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Closing Date:

12/31/2026

Type of Position:

Researchers

Workstudy Position:

Job Type:

Regular

Work Shift:

Sponsorship Available:

Institution Name:

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process, please submit a request via the Disability Accommodations | OEOC | University of Arkansas (uark.edu) : Request an Accommodation. Applicants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 479.575.5351.

Department:

Architecture Hourly C

Department's Website:

https://fayjones.uark.edu/

Summary of Job Duties:

The Postdoctoral Fellow Research in Robotics, Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Innovation will join an interdisciplinary research group 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.

Qualifications:

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

Qualification Equivalencies:

Additional Information:

Salary Information:

$52,000.00

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

Recruitment Contact Information:

Dr. Kaicong Wu, Assistant Professor - Design Studio and Advanced Digital Technologies, [email protected] 479/575-6369

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.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

The selected candidate is expected to begin employment on or around January 19, 2027, or at another mutually agreed-upon date based on the candidate's availability.

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

University of Arkansas

Postdoctoral Fellow Researcher - Robotics, Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Innovation

About the Job

Requirements

Responsibilities

Desired Qualifications