Assistant Professor - Artificial Intelligence - Cyber and Physical Security - (FAC001995)

T he University of Houston invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in Artificial Intelligence with focus on Cyber and Physical Security in energy and health. The position is within the Presidential Frontier Faculty program. The Presidential Frontier Faculty program is a university-wide integrated interdisciplinary hiring campaign that is overseen by central university leadership, and encompasses hiring a large cohort of convergence research faculty to work on health, energy, sustainability and security.

The appointment will begin September 1, 2022 in the Department of Computer Science. Candidates must demonstrate an outstanding scholarly record of research, exhibited by high-impact peer-reviewed publications and a forward-looking, vigorous research agenda that will secure competitive, external funding as Principal Investigator (PI).

An exceptional researcher in artificial intelligence is sought to join our fast-growing department and academic programs. Research expertise in any promising area of artificial intelligence will be considered including, but not exclusively, security systems and related areas such as cybersecurity for energy production and delivery systems, security for drones and autonomous vehicles, supply chain security, secure IoT/edge computing for critical infrastructures, AI based predictive commerce for green and renewable energy applications (game theory, computational economics), and cybersecurity for distributed health data. University of Houston launched an ambitious strategic plan to expand its research operations and strengthen its innovation ecosystem. Five institutional research thrusts alongside University-level institutes have been established to address a number of research challenges aimed at solving societal challenges. The recruited faculty member will have an opportunity to collaborate with existing researchers and newly recruited faculty members working in the broad area of Artificial Intelligence and will have the opportunity to pursue multi-disciplinary research aligned with University Institutes in Energy Sustainability and Security, and Sustainable Infrastructure and Smart Cities.

The University of Houston draws on the strengths of a diverse community of students, faculty and staff to enrich the educational experience, broaden participation in computing, and meet the needs of emerging technology. We have one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and are committed to actively recruit and retain a diverse community of scholars. We welcome candidates whose experience in teaching, research, or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment to diversity and excellence. Individuals with a history of and commitment to mentoring students from underrepresented minorities are encouraged to apply. The Department is particularly interested in candidates who have experience working with students from a diverse background and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for disadvantaged students. Experience in mentoring women and minorities in STEM fields is desired.

The University is a designated Hispanic Serving Institution and has been recognized as one of the most ethnically diverse research institution in the nation. The University of Houston is an ADVANCE institution, one of a select group of universities in receipt of National Science Foundation funds in support of our commitment to increase the number and success of women faculty in the STEM fields. The University of Houston is responsive to the needs of dual career couples. Underrepresented minorities and women are strongly encouraged to apply. To ensure full consideration, please submit your application materials by January 3, 2022.

About the Department of Computer Science:
The department of Computer Science is home to a dynamic and interdisciplinary group of 30+ full-time faculty member and over 1400+ students across its BS, MS and PhD programs. The department currently has a strong emphasis on research that spans AI and machine learning with cross-cutting applications related to cybersecurity, high-performance computing, blockchain, IoT, data science, natural language processing, graphics, visualization, biomedical and healthcare computing, and much more! Research in the department is and has been funded by numerous agencies, including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the U.S. Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, Energy, and Transportation. According to csrankings.org, the University of Houston Computer Science is highly ranked in AI, which includes research in Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning and Data Mining, Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Computer Vision, and Web and Information Retrieval. In addition, the department is highly ranked in research areas related to applications of AI, which include Computer Graphics, Visualization, Economics of Computations, Computing, and Human-Computer Interaction.

The University of Houston is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution. Minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications :

Ph.D. in Computer Science, Information Science, Statistics, Data Science, or related discipline. Applicants must complete their degree before the starting date of the appointment. Demonstrated ability to develop a record of outstanding research productivity and impact in fundamental aspects of artificial intelligence. The ability to secure external funding is required. Demonstrated ability to teach effectively in-person, online, or in blended learning for courses in areas such as statistical machine learning, data analytics, deep learning, convex optimization, graph algorithms, and related areas.

Notes to Applicant: Official transcripts are required for faculty appointments and will be requested upon selection of the final candidate. All positions at the University of Houston are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check.