Associate/Full Professor; Elizabeth Scurlock University Chair: Scurlock Professor of Ethics in AI

Southern Methodist University (SMU) seeks a visionary scholar to lead our initiative in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Ethics beginning August 1, 2024.
The Scurlock Chair, one of SMU's two endowed university-level professorships, reports directly to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and represents our commitment to bringing an ethical and humanistic analysis to bear on the future of AI. We see this chair as an opportunity to expand our impact across both the artificial intelligence and ethics domains, and to bring to campus a world-renowned scholar who will contribute to, and expand upon, the robust work that is already taking place on campus in ways that benefit faculty, staff, students and the broader community. The role of the Scurlock chair is to be a leading advocate for ethics in the national and international community.

SMU is seeking an active researcher in ethics applied to Artificial Intelligence (AI). Candidates must have earned a Ph.D. in ethics, a closely related field, or an equivalent terminal degree. The position will be at the rank of full professor. Candidates at the associate rank with the potential to earn full professor will also be considered. We are open to any AI research specialization, as we recognize that expertise in AI may come from a wide scope of perspectives. Additionally, the candidate should have demonstrated excellence in bridging technological innovation with human-centered approaches; a track record of interdisciplinary collaboration spanning technical and humanistic domains, an understanding of AI applications to collaborate on fundable grant opportunities; a proven ability to engage with questions of ethics, equity, and social impact in technological advancement, a strong commitment to mentoring the next generation of thoughtful technology leaders, and an interest in and passion for partnering with the region's corporations, foundations, and municipal governments on matters affecting the DFW metroplex.

Applications can be submitted at https://apply.interfolio.com/159481 and should include a detailed curriculum vitae and a letter of interest highlighting the applicant's personal interest, relevant leadership experience, and alignment with the qualifications listed above. Hiring is contingent on the satisfactory completion of a background check. For priority consideration, applications should be submitted by January 15th, 2025, however applications will be accepted until position is filled. Inquiries and/or nominations can be sent at any time to either committee co-chair: Rita Kirk (rkirk@smu.edu) or Neena Imam (nimam@smu.edu). For more information, please visit: https://www.smu.edu/provost/provostoffice/leadership/scurlock-chair-search.

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