Faculty Position - LIFT Research Lab

Faculty Position – LIFT Research Lab

The AI for Manufacturing and Supply Chain Institute (AIMS) at Tecnológico de Monterrey advances interdisciplinary research and innovation to address complex economic, industrial, and societal challenges. The Institute promotes applied research with strong engagement with industry, communities, public institutions, and global partners.

AIMS invites ambitious and internationally oriented researchers to apply for a full-time faculty position within the LIFT Research Lab, focused on developing world-class research that improves the livelihoods, productivity, resilience, and opportunities of individuals, entrepreneurs, and communities, particularly in emerging and underserved contexts.

LIFT combines behavioral and empirical research, technology, artificial intelligence, and large-scale field experimentation to understand barriers to socioeconomic development and design interventions that can generate measurable and scalable impact.

Requirements

Candidates for this position should meet the following criteria:

• Hold a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline such as Behavioral Science, Economics, Management, Education, Development Studies, Public Policy, Psychology, Sociology, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Data Science, or related fields.
• Demonstrate a strong research record addressing human behavior, technology adoption, socioeconomic development, inclusion, entrepreneurship, education, or related societal challenges.
• Have experience with empirical research methods, which may include field experiments, randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental methods, surveys, qualitative and mixed-methods research, ethnography, participatory research, or large-scale data analysis.
• Demonstrate an interest in translating rigorous research into interventions with measurable real-world impact.
• Show the ability to collaborate across disciplines and engage with external partners, including companies, governments, NGOs, foundations, schools, and communities.
• Demonstrate the potential to secure external research funding and develop strategic partnerships.
• Possess strong written and oral communication skills in English (minimum B2 level). Spanish is desirable but not required.

Research Focus: LIFT Research Lab

The successful candidate is expected to develop research in areas including, but not limited to:

• Behavioral science and decision-making in economically and socially relevant contexts.
• Poverty alleviation, economic mobility, resilience, and inclusive development.
• Technology and AI adoption, including the behavioral, organizational, educational, and social factors influencing adoption and effective use.
• Entrepreneurship, microenterprises, informal economies, and small-business productivity.
• Education, skills development, learning, and human-capital interventions as mechanisms for social and economic mobility.
• Digital inclusion and the design of human-centered technologies for underserved populations.
• Behavioral and socioeconomic dimensions of supply chains, particularly those involving small firms, micro-retailers, workers, consumers, and vulnerable communities.
• Design, implementation, and rigorous evaluation of interventions intended to improve individual, organizational, or community outcomes.
• Development of scalable approaches for translating research findings into practice and public or private-sector decision-making.

Particular interest will be given to research that bridges disciplines and combines deep understanding of human behavior with data, technology, and rigorous empirical evaluation.

Faculty Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be expected to:

• Develop an internationally recognized, high-impact research program aligned with the mission of the LIFT Research Lab.
• Design and lead empirical studies and field-based interventions addressing significant societal and economic challenges.
• Collaborate with faculty across engineering, business, social sciences, humanities, education, and other relevant disciplines.
• Establish research collaborations with companies, governments, NGOs, foundations, communities, and international organizations.
• Contribute to large-scale research initiatives that translate scientific insights into practical interventions and measurable impact.
• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students participating in research and field projects.
• Publish high-quality scholarly research while pursuing opportunities for research translation, adoption, and societal impact.
• Contribute to the development and responsible application of emerging technologies, including AI, as tools for inclusion and human development.

External Engagement

Faculty members are expected to actively contribute to the Institute's collaboration and impact strategy by:

• Establishing long-term partnerships with organizations interested in addressing challenges related to inclusive development, technology adoption, education, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity.
• Developing collaborative research with industry, government agencies, NGOs, foundations, and international organizations.
• Participating in the Institute's partnership and collaboration programs.
• Translating research findings into actionable interventions, tools, methodologies, and recommendations.
• Contributing to workshops, executive and public-sector roundtables, community initiatives, and knowledge-transfer activities.
• Supporting the scaling of successful interventions across populations, organizations, communities, and geographic contexts.

Impact and Performance Indicators

Performance will be evaluated based on:

• High-quality scholarly publications and international research visibility.
• Attraction of external funding from competitive grants, foundations, government, industry, and other partners.
• Leadership of high-impact empirical and applied research projects.
• Development and rigorous evaluation of interventions with measurable societal or economic outcomes.
• Evidence of successful translation and scaling of research into practice.
• Development of interdisciplinary collaborations across Tecnológico de Monterrey and with external research partners.
• Participation and leadership in flagship projects within the Institute.
• Contribution to the training and development of students and emerging researchers.

Location: Flexible

Contact: Martha J Navarro Global Faculty Recruiter mcayon@tec.mx

About Tecnológico de Monterrey

Tecnológico de Monterrey is a private, not-for-profit institution with campuses across Mexico and a strong international presence. Its mission is to educate leaders with an entrepreneurial spirit, a humanistic outlook, and international competitiveness while generating knowledge and solutions that contribute to the transformation of society.

Application Process

Candidates should submit a cover letter describing their research trajectory and fit with the LIFT Research Lab, a curriculum vitae including publications and funded projects, a research statement describing their future research agenda, and letters of reference.

If you do not receive a reply, we invite you to continue reviewing opportunities on our portal and apply for those that match your profile.

At Tecnológico de Monterrey, we are committed to the principle of equal opportunities. We value diversity and do not discriminate based on age, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, social status, health status, religious beliefs, political doctrine, or disability. We believe that a diverse and inclusive environment is essential for fostering innovation and excellence.