Skip to main content

Assistant Professor in Development Engineering, Blum Center for Developing Economies College of Engineering

We are no longer accepting applications for this recruitment. Browse open recruitments

Position description

The College of Engineering and the Blum Center for Developing Economies at the University of California at Berkeley seek applications for a tenure-track faculty position, at the Assistant Professor level in Development Engineering with an expected start date of July 1, 2020.

Development Engineering is a growing multidisciplinary field that integrates engineering, economics, business, natural resources, public health and social sciences in order to create, implement, evaluate and scale new technologies to benefit people living in poverty in developing regions and low-income areas in the U.S. The goal is to solve big societal problems both globally and locally.

Example focus areas include, but are not limited to: engineering better health, the nexus of food, energy and water systems, accessible low-cost energy technologies, the digital transformation of societal systems, climate change mitigation, and sustainable design and communities. Research in any one of these areas will enable cross-campus multi-disciplinary collaborations for innovation of scalable and sustainable technological solutions to improve the human condition and lift people out of poverty, particularly in developing economies.

Applicants will be hired into a home department within the College of Engineering: Bioengineering; Civil & Environmental Engineering; Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences; Industrial Engineering & Operations Research; Materials Science & Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; or Nuclear Engineering. More information on the College of Engineering, and a link to each department, is available at http://engineering.berkeley.edu/

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute meaningfully to both their home department and to the activities of the Development Engineering Graduate Group, housed in the Blum Center for Developing Economies. They will be expected to teach courses in both their home department and the Development Engineering Graduate Group, and have a strong commitment to excellence in research, teaching, service, and contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Graduate Group in Development Engineering is getting ready to offer a new Professional Masters in Development Engineering. It is expected that the new faculty member selected will participate in the pedagogy associated with the new Masters.

The Blum Center for Developing Economies leverages the talent, enthusiasm, and energy of the University of California community to address global poverty. The Blum Center’s interdisciplinary problem-solving approach draws on students and faculty dedicated to facing this challenge through innovative technologies, services, and education. It catalyzes the efforts of the university community, in partnership with for-profit, nonprofit, and government entities, to develop scalable and sustainable solutions. These multidisciplinary approaches are built around new technologies with great potential for low-income regions. The Blum Center invests in promising efforts and shepherd them to the next stage, engaging partners outside the university interested in bringing these innovations to millions. In addition to hosting the Development Engineering Graduate Group, the Blum Center also offers an undergraduate minor in Global Poverty & Practice and manages the Big Ideas contest that provides funding, support, and encouragement to students who have “big ideas” for social and entrepreneurial impact. More information about the Blum Center is at: http://blumcenter.berkeley.edu.

Basic Qualifications: Applicants must, at a minimum, be in the process of completing a doctoral dissertation or an equivalent international degree at the time of application.

Additional Qualifications: The candidate should have experience in teaching, outreach and research in development globally or in low-income areas of the U.S.

Preferred Qualifications: Holding a doctorate or equivalent degree by the start of the position. The candidate should include evidence of outstanding scholarship, the ability to establish and pursue a program of high-quality research within a relevant discipline, evidence of teaching capabilities, and a commitment to creating an inclusive environment.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values in the College of Engineering and the Blum Center. Our excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students and staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates for our faculty positions will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to equity and inclusion. Financial and in-kind resources are available to pursue activities that help accelerate our efforts to achieve our equity and inclusion goals, with the full backing of the College of Engineering. Examples of ongoing programming at the College are available at: engineering.berkeley.edu/diversity.

Applicants should provide three names and contact information for use in obtaining professional letters of reference. Recommenders providing letters of reference should submit them as early as possible, preferably by December 13, 2019. Candidates are responsible for asking their references to upload the letters as part of the online application process. All recommendation letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential letter-writers, including those who may provide letters via third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the University of California, Berkeley statement of confidentiality http://apo.berkeley.edu/evalltr.html) prior to submitting their letters.

The deadline for applications is December 13, 2019 and applications received after the deadline will not be considered. Candidates will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and early application is recommended. Please direct questions to the Chair of the Search Committee at blum-search@berkeley.edu. Applications should be submitted electronically at: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/apply/JPF02360.

The College is also committed to addressing the family needs of faculty, including dual career couples and single parents. For more information please visit: https://ofew.berkeley.edu/new-faculty.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the
complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see:
http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct (link is external).

For administrative questions regarding the position, please contact: Julie Allen (COE Academic Personnel Analyst) at: jallen@berkeley.edu, 510-642-2612.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Statement of Research

  • Statement of Teaching

  • Statement on Contributions to Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including information about your understanding of these topics, your record of activities to date, and your specific plans and goals for advancing equity and inclusion if hired at Berkeley (for additional information go to https://ofew.berkeley.edu/recruitment/contributions-diversity).

  • Three Publications

  • Cover Letter (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 letters of reference required

Job location

Berkeley, CA