Part-Time Lecturer for Bioengineering Design for Robotic Rehabilitation

About the Opportunity

Position Overview:

The Department of Bioengineering invites applications for a part-time faculty member to co-teach BIOE 5560: Bioengineering Design for Robotic Rehabilitation. This course is offered in partnership with the Department of Physical Therapy at Northeastern University, bringing together expertise from both engineering and clinical rehabilitation sciences. A Physical Therapy faculty member from Northeastern will cover the clinical, therapeutic, and movement science components of the course; the part-time faculty member sought through this posting will be responsible for the engineering and robotics content, from a user-centered design perspective.

This role is an exciting opportunity for a practitioner or researcher with a strong background in robotics and bioengineering to contribute to a graduate-level, project-based course that bridges rigorous engineering design with real-world rehabilitation applications. The course draws on Northeastern’s established strength in Biomedical and Rehabilitation Robotics — a dedicated concentration within the university’s interdisciplinary MS in Robotics program spanning the College of Engineering, Khoury College of Computer Sciences, and the Bouvé College of Health Sciences — and extends that expertise into collaborative, clinically-grounded student projects.

Course Descriptions:

BIOE 5560 covers the intersection of robotics, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and movement sciences. The course is co-taught by faculty from the Departments of Bioengineering and Physical Therapy. The Physical Therapy faculty partner leads instruction on clinical rehabilitation, therapeutic principles, and movement sciences, while the engineering faculty member (this position) leads instruction on robotics systems, engineering design methodology, biomechanical analysis, and sensor integration.

Students engage in hands-on projects derived from real-world clinical challenges, following a systematic design process from conceptualization through prototype development. The course emphasizes the application of robotics to enhance therapeutic and rehabilitative outcomes, with key engineering topics including robot mechanics and control, assistive and rehabilitation robotics, sensing and navigation, mechatronic integration, prototyping, biomechanics, and motor control from an engineering perspective. Collaborative teamwork with peers, faculty from both departments, and clinical professionals is central to the course experience. The course concludes with a final project presentation in which student teams demonstrate functional prototypes designed to address specific needs in rehabilitation.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Teach all scheduled sections of BIOE 5520, delivering high-quality instruction consistent with course learning objectives

• Develop and maintain course materials including syllabi, lecture content, laboratory exercises, and assessment rubrics

• Guide students through the full engineering design cycle, from needs identification and conceptualization through prototype development and testing

• Facilitate collaboration between students, departmental faculty, and external clinical partners

• Supervise hands-on lab and project sessions, ensuring safety and alignment with learning outcomes

• Evaluate and provide timely, constructive feedback on student work, including design reports and prototype presentations

• Coordinate and oversee the final project presentation event, including evaluation of functional prototypes

• Maintain regular office hours and remain accessible to students for academic support

• Participate in relevant departmental meetings as requested

Required Qualifications:

• Graduate degree (Master’s or Doctoral) in Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Rehabilitation Science, Kinesiology, or a closely related field

• Demonstrated expertise in one or more of the following areas: rehabilitation robotics, biomechanics, motor control and learning, or sensor integration

• Experience with engineering design processes, including prototype development

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to mentor diverse student teams

• Ability to work collaboratively with clinical professionals and external partners

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior teaching experience at the university level, particularly in project-based or laboratory courses

• Active clinical, research, or industry experience in robotic rehabilitation or related applied fields

• Established professional network with rehabilitation clinicians or healthcare institutions

• Experience mentoring interdisciplinary student teams in capstone-style design projects

• Familiarity with relevant platforms and tools (e.g., ROS, embedded sensors, motion capture systems, clinical assessment tools)

Position Type

Academic

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Pay Range:

The rate per credit is $2988.