Limited-Term Assistant Professor - Data Science

The University of St. Thomas’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences (CISC) invites applications for a Limited-Term Assistant Professor position in Data Science. The appointment will begin in Fall 2025 and is renewable for up to five years. The search committee welcomes applicants with expertise in any area of data science. We are seeking outstanding candidates who are dedicated to innovative and inclusive undergraduate teaching, creating a productive research agenda, and contributing to the sense of community and support among students, staff, and faculty.

The CISC department at St. Thomas offers Bachelor of Science degree programs in computer science and data science. The department currently has 15 full time faculty who serve over 2,000 students in undergraduate computer and data science courses. CISC is an inclusive and student focused department. St. Thomas is committed to supporting faculty to accomplish their career goals and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Successful candidates are expected to teach three undergraduate courses per semester in data science, data analytics, or computational statistics. Possible courses include introduction to computation statistics, introduction to data science, applied regression analysis, machine learning and data mining, and spatial statistics, among others. A list of existing courses can be found on the Undergraduate Catalog. It is expected that a successful candidate will maintain a productive research agenda and engage in service to the department, college and/or university. Preference may be given to candidates with areas of scholarly and pedagogical expertise complementary to those of our current faculty.

Established in 1885, the University of St. Thomas is located in the major metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St. Paul, one of the U.S.’s top 25 metro areas. It is Minnesota’s largest private university, whose 9,000+ students pursue degrees in a wide range of liberal arts, professional, and graduate programs. A recent study found that the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area population grew 11% from 2010 – 2020. Census data also show that Minnesota continues to grow more diverse, both racially and ethnically, and at a faster pace than the broader United States. The Twin Cities boast a vibrant music, theater, art, and food scene, many green spaces, and are consistently ranked among the most bike-friendly cities in the U.S. Minnesota is one of the states that is least vulnerable to climate change, and most prepared for it. The state is home to fifteen Fortune 500 companies, nearly 200 post-secondary institutions, and a robust nonprofit sector. Learn more about life as a faculty member at St. Thomas.

The University of St. Thomas embraces diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. We welcome applicants of diverse religions, races, ethnicities, geographic origins, gender identities, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, work experience, physical and intellectual abilities and financial means. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The university strongly supports academic freedom. This commitment is consistent with our university mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely and work skillfully to advance the common good. A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission.

The University of St. Thomas offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Up to 100% tuition remission for employees and dependents and up to 50% for spouses upon eligibility
• A generous Employer retirement contribution of 9.4% of annual salary upon eligibility
• Medical, dental, and vision options
• Employer-paid disability, life, and AD&D benefits
• All eligible full-time faculty may request Parental Leave for the birth or adoption of a child

Minimum Requirements

Ph.D. (U.S. or foreign equivalent degree) in Statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, or closely related field or, alternatively, applications from ABD candidates are welcome and will be fully considered (initially at the rank of Instructor). Applicants must be able to demonstrate a commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching and show potential for productive research/scholarly activities in data science.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted online at https://www.stthomas.edu/jobs/ Candidates will be asked to copy/paste a position-specific cover letter that includes your approach to supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please also submit:

• CV
• A statement (up to two pages) detailing your teaching experience, teaching philosophy, and which courses you would be qualified to teach
• A brief statement (up to one page) describing your research agenda and how it may incorporate undergraduate collaborators
• Unofficial copy of transcripts from your terminal degree (for ABD candidates, a partial transcript will be accepted)

Candidates should complete the reference section of the application. No references will be contacted without first getting the permission of the candidate.  Candidates who advance in the search will be asked to submit three letters of recommendation.

Review of applications will begin on December 1, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. Please contact the search chair, Dr. Sergey Berg (berg@stthomas.edu) if you have any questions.

Official job posting is available at https://www.stthomas.edu/jobs/.