Description
Summary of Job Duties:
The Postdoctoral Fellow Research in Robotics, Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Innovation will join an interdisciplinary research group at the University of Arkansas working at the intersection of robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and materials innovation.
The researcher will work closely with Dr. Kaicong Wu, Arkansas Research Alliance Innovation Scholar and Assistant Professor of Architecture in Design Studio and Advanced Digital Technologies in Department of Architecture at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design. The position is supported by the Arkansas Research Alliance and is intended to advance high-impact research addressing state and national priorities in sustainable material systems, advanced manufacturing, automation in construction, and workforce development.
The successful candidate will contribute to the research team addressing regenerative design and construction through the integration of:
- Reversible timber construction;
- Wood by-product composites;
- Adaptive robotic fabrication and advanced manufacturing;
- Human–robot collaboration in construction; and
- Multimodal foundation models and AI-enabled agentic systems.
The successful candidate will:
- Conduct interdisciplinary research in robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and materials innovation;
- Have substantial agency to propose and develop research projects aligned with their individual research trajectory and the broader mission of the group;
- Develop and implement foundation-model-enabled robotic fabrication, assembly, disassembly, perception, and human–robot collaboration workflows;
- Contribute to experimental research involving timber construction systems, wood by-product composites, additive manufacturing, and reversible/circular construction;
- Work closely with Dr. Wu and collaborating faculty, students, research groups, and external partners;
- Take a leading role in producing high-quality scholarship, including peer-reviewed journal articles and competitive conference papers;
- Document research methods, prototypes, experimental results, datasets, and workflows;
- Contribute to the preparation of external research proposals and collaborative grant applications;
- Support the translation of research into demonstrators, intellectual property, commercialization opportunities, and job-creating innovation.
- Depending on the appointee’s interests and professional goals, opportunities may also include participation in exhibitions, installations, design-build projects, and supportive teaching activities related to robotic fabrication, advanced digital technologies, and design-build education.
The postdoctoral researcher will join the Department of Architecture to contribute to establishing its research culture, technical infrastructure, external partnerships, and scholarly profile.
This is an in-person position, not a remote position. Extensive in-person engagement in both supervisory activities and formal and informal interactions with colleagues contributes to successful leadership, coordination, and collaboration and is essential to the expectations for the position.
Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.
Department:
Architecture
Department's Website:
Salary Information:
$52,000
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
- Ph.D. in robotics, computer science, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field from an accredited institution of higher education, conferred by the start of employment
- Demonstrated research experience in one or more of the following areas: robotics and autonomous systems; advanced manufacturing or robotic fabrication; automation in construction; human–robot collaboration; computer vision, sensing, or perception; artificial intelligence, deep learning, or foundation models; additive manufacturing; material innovation or computational materials research; strong programming, computational, experimental, or robotic systems-development skills; evidence of the ability to conduct independent and collaborative research
- A demonstrated capacity or strong potential to publish peer-reviewed scholarly work
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in architecture, industrial design, computational design, or another design discipline
- Experience with robotics applications in architecture, engineering, and construction
- Experience with timber construction, reversible building systems, or design for disassembly
- Experience with wood-based composites, bio-based materials, or circular material systems
- Experience with industrial robotic arms, linear tracks, end-effectors, extrusion systems, or robotic additive manufacturing (3D printing)
- Experience with robot operating systems (ROS), motion planning, computer vision, multimodal AI, or foundation-model-enabled agentic systems
- Experience with physical prototyping and experimental fabrication
- Experience conducting interdisciplinary research involving design, engineering, computation, and material science
- Experience preparing research proposals or contributing to externally funded projects
- Experience translating research into industry collaboration, intellectual property, or commercialization
Required Documents to Apply:
Cover Letter/Letter of Application, Curriculum Vitae, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Writing Sample
Optional Documents:
Proof of Veteran Status
All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site:
https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS
Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.
Job Number:
R0090037
Special Instructions to Applicants:
The selected candidate is expected to begin employment on or around October 1, 2026.
Pre-employment Screening Requirements:
Criminal Background Check, Sex Offender Registry
The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.
The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high-quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.
The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University's Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.
All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.
Constant Physical Activity: N/A
Frequent Physical Activity: N/A
Occasional Physical Activity: N/A
Benefits Eligible: Yes
The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution. All applicants are subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act and persons hired must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States.
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