Old Dominion University Hiring for Director & Multiple Senior & Research Faculty for the School of Data Science at Norfolk, Virginia Full Time

Under the leadership of President Brian O. Hemphill, Old Dominion University is pleased to announce plans for the creation of a new School of Data Science, featuring a unique collaboration with nearby Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Laboratory  (or JLab, a Department of Energy national laboratory) and NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC).  The planned School of Data Science will offer interdisciplinary academic programming for undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree students.

In support, ODU seeks to hire up to seven positions who can collectively contribute to the university’s data science programming, starting in Fall 2023:

• A Founding Director of the School of Data Science; the successful applicant for this position will have a national reputation in their disciplinary area and significant expertise in data science

• Up to four associate/full professors; faculty with a strong research portfolio are especially encouraged to apply.
• Two research professors (open rank); these faculty will be part of ODU’s Virginia Modeling, Simulation and Analysis Center (VMASC).

Additional positions will be recruited in future years.  We seek faculty members with expertise in the theory, methodology, and application of any area of data science.  Working with our partners at JLab and NASA LaRC, areas of particular interest include: Natural Language Processing, Graph Machine Learning, Generative Models, Quantum Computing, and GIS.  We also seek data science faculty that will complement ODU’s areas of strategic emphasis, including: cybersecurity, coastal resilience, biomedical & health sciences, modeling & simulation, and maritime & supply chain management.  Candidates with outstanding publication and grant records will be considered for Centennial Professorships. 

One of the features of the planned School of Data Science is a unique collaboration with nearby national laboratories.  Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Laboratory (JLab) is the newest Department of Energy national laboratory, with a world leading emphasis on nuclear physics, employs more than 800 people, and its mission includes “to provide forefront scientific facilities, opportunities and leadership essential for discovering the fundamental structure of nuclear matter”.  NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) is the oldest NASA center, employs more than 3,400 people, and “works to make revolutionary improvements to aviation, expand understanding of Earth’s atmosphere and develop technology for space exploration.”  We plan to select researchers from JLab and LaRC to have faculty roles in the new School. In addition, a new Joint Institute for Advanced Computing in Health and Climate Studies also has been established between ODU and JLab (with opportunities for collaboration with LaRC) to address resilience and population health challenges in southeastern Virginia and beyond through a combination of cutting-edge computational approaches and community-engaged participatory research. Successful candidates will be able to work across all three institutions in collaborating with researchers at the two national laboratories.

ODU’s planned School of Data Science currently includes more than 150 faculty from a range of disciplines including but not limited to computer science, mathematics, statistics, engineering, psychology, criminal justice, education, business, information technology, history, and philosophy. Details are available at www.odu.edu/datascience.

Located in Norfolk, Virginia, Old Dominion University (www.odu.edu) is a state-supported Carnegie “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” institution with over 24,000 students (of which almost 5,000 are graduate students) and 900 full-time faculty. Norfolk is a culturally-rich, historic city and a major international maritime center in Hampton Roads, a seven-city metropolitan area of over 1.5 million people, home to the world’s largest natural deep water port and third largest port on the East Coast, the Atlantic headquarters of NATO, and Naval Station Norfolk, which houses the U.S. Navy and U.S. Fleet Forces Command.

Minimum Qualifications – knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Director: The director candidates must have academic records that merit a tenured appointment at the rank of full professor in one of the academic departments within the University and research expertise in areas related to the goals of the planned School of Data Science. A successful record in research and grant writing is required for a tenured appointment, as is evidence of leadership and the ability to interact and communicate clearly with internal and external constituencies.  Preference will be given to candidates whose expertise aligns with partnering national laboratories.
• Tenured Faculty: Candidates for senior faculty positions must have academic records that merit a tenured appointment in one of the academic departments within the University, as well as a successful record in research and grant writing and the ability to interact and communicate clearly with internal and external constituencies.  All successful applicants are expected to have a strong vision for their vibrant research programs, commitments to leadership in the area of data science, and commitments to excellence and innovation in education.   Preference will be given to candidates whose expertise aligns with partnering research laboratories. We are especially interested in faculty able to conduct research and teach in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Research Faculty: Requirements for candidates for the research faculty positions are the potential for success in research and grant writing and the ability to interact and communicate clearly with internal and external constituencies.

Minimum Qualifications – Education or training

Applicants should possess an appropriate terminal degree and an academic record commensurate with their time in the field.

Special Instructions to Applicants / Additional Materials Required

Interested candidates should visit https://jobs.odu.edu/postings/17121 to submit a curriculum vitae, a statement of research activities and future research plans and how they would support Data Science at ODU, a statement of teaching philosophy, unofficial graduate transcripts, and contact information for four references. When applying, candidates should clearly specify which position they are applying for.

For additional information regarding the position, please contact Dr. Michael L. Nelson, Data Science Faculty Search Committee Chair. The review of applications will begin December 1, 2022 and continue until positions are filled.

It is the policy of Old Dominion University to provide equal employment, educational and social opportunities for all persons, without regard to race (or traits historically associated with race including hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), national origin, gender identity or expression, age, veteran status, disability, political affiliation, sexual orientation or genetic information. Minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.