National University of Dubai (NUD) is seeking outstanding and visionary founding faculty to help establish its four pioneering institutes within a new, globally connected research university. 

Born in Dubai and global by design, NUD will bring together academic and research excellence, technology and industry to address the defining challenges of our time. Its transdisciplinary model will combine fundamental, applied, and translational research with innovative education, industry partnerships, and venture creation. 

The Four Institutes 

NUD is recruiting faculty across a broad range of disciplines within its four founding institutes: 

1. Future Finance & Enterprise: Advancing the future of finance, investment, capital and enterprise, including FinTech, AI-native finance, emerging capital models, entrepreneurship and venture creation. 
2. Future Industries & Engineering: Exploring intelligent robotics, digital manufacturing and re-manufacturing, advanced manufacturing systems, product design and resilient supply chains. 
3. Future Cities & Communities: Addressing urban challenges through digital cities and simulation, sustainable transport, climate resilience, urban governance, infrastructure and community development. 
4. Future Resources & Resilience: Building resilience across critical resources, including integrated energy systems, water production and storage, food systems, critical materials, logistics and infrastructure. 

The Role 

Founding faculty will help shape NUD's academic direction, develop new programmes, establish research priorities, and build a collaborative, internationally recognised research community. 

Key responsibilities include: 

1. Research excellence: Advancing original, high-quality scholarship, developing research partnerships with industry as part of NUD’s missions, establishing international collaborations and securing competitive and industry-sponsored funding. 
2. Academic programmes: Designing and delivering innovative, academically rigorous programmes that integrate research, emerging technologies, experiential learning and industry partner projects. 
3. Industry engagement and impact: Working with government, industry and research partners to deliver NUD’s missions – addressing real challenges facing the world today and translatinge knowledge into practical solutions. 
4. Innovation and enterprise: Creating opportunities for technology development, research commercialisation, intellectual property and venture creation. 
5. Institution building: Helping establish NUD's academic culture, research capabilities, programmes and partnerships from the outset. 

The Candidate 

We welcome applications from accomplished academics, researchers, and industry-connected scholars across the disciplines represented by the four institutes. 

Candidates should demonstrate: 

1. A PhD or equivalent academic qualification in a relevant discipline. 
2. A strong research record appropriate to career stage, with evidence of scholarly quality and impact. 
3. Demonstrated teaching capability and a commitment to developing innovative, student-centred learning experiences in partnership with other institutions, government and industry. 
4. Experience in transdisciplinary research, industry collaboration, applied research, technology commercialisation and/or venture creation. 
5. Intellectual curiosity and experience applying AI, data and emerging technologies in research and education, and understanding of the implications for industries and economies. 
6. An entrepreneurial, collaborative approach and the ambition to contribute to building a new academic institution. 

We are particularly interested in individuals who combine disciplinary excellence with a partnership mindset – excited to work across academic and industry boundaries, develop new initiatives, and translate research into meaningful economic and societal impact. 

The Opportunity to Build 

Few academics have the opportunity to help build a university from the ground up. At NUD, founding faculty will have a defining role in shaping its academic direction, establishing ambitious research programmes and developing new approaches to education. Pursuing fundamental and applied research aligned with real-world challenges, they will help create an institution where academic excellence and industry collaboration advance knowledge, innovation and lasting impact. 

Further Information and Applications 

To express your interest or discuss the opportunities confidentially, please contact Daniel Munks at Daniel.Munks@perrettlaver.com, Ellie Beveridge at Ellie.Beveridge@perrettlaver.com or Emma Stone at Emma.Stone@perrettlaver.com quoting reference number 8761.

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your research interests, relevant experience, preferred institute, and motivation for joining NUD. 

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

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