Department
Computer Science

Rank
Associate Professor

Position Summary
The Department of Computer Science (CS) and the College of Engineering at The University of Alabama invite applications for multiple tenure-track faculty positions at all ranks, including Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor levels in areas related specifically to water research. Applicants applying to this particular posting should be seeking to apply for a position at the rank of Associate Professor. Candidates with appropriate experience and a strong record of scholarly productivity and impact who would seek appointment at the rank of Assistant or Full Professor are also encouraged to apply through a related posting at that rank.

This position seeks applicants with demonstrated excellence innovating new artificial intelligence and heterogenous computing approaches for large-scale hydrologic observation and modeling applications. We are interested in applicants with research interests and expertise bridging computer science, data-driven modeling, and process-based modeling of hydrologic systems for improving the monitoring, modeling, prediction, and forecasting of streamflow, floods, drought, and water quality. Candidates of particular interest will have demonstrated research strength in extreme data management, visualization, and analytics of high dimensional data, and high-performance and cloud computing.

Detailed Position Information
The Department of Computer Science (CS) and the College of Engineering at The University of Alabama invite applications for multiple tenure-track faculty positions at all ranks, including Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor levels, rank in areas related specifically to water research. Applicants applying to this particular posting should be seeking to apply for a position at the rank of Associate Professor. Candidates with appropriate experience and a strong record of scholarly productivity and impact who would seek appointment at the rank of Assistant or Full Professor are also encouraged to apply through a related posting at that rank.

Candidates with prestigious achievements in their field and exceptional national and international reputations will be eligible for consideration for significant endowment support through appointment as an Endowed Shelby Distinguished Associate Professor (https://provost.ua.edu/shelby-endowment/).

The University of Alabama has positioned itself as an international leader in the broad spectrum of critical water challenges and issues facing society today and well into the future. UA is the home to a variety of organizations and units that focus on water-related research including the Alabama Water Institute, the National Water Center, the Global Water Security Center, and the NOAA Cooperative Institute on Research to Operations in Hydrology. While all of these water-related institutes and research centers engage faculty from across The University of Alabama, the UA College of Engineering and its departments and faculty play a central and pivotal role in virtually all aspects of this expansive water research enterprise. As a result, there are tremendous opportunities at The University of Alabama in its various engineering departments and programs for new and established faculty members to join our constantly growing efforts in this exciting, impactful, and critical area.

Of particular interest in this search are candidates with research interests in computer and data science, and particularly those with an emphasis in areas such as artificial intelligence and high performance computing, that can positively impact the expansive research work occurring across UA in hydrology and water resources engineering that is closely aligned with the Alabama Water Institute (AWI) and the Cooperative Institute for Research to Operations in Hydrology (CIROH) (https://ciroh.ua.edu). To best align with CIROH and its mission, candidates are sought who possess expertise in developing new computational approaches, edge computing techniques, and artificial intelligence applications that can positively impact water research at UA and who have experience working in cooperation with federal agencies (e.g., NOAA, USGS) and the private sector. Candidates who approach water research challenges from the perspective of advancing computer and data science research as it applies to the following two thematic topics are also strongly encouraged to apply: (1) large-scale hydrologic modeling, hydroinformatics, hydrologic information systems, artificial intelligence in hydrologic forecasting, water data science and analytics, remote sensing and water observing technologies, and applications of hydrologic forecasting in planning, design, and operations and/or (2) hydroinformatics, including advancement of geospatial data management, visualization, and analytics, web app tools, and open-source geospatial technologies for applied hydrology and water resources engineering applications.

The CS department and College consider teaching, research, and service as the three critical and complimentary portions of their overall mission. Candidates must demonstrate a clear potential to successfully develop, lead, mentor, and extramurally fund a highly productive research group with significant scholarly impact in a focus area with long term potential to further build upon the rapid rise and great success of the CS department and the College. An ability to collaborate with existing faculty in the key focus areas both within the CS department and the College, as well as potential colleagues across the campus, is also highly desirable. See https://cs.ua.edu/ for more information.

The department, college and university are notable for the collegial, welcoming and supportive spirit we demonstrate to our students, faculty, and staff; thus candidates must demonstrate an ability to support this aspect of our community. The CS department and College also pride themselves on the outstanding educational experience provided to their students, and thus faculty candidates must demonstrate an ability to develop and teach courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the faculty member’s area(s) of expertise as well as to teach courses that support the delivery and accreditation of the CS department’s core degree programs.

