Job Description

The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and the Department of Computer Science seek applicants for a senior faculty position (tenured full or associate professor) position in Intelligent Interfaces, working at the intersection of human-computer interaction (HCI) and artificial intelligence (AI). The position is partially supported by an endowment provided through a generous gift of The Boeing Company. Exceptional candidates will be considered for an endowed chair or named professorship.

The Innovation Campus is a bold, new vision for research and graduate education in computer science and computer engineering. Located adjacent to the nation's capital in Alexandria, Virginia, it unites industry, government, and academia in dynamic project-based learning and purpose-driven research to shape the way emerging technologies influence society. The 11-story first academic building for the Innovation Campus is set to open in 2024. The successful candidate will have the unique opportunity to design and shape the cutting-edge research and instructional programs to be offered at the Innovation Campus.

We seek candidates who can lead and foster the themes of the Innovation Campus vision, in particular use-inspired research, building pathways for a diverse graduate student cohort, and creating partnerships with industry. Strong candidates conducting human-centered, impactful research at the intersection of HCI and AI and conversant with both perspectives are encouraged to apply. Specific areas of interest include, but are not limited to, intelligent user interfaces, human-centered AI, human-AI collaboration, AI-enhanced AR/VR, crowd computing, human computation, human-in-the-loop systems, social aspects of AI, social computing, immersive/visual analytics, and explainable AI. The candidate will help shape the research theme at the Innovation Campus through their influence in future faculty searches in the area.

The successful candidate will also have opportunities to collaborate with the interdisciplinary Center for Human-Computer Interaction, and will help grow its presence and impact in the greater DC area. One of the nation's first HCI research centers, CHCI membership includes more than 65 faculty at Virginia Tech conducting research across the HCI spectrum, regularly publishing at top venues such as CHI, CSCW, ICWSM, UIST, DIS, IUI, HCOMP, VIS, and IEEE VR. The successful candidate will also interact with the Sanghani Center for AI and Data Analytics, with 20 faculty and 4 staff members researching not just the algorithmic aspects of converting data to knowledge and of automated decision-making, but also human-AI collaboration and teaming, and the ethical and social aspects of AI. The successful candidate will also seek to collaborate with industry, work with other groups at the Innovation Campus, and network in Northern Virginia and the Blacksburg campus, and should have a successful history of collaborative efforts and teamwork externally and internally.

Virginia Tech is a public land-grant university, committed to teaching and learning, research, and outreach to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the nation, and the world. Building on its motto of Ut Prosim (that I may serve), Virginia Tech is dedicated to InclusiveVT-serving in the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence. We actively seek a broad spectrum of candidates to join our community in preparing leaders for the world. The Department of Computer Science currently has 81 faculty members, including 63 tenured or tenure-track faculty, 19 early career awardees, and numerous recipients of faculty awards from IBM, Intel, AMD, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and others. The department is home to over 1,400 undergraduate majors and over 700 graduate students and is part of the College of Engineering, whose undergraduate program ranks 16th and graduate program ranks 30th among all U.S. engineering schools (USN&WR). The mission of the College of Engineering is to educate and inspire our students to be critical thinkers, innovators and leaders. Our core values are inclusiveness, excellence, integrity, perseverance and stewardship.

The successful candidate will hold a doctoral degree in computer science, informatics, or a related field, a strong record of research contributions and real-world impact at a level equivalent to that of a tenured full or associate professor, although applicants whose primary appointments have been in industry or government are also encouraged to apply. The candidate will also have a proven ability to work collaboratively, a commitment to interdisciplinary research and instruction, and a willingness to expand disciplinary boundaries to address complex technical and societal challenges. Tenured faculty are expected to initiate and develop independent research that is internationally recognized for excellence, conscientiously mentor research-oriented graduate students, teach effectively at the graduate level, and serve the university and their professional communities. The position requires occasional travel to attend conferences and meetings. The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Required Qualifications

An earned PhD in Computer Science or closely related field at the time of the appointment and a rank-appropriate record of scholarship and service in computing research.
Ability to contribute to the department's teaching mission at the graduate level.
A proven record of academic accomplishments and a proven ability to work collaboratively.
A commitment to interdisciplinary research and instruction
A willingness to expand disciplinary boundaries to address complex technical and societal challenges.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated interest in collaborative research in HCI, AI, intelligent interfaces, social computing, computational social science, and related areas.
Demonstrated ability and willingness to work collaboratively with faculty from a variety of disciplines.
Contributions to improving the diversity of the discipline and commitment to working effectively with a diverse student population.
Recognition of research excellence as demonstrated by, e.g., best paper or society awards.
Established record of collaboration with industry, government, nonprofits and/or other non-academic partners, entrepreneurial engagement, and technology transfer.

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Review Date

Review of applications will commence on October 15, 2023 and continue until the position is filled. The position is anticipated to start in Fall 2024 or later.

Additional Information

Applications must be submitted online to jobs.vt.edu. Candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research statement, and contact information for at least three references. Applicants must also provide a statement of teaching philosophy including the candidate's ideas for supporting an equitable and inclusive educational environment consistent with the Virginia Tech Principles of Community. Specific examples of experiences, activities, and plans will help us identify candidates who can support and extend our University's commitment to inclusive excellence.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight , a , a college, , and . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous and . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.