Career Opportunities
Tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor in Quantum Computing, Departments of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northwestern University
Northwestern University invites outstanding candidates who are excited by the opportunity to help build the future of quantum computing and quantum information science and engineering in a world-class university to apply for a full-time, tenure-track faculty appointment at the McCormick School of Engineering in the departments of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering. The new appointment will be joint between the two departments at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor. Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to, quantum algorithms, quantum computing, quantum information, quantum error correction and mitigation, quantum systems architecture, quantum software systems, quantum simulation, many-body dynamics, and other design areas related to quantum computing and quantum information science and engineering. The new hire will have opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration via broad research initiatives and centers at Northwestern, including the Institute for Quantum Information Research and Engineering (INQUIRE), the Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS), the Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction (CMQT), and other centers and initiatives at Northwestern, as well as in collaboration with National Laboratories, including Fermilab, Argonne, Oak Ridge, Brookhaven, and NIST.
Northwestern University is a leading R1 university comprising a number of highly ranking schools that provide extraordinary opportunities for collaboration across a wide range of disciplines. Northwestern is located in beautiful Evanston, on the shores of Lake Michigan, just outside the city of Chicago. Our faculty have ample opportunities to connect with the city’s growing technology sector. In recent years, the Chicago region has enjoyed a multi-billion-dollar growth in Quantum Science and Engineering, including the groundbreaking DARPA-Illinois Quantum Proving Ground, the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), and other large-scale initiatives leveraging federal, state, public, and private investments, such as the Bloch EDA Tech Hub, and the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE). The Chicago region was designated a US Regional Innovation and Technology Hub for quantum technologies, and is already receiving pioneering quantum companies as tenants at the IQMP campus. Northwestern University is a vital part of this vibrant ecosystem, and is committed to interdisciplinary research (see for example the CS+X initiative) leveraging Northwestern’s unique strengths and world-class schools.
We encourage candidates to send their applications as soon as possible. Applications received by December 1, 2026, will be given full consideration. Applications received after December 1, 2026 are welcome, and will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis. The position will remain open until filled. Applicants should submit (1) a cover letter indicating the rank applied for, (2) a curriculum vitae, (3) the contact information of three to five references, (4) a statement of research interests, (5) a statement of teaching philosophy, and (6) two or at most three of the applicant’s most impactful or strongest publications. Application instructions can be found at https://www.mccormick.northwestern.edu/computer-science/resources/careers-computer-science.html. For general questions about the search or application assistance post submission, please contact cs-ece-faculty-search@northwestern.edu.
The expected base pay range for this position at the Assistant Professor level is $133,000 – $143,000 and at the Associate Professor level is $145,000 – $158,000. This base pay range is for a nine-month academic appointment, does not include summer salary, and is subject to negotiation. Sponsorship for an H-1B visa may be available for qualified candidates, subject to institutional policies and applicable immigration regulations.
Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate, including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal competitors; and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at Northwestern Benefits to learn more.
Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor, Robot Dexterity
Northwestern University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant or tenured Associate Professor position in robot dexterity.
This is a cross-disciplinary joint search in the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science. The successful candidate is expected to be affiliated with the Mechanical Engineering department, but they may also have an appointment in any of Materials Science and Engineering, Computer Science, or Electrical and Computer Engineering, as best fits their interests and qualifications. Applicants should hold a PhD, or be near completion of their doctoral studies, in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, with demonstrated research potential and a record of contributions in one or more of the priority areas below. We are especially interested in candidates who would like to translate fundamental advances to real-world deployment.
Research Areas: We seek candidates who will lead pioneering research in robot dexterity. Priority areas include, but are not limited to, actuation, tactile sensing, haptic feedback, physics-based simulation relevant to robotic manipulation, robot learning, foundation models for manipulation, human-robot interaction, teleoperation, perception, and other areas related to advanced robotic dexterity.
A Unique Opportunity: The successful candidate will be invited to join the NSF Engineering Research Center for Human AugmentatioN via Dexterity (HAND ERC, hand-erc.org), headquartered at Northwestern. HAND's mission is to transform robot hands into dexterous, versatile, easy-to-integrate tools that augment human labor, targeting applications spanning high-mix manufacturing, food preparation, caregiving, high-consequence manipulation, and more. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to, and draw on, HAND’s resources, testbeds, outreach programs, and collaborative network from day one. This network includes partner universities Carnegie Mellon, MIT, Texas A&M, Florida A&M, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a highly active Innovation Ecosystem consisting of over 70 industry, national lab, and other partners.
The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to participate in other research initiatives and centers at Northwestern, including the Center for Robotics and Biosystems, the Center for Synthetic Biology, the Center for Deep Learning, the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, the Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design, and the Center for Foundation Models and Generative AI.
Application Instructions: Candidates are requested to upload a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research statement, teaching statement, and contact information for three to five references. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full consideration, all materials including reference letters should be received by November 30, 2026. Application materials must be submitted via the web interface at https://facultyrecruiting.northwestern.edu/apply/MjY0NA==.
Compensation: The expected base pay range for this position at the Assistant Professor level is $133,000 – $143,000 and at the Associate Professor level is $145,000 – $158,000. This base pay range is for a nine-month academic appointment, does not include summer salary, and is subject to negotiation. Sponsorship for an H-1B visa may be available for qualified candidates, subject to institutional policies and applicable immigration regulations.
Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate, including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal competitors; and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at Northwestern Benefits to learn more.
Questions: mecareers@northwestern.edu
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.