Assistant Professor - Robotics & Sensors

The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering ( BAE) is jointly administered by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences ( CALS) and the College of Engineering at NC State University. The department actively contributes to the academic, research and extension missions of the University.

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The Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering ( BAE) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences ( CALS) at North Carolina State University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in robotics and sensors, with complementary expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics applied to agricultural and biological engineering challenges.

The successful candidate will develop a nationally recognized research, teaching, and extension program that advances intelligent sensing, automation, and data-driven decision support for agriculture and food systems relevant to North Carolina and beyond. Expertise in robotics, particularly in developing highly reliable field platforms, is desirable. Potential research directions include: field-deployable sensors and biosensors for monitoring animal and plant health; robotic and cyber-physical systems for controlled environment agriculture and automation; precision livestock farming and AI-enabled analytics for proactive decision-making; and integrated sensing and control approaches that maximize farmer profitability (e.g., crop yield, quality, etc.) while minimizing farmer costs (e.g., water, nutrients, labor, etc.). Over the next decade, agricultural robotics and sensing will move beyond proof-of-concept toward systems that transform how food is produced under increasingly variable weather, labor availability, and resource constraints. This position will lead innovation in scalable, field-ready platforms that integrate robotics, sensing, and AI to deliver resilient, data-secure, and farmer-friendly technologies. The successful candidate will help shape the future of agriculture, making it more adaptive, affordable, and sustainable for diverse operations from small family farms to large-scale enterprises.

NC State provides exceptional opportunities for cross-disciplinary collaboration. The BAE Department, ranked 4th nationally among graduate programs, boasts nationally recognized programs in digital agriculture, robotics, AI, aquacultural and environmental systems, big data analytics, and sustainable waste management. The position will connect with university-wide initiatives including the Plant Sciences Initiative ( PSI), the emerging Food Animal Initiative ( FAI), and the Genome Editing Center for Sustainable Agriculture ( GEC), as well as statewide infrastructure such as 18 agricultural research stations. Commodity groups across North Carolina and companies in the Research Triangle Park ( RTP) provide strong industry engagement and funding opportunities to support applied innovation and extension programming.

The successful candidate will teach an upper-level undergraduate and graduate course on sensors and controls and may develop additional courses in robotics, circuits and electronics, or data-driven decision systems. They will also have the opportunity to mentor students in cross-disciplinary teams and advise the department's robotics team. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to collaborate across disciplines, attract extramural funding, and contribute to NC State's land-grant mission of research, teaching, and extension.

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Please include a cover letter, CV and contact information for three professional references.

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