learning, control, and decision-making for robotics and autonomous systems.

Outstanding candidates at all levels (Assistant, Associate, Full Professor rank) will be considered. The ECE Department at UW-Madison has a long tradition of excellence in educating, mentoring, and inspiring future leaders; conducting research that is of vital importance to society; and serving Wisconsin, our nation, and the world. Our 52 tenure-track/tenured faculty (more than 35% of which are women) and 10 instructional faculty are leaders in their fields, respected nationally and internationally for their innovative research and teaching excellence. Approximately 400 graduate students and over 1100 undergraduate students are enrolled in our top-ranked degree programs.

Additional Information:

Candidates for this position may be eligible for participation in the Excellence in Mentoring Initiative. The Excellence in Mentoring Initiative aims to recruit outstanding faculty who, in addition to their demonstrated excellence or strong potential in research and teaching, are strongly committed to developing, implementing, and promoting effective practices for mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students, and other trainees within their scholarly disciplines. In this case, the faculty member will join a cohort of Excellence in Mentoring Initiative faculty across campus and become part of a growing community of scholars dedicated to inclusive mentorship and student success.

Madison, Wisconsin, a beautiful city of more than 250,000, has been named on top-10 lists for tech growth centers, and consistently ranks as a top community in which to live, work, and play.

Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses and contributing to curriculum updates and innovations; mentoring graduate students and supervising their research; developing and directing a successful, extramurally funded research program; participating in departmental and university shared governance; and contributing to professional and public service. Faculty at the associate or full professor rank will also have the responsibility of leading large research proposals and center-type activities. Candidates who have specific goals and plans that are aligned with the ECE department’s mission (https://engineering.wisc.edu/departments/electrical-computer-engineering/ ) and whose research and teaching interests fall within the areas described above are strongly encouraged to apply.

College of Engineering, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering

Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable

The successful candidate will have an excellent academic record, a vision for an innovative, significant and impactful research program and the skills to implement it, and a commitment to high-quality undergraduate and graduate instruction and mentoring. Associate and Full Professor candidates must possess experience and scholarly credentials that meet the tenure standards of the UW-Madison Physical Sciences Divisional Committee and the College of Engineering

Required Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or closely related field(including physics, chemistry, and materials science and engineering) by the start date.

Please apply directly to the website by clicking on "Apply Now." Upload a single PDF document containing 1) a cover letter, 2) a detailed CV, 3) research and teaching statements describing how the applicant's research and teaching goals fit the solicitation described above and how the candidate's previous activities and future plans are aligned with the department's priorities.

Applicants should also provide names and contact information for three references. A criminal background check will be conducted prior to hiring. Deadline: The deadline for assuring full consideration is December 14, 2026. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The position may remain open and applications may be considered until this position is filled.

Delight Hensler

Electrical & Computer Engineering

[email protected]

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information. 

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The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

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