At the undergraduate level, the department offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science and Cyber Security, with undergraduate student enrollments in the department consistently being maintained at approximately 1000 students. The department also offers minors in computer science and computing technology and applications. At the graduate level, the department offers the Master of Science in Computer Science and the Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science, and graduate enrollments in the department are currently on the order of 100 students and growing quickly as the research programs in the department continue to rapidly grow.

Minimum Qualifications
Ph.D. in Computer Science or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution. Demonstrated a record of prior research work and a record of impactful scholarly publications in refereed journals, conference proceedings, and similarly impactful venues. Demonstrated an outstanding record in computer science education and/or professional service in area(s) of specialization. Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications
5+ years of experience as a tenure-track/tenured faculty member at a leading peer R1 institution. Demonstrated record of building and sustaining a high quality, productive, and impactful research program including the successful mentoring of graduate students. Demonstrated record of excellent teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Demonstrated record of high-quality research and scholarly journal and conference publications that are recognized nationally and/or internationally. Significant record of scholarship in an academic department with both undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills. Outstanding record of external grant funding.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Required application documents include a: (1) cover letter that includes the department name, the rank of position for which the candidate is applying (i.e. Associate Professor in this case), a statement that the candidate is applying for a position related to the water research cluster hire, and a brief description of the area(s) of specialization for the candidate in topics related to artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and/or closely related areas and how their future research will support water-related research at UA, (2) a resume/curriculum vitae, (3) a three to six page statement of research interests and plans, (4) a one to two page statement of three teaching interests and plans, and (5) the names and contact information for at least four professional references.

Review of applications will begin immediately, and candidates are encouraged to submit applications before November 15th, 2024. However, the search will continue until the positions are filled with an expected start date of August 2025. Questions about the position can be directed to cjray3@ua.edu. Candidates from under-represented groups are encouraged to apply.

About the College of Engineering
As the premier flagship university for the state of Alabama and as one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering instruction, The University of Alabama has more than 175 years of proud engineering history. UA’s College of Engineering is committed to conducting cutting-edge basic research that advances the frontiers of science and engineering, to translating such fundamental advancements and knowledge through applied research and technology commercialization into impactful solutions which improve the human condition and address the challenges facing humankind, and to using that immersive research environment to provide unparalleled educational experiences and opportunities for our students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. As a College, we pride ourselves on educating and preparing the next generations of engineering and computer science scholars and professionals who will positively shape the future around us. Through our educational, research, and service activities that support our overall vision to be one of the most impactful engineering programs in the nation, our College continues to provide leadership in the many professional disciplines represented by our College and to the community, state, and nation as we advance our professions, the economy, and the lives of all those whom we serve.

The UA College of Engineering is comprised of seven departments: (1) Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics, (2) Chemical and Biological Engineering, (3) Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, (4) Computer Science, (5) Electrical and Computer Engineering, (6) Mechanical Engineering, and (7) Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. These departments currently deliver 13 different undergraduate degree programs and 15 different graduate degree programs. Overall, the College enrolls approximately 6,000 students, making it one of the largest colleges out of the more than 40,000 students on the UA campus.

While the university has been on a constant mission to advance in every aspect of its operations since its inception, The University of Alabama has in particular seen transformative growth in its research enterprise over the past decade. Through the efforts of the University, the UA Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED), and in particular the departments, centers, and faculty of the College of Engineering, UA’s research enterprise has indeed surged dramatically higher in just the last five to ten years. In the last five fiscal years alone (2019-2023), total sponsored awards across UA have increased by more than 80% and are well on track to more than double by the end of the current strategic plan period in 2024. This growth rate strengthens UA’s position as one of the two fastest growing research institutions in the nation. For the College of Engineering specifically, total research awards have well more than doubled in the last five years, growing by 250% in 2023 as compared to their level in 2018.

The educational activities of the College of Engineering and its constantly increasing volume of impactful research are enabled and supported by a tremendous combination of amazing faculty and staff, an outstanding array of modern new facilities that are the envy of its peers, and a world-class student body at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College of Engineering currently has more than 180 faculty members, and it is in a period of rapid faculty growth having added approximately 50 new faculty in the last two years and with plans to add an additional approximately 30 faculty this year. In terms of facilities, the College of Engineering has one of the largest overall footprints of any college at UA, currently occupying all or significant portions of 15 different facilities across campus. Some of the most recent additions to that space are the state-of-the-art facilities provided for many of the College’s departments in the recently completed Shelby Science and Engineering Quad that was built at a cost approaching $400 million.

