Open Rank Professor of Data Science, Academic General Faculty Teaching Track at InsideHigherEd

Description

The School of Data Science at the University of Virginia (UVA) is assembling a world-class faculty with broad expertise in data science to foster and advance our Undergraduate, Master, and PhD programs. We are searching to fill multiple open rank professorships in data science on the Academic General Faculty Teaching Track. At the School of Data Science, Academic General Faculty on the Teaching Track instruct classes (in-person and online), conduct educational scholarship, engage in grant-driven research, and advise and mentor students. Exceptional candidates will demonstrate experience with, or the potential for, sustained scholarship in data science education or a research specialty in an academic or industry setting.  Academic General Faculty are afforded significant stability with long-term contracts, support for professional development, and leadership opportunities (e.g., all program directors are currently academic general faculty on the teaching track).

We seek candidates with an innovative spirit who have strong skills in data science pedagogy, instruction, and advising. Faculty will have the opportunity to help shape the culture of a new school, develop modern pedagogy, and grow the discipline of data science in national and international forums.

Our curriculum is organized around the data science domains (listed below), and ideal applicants can teach in one or more of these domains.

• Data Systems (e.g., high-performance computing, continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) of data science tools, cloud architectures, federated learning, data sharing)
• Data Design (e.g., visualization, human-computer interaction, communication)
• Data Ethics, Critical Data Studies & Policy (e.g., representativeness, privacy, ethics of algorithmic construction, interpretability)
• Machine Learning and Analytics (e.g., predictive modeling, algorithm development, statistical methods, graph theory)

The school is open to all areas of research and scholarship in data science. Presently, the school is especially looking to grow in the following areas.

Generative AI, large language models, and trustworthy AIHealth data science (e.g., neuroscience, biomedicine, and genetics/genomics)Data and Society/Democracy (e.g., ethics, social justice, and the impact of data on society)Sports Data Science and human development (e.g., human movement, computer vision, and analyticsData science in education (e.g., AI in the classroom, data-driven educational strategies, data-centric teaching methods)When applying, candidates should detail their instructional experience, preferred teaching domain, and scholarly interests and/or research activity.

Qualifiations

Candidates must have earned, or be on track to earn, a PhD in Data Science or a related field (e.g., STEM, social science, or humanities degree with a Data Science focus) by August 2026 or appointment start date. Candidates with backgrounds and experiences that are underrepresented in data science are especially encouraged to apply. A commitment to advancing the University's mission is essential for all candidates (https://provost.virginia.edu/faculty-handbook/mission-statement-university-virginia).

Rank will be commensurate with academic and industry experience. Appointments are available on 9-month contracts.

Application Instructions

Complete an application online and attach:

• A current Curriculum Vitae or Resume.
• A Cover Letter that addresses your experience and qualifications for this position and your interest in data science.
• A teaching statement that describes your teaching and mentoring experiences and how they align with the UVA’s mission statement (https://provost.virginia.edu/faculty-handbook/mission-statement-university-virginia). This statement should focus on your past or planned educational activities and how you see data science education evolving over the next decade (1-3 pages).
• A scholarly pursuits statement that describes your data science expertise, educational scholarship (if any), engagement in traditional research activities (if any), and future scholarly goals (1-3 pages).
• Three reference letters.
• If available, reviews & course evaluations from up to 3 educational courses, seminars, and/or short courses.

Review of applicants will begin on or around November 22, 2025 and the positions will remain open until filled.

For questions about the application process please contact Jennifer Kirkham, Manager for Faculty Affairs at the School of Data Science, at [email protected].