Director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Professor

Director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Professor

About University at Albany:
Established in 1844 and designated a University Center of the State University of New York in 1962, the University at Albany's broad mission of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research and public service engages a diverse student body of approximately 17,000 students in nine schools and colleges across three campuses.

Located in Albany, New York, New York State's capital, the University is convenient to Boston, New York City and the Adirondacks.

Job Description:
The University at Albany, State University of New York, seeks to hire the founding director of the UAlbany Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI), effective by the start of the Fall 2023 semester. The new IAI will be the hub for a campus-wide effort in research, translation, and industrial partnerships in the field of AI to solve problems of regional, national, and international importance. Furthermore, the IAI will also house the $200 million AI initiative that was launched with an initial investment of $75 million from New York State. The director of the IAI will also be considered for an Empire Innovation Professor in one of the university's academic departments. This New York State-supported appointment provides supplemental funding resources to advance the appointee's research program and pursuit of extramural research funding. The IAI Director will report directly to the Vice President for Research and Economic Development (VPRED).

About UAlbany and Albany AI Initiative
The University at Albany is classified by Carnegie Foundation as an R1 institution of "very high research activity" as well as for its outstanding record of community engagement. The University is among the four SUNY Centers in the state university system. It has a broad mission to facilitate research and scholarly activities, education, and workforce training in sciences, engineering, social science, public health, humanities, and arts. Its world-class scientific facilities include a soon-to-be-built, state-of-the-art supercomputing cluster and a secure data center.

UAlbany recently launched a $200 million dollar AI Initiative which will significantly expand the artificial intelligence supercomputing resources available in the state of New York for teaching and research, as well as render UAlbany one of the leading universities in AI in the nation.

As part of the Albany AI Initiative, the University will add an unprecedented 27 new faculty members specializing in artificial intelligence in the next academic year, marking the next critical phase in the University's ambitious plan to incorporate elements of AI teaching, research, and workforce (re)training across all academic programs. The new AI cluster hires, combined with the approximately 25 current faculty researchers engaged in the development and applications of AI research, will make UAlbany one of the nation's top AI institutions. All new AI faculty members-- along with current UAlbany AI-oriented faculty-- will be associated with the Institute for Artificial Intelligence (IAI). Empowered by the Albany AI Initiative and benefitting from the upcoming reaffiliation with the nationally leading College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE), the IAI Director will provide leadership to advance the University's broad mission and deliver world-class AI solutions in areas such as computer, computational, and physical sciences, neuroscience, health science, semiconductor manufacturing, renewable energy, sustainability, climate science, emergency management, and cybersecurity as well as within the arts and humanities.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• The founding director will develop and implement a 5-year strategic plan for the Institute, including setting research priorities, securing extramural funding, and building strategic on- and off-campus partnerships.
• To meet the goals of the strategic plan, the founding director will actively engage with UAlbany's nine colleges and schools, industry partners, NGOs, government agencies, and national laboratories, as well as the New York State, national, and international research communities, to advance the mission of the IAI.
• The IAI is expected to become self-sustaining on extramural funding and indirect cost returns credited back to the Institute by the end of Year 5.
• Oversee the operations of IAI, including the proposed University based AI supercomputing cluster and integration with the data center.
• Lead a team of researchers, engineers, and support staff in conducting high-quality research in artificial intelligence and machine learning, with a focus on solving real-world problems through a multi-disciplinary, convergence science approach.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and innovative culture within the IAI.
• Collaborate across campus to promote workforce development and implement the new AI Academy program being led by the provost.
• Collaborate with other SUNY institutions to develop joint, system-wide research agendas, and initiatives in AI.
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of AI-related knowledge through participation in conferences and workshops, as well as publication of research results in academic journals and popular science outlets.

Excellence in Interdisciplinary Research
The University at Albany has an established record of conducting AI research, training, and transdisciplinary engagement with faculty scholars spanning nine colleges and schools, and collaborators across the SUNY system. The successful candidate will be expected to lead the pursuit of extramural funding to support a robust individual and collaborative research program, while teaching a minimum of one class per year at the University at Albany in an appropriate academic department. Additionally, the candidate is expected to publish in relevant academic journals, mentor graduate students, promote community-engaged research, and other efforts that support the planned continuing investment in this area.

Priority will be given to candidates able to engage in broad interdisciplinary collaboration, especially across UAlbany's colleges and schools including the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Public Health, School of Social Welfare, School of Education and the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, along with community and government partners.

The University at Albany fully supports diversity and inclusion. We strive to support the recruitment and retention of a diverse population of staff, students, and research scientists across the University. We work to share our research and training with diverse audiences locally, nationally, and globally. We strive to foster an environment that is inclusive, welcoming, and respectful to all. Applicants must address in their application their ability to work with and instruct a culturally diverse population.

Thus, the successful candidate will be expected to contribute leadership to the University at Albany in serving its broader mission to educate, advance research and scholarly excellence, broaden community engagement, and create a more diverse and inclusive campus community.

Requirements:
Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, or related STEM discipline.
• 12+ years of relevant research and academic or equivalent industry experience beyond the Ph.D.
• Established track record of research in artificial intelligence or machine learning.
• Record of distinguished scholarship appropriate for an appointment as a tenured full professor.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching/education in academic or non-academic institutions.
• Demonstrated success in research program development.
• Experience in leadership and management, including both staff and program leadership.
• Experience in developing, planning, organizing, leading, and managing a major R&D unit such as an institute, center, major laboratory, or equivalent.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Technical expertise at the highest levels of scientific enterprise.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A demonstrated record of mentoring junior researchers.
• Have a working knowledge of policies and guidelines that relate to the administration and management of complex R&D organizations.
• Ability to develop a long-term vision for AI at UAlbany and alignment with federal funding priorities.
• Extensive experience managing large projects with multi-million-dollar budgets.
• Demonstrated ability to work in diverse, collaborative, multi-disciplinary, multi-professional teams and to lead by example.
• Relevant private, public, or non-profit sector experience and/or a strong record of developing successful partnerships with the private, public, or non-profit sectors.

Additional Information:
Professional Rank and Salary Range: Professor (10 months)
The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University's crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University's current campus security policies. The University at Albany's Annual Security Report is available in portable document format [PDF] by clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER

Please apply online via https://albany.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=159818

Application Instructions:
Applicants MUST submit the following documents:

• Detailed Curriculum Vitae
• Cover letter stating all the required minimum qualifications and any of the applicable preferred qualifications.
• A statement of research and scholarship
• A statement of teaching goals
• A statement on diversity
• Contact information for five (5) references

Note: After submitting your CV, the subsequent pages give you instructions for uploading additional documents (i.e. cover letter etc.).

A review of applications will start on May 1, 2023, and will continue until the position is filled.