In addition to the traditional engineering departments and their facilities, there are also more than 10 different major research centers housed within the College that span and support a wide-ranging set of research thrust areas including: artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, functional polymers and soft matter, water resources and water technology, advanced transportation and vehicle technology, and many more. These centers bring together faculty from across the College and from around the University to capitalize on emerging technological opportunities and to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing humankind and the planet both today and well into the future. In addition to these College research centers, a number of university-level research institutes and centers including the Alabama Water Institute, the Alabama Transportation Institute, the Cyber Institute, and the Alabama Mobility and Power Center, also provide support and infrastructure to an array of research thrusts and projects that engage faculty from across the College and from around the university. This synergistic combination of outstanding people, facilities, and resources will continue to fuel the College of Engineering’s advancement and growth well into the future.

Overall, with its hundreds of award-winning faculty and staff members, its outstanding and growing student body, its tremendous array of state-of-the-art facilities, its diverse offerings of nationally accredited degree programs, and the strong support of its local, state, and national partners, the UA College of Engineering has positioned itself for continued success and rapid advancement as a leader in engineering science, education, and practice. The College is looking for new faculty who want to build or continue their career in a dynamic organization with truly unlimited potential.

It is indeed an exciting time to join The University of Alabama and the College of Engineering. The UA College of Engineering has recently embarked on its “Top-30+ by ‘30” initiative which aims to have the College and all of its departments and programs achieve top-30 impact in all dimensions of our operations. Those impacts and dimensions include offering a comprehensive set of innovative degree program covering the full spectrum of engineering and computer science fields, enrolling a number of students and conferring a number of degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to be one of the largest producers of engineering talent in the nation, achieving continued outstanding growth in research awards and expenditures to enable continued expansion of our graduate programs and research activities, continuing to scale scholarly research productivity to be a major force in pushing the frontiers of our disciplines, and to playing an ever more important role in shaping our disciplines and the future of computer science, engineering, and technology through local, national and international service. To achieve those goals, the College, with strong support of the University, is deploying substantial resources in hiring new faculty, expanding our staff network supporting our operations, developing new facilities including both laboratory and computing resources, and expanding our research and educational programs. These activities present an outstanding opportunity here at The University of Alabama for individuals to fulfill their career objectives and dreams as a faculty member in an environment that can fully support their development as an excellent scholar, researcher, and teacher.

About The University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, named one of Travel + Leisure’s 25 Best College Towns and Cities in the U.S. As one of the nation’s premier universities, UA offers bachelor’s, master's and doctoral degrees in nearly 200 fields of study. With more than 1,400 acres of tree-lined academic core campus and over 300 state-of-the art facilities, UA has been ranked among the most beautiful and most impressive college campuses in the South, in the state of Alabama and in the nation.

In Fall 2023, the Capstone set a new enrollment record with more than 39,000 students, including more than 8,200 in the freshman class. The current enrollment includes students from every county in Alabama, every state in the nation and 92 countries around the world. More than 1,100 National Merit Scholars are currently enrolled, making UA one of the largest enrolling institutions of the scholars in the country.

UA was recently recognized as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. students for the seventh time in nine years, as well as a Top Producing Institution of Fulbright U.S. Scholars for the first time. UA is one of only 12 universities in the nation to receive both honors.

For reasons like this, the University made Forbes list of America’s Top Colleges for 2023 and Time magazine’s list of Top 50 Best Colleges for Future Leaders. It also made Princeton Review’s list of Top Value Colleges.

UA is also designated among the top doctoral research universities in the United States in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. One of the fastest growing major research institutions in the nation, UA saw a 21% increase in sponsored awards in the 2023 fiscal year.

Since 2015, UA has invested over $1.1 billion in the physical campus, adding more than 2.55 million gross square feet of space, over 150 new research-intensive faculty, signature research areas (e.g., “The Alabama Research Institutes”), and a growing number of partnerships with industry and with state and federal agencies.

The University employs nearly 2,100 faculty and over 4,500 staff, with 52 UA researchers included in the National Academy of Inventors. An additional 40 current faculty have received the NSF CAREER Award, the nation’s most prestigious recognition of top performing young scientists in disciplines ranging from nanoscience and engineering to biological sciences.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/overview