Job Details

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:
* 2025 -- Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
* 2024 -- Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
* 2023 -- Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
* 2022 -- Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans -- eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences -- many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. Those serving in this position should expect periodic travel to partner manufacturing sites in North Carolina. Remote work is not available.

This is a full-time, 12-month, time-limited, grant-funded appointment anticipated to begin as soon as early November 2026, and continue through June 30, 2027, with annual renewal contingent on satisfactory performance and continued funding.

The primary purpose of this position is to conduct postdoctoral research supporting the embedded AI systems and manufacturing data streams of a Federated Learning Framework for Advanced Manufacturing Environments. The position designs and implements federated learning models to be deployed at the machine nodes using embedded systems platforms; networks the nodes with the federated learning servers, deploys and manages the federated learning servers; develops and evaluates use-case models such as defect detection, energy and demand forecasting, and adaptive machine and robotic control; selects and integrates embedded and edge computing platforms for on-device inference; designs the communication layer for real manufacturing network constraints; and supports evaluation and deployment of the framework at industry partner sites.

The position also contributes to scholarly publications, project deliverables, student mentoring, curriculum modules, and hands-on training activities as a member of a joint Western Carolina University and North Carolina State University research team. The position reports to the project principal investigator.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

A Ph.D. (by the effective date of appointment) in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related field, with demonstrated research experience in federated or distributed machine learning and in deploying machine learning models on resource-constrained embedded and edge platforms; working knowledge of networking and data security; and a record of peer-reviewed publications in highly ranked venues.

Application materials must be submitted online. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire. Please include the following:

For questions or additional information please contact Dr. Islam Elgarhy at ielgarhy@wcu.edu

*All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript of their highest attained degree, showing all completed coursework and the date the degree was conferred. The transcript must state Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred, or a similar phrase. For candidates who are ABD, please submit your most recent doctoral program transcript along with your master's degree transcript, if you hold such a degree. The master's degree transcript must have a notation such as Degree Awarded, Degree Conferred, or a similar phrase, to verify it as your highest completed degree.