Rehabilitation Robotics--something to consider

Rehabilitation Robotics Faculty Position

The University of Michigan Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) invites applications for a junior faculty position, Assistant Professor in the instructional track, in the area of clinical rehabilitation robotics research. The ideal faculty member will provide both research and clinical experience related to this field and will work with an interdisciplinary team of faculty from the Departments of Mechanical Engineering (Mechatronics), Biomedical Engineering (Brain-Computer Interface) and the School of Kinesiology (Biomechanics) to design, test and study the application of robotic devices in rehabilitation. The clinical expertise of the individual being recruited could be as a physiatrist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, prosthetist, or orthotist. The preferred candidate will have a Ph.D. or an equivalent degree with substantial research accomplishments for rank related to rehabilitation robotics. It is possible that the candidate would have a Ph.D. without a clinical degree, but he/she would have demonstrated experience working with patient populations for their research. The ability to work in a team environment with multidisciplinary collaborators is also critical to this position. Experience with intervention studies involving outcomes of active therapy modalities, endurance training, or strengthening after the implementation of assistive technology, orthoses, protheses or robotic devices would be highly desirable. The position will fulfill a key need in the Department of PM&R to expand its research portfolio while also developing expanded collaborations with University of Michigan faculty outside the School of Medicine. Preference will be given to candidates that hold a clinical license or can be licensed in the State of Michigan.

Individual and team research will both be goals for the new faculty member. The hire will work on a collaborative team with other PM&R faculty and staff as well as with the other Rehabilitation Robotics faculty hires. It will be important for the faculty member to develop her/his own research program in a therapeutic context as well. The hire should be able to evaluate strengths and needs of patients as they interface with robotic technology with the goal of improving their overall physical functioning. She/he will have a mature and creative perspective regarding the functional relevance of technology, robotic devices and robotic training to compensate for loss of limb mobility, movement and/or strength.

The faculty member would aid in the education of medical residents, orthotist and prosthetist residents, and medical students. The faculty member may not have a regular course load but will provide selected lectures and mentoring in her/his primary area of expertise. For more information please contact: Denise G. Tate Ph.D., Professor and Associate Chair for Research, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at dgtate@umich.edu or call (734) 936-7052. To apply, go to the website for the rehabilitation robotics program: http://rehabrobotics.umich.edu/