The McCollum Family Endowed Chair in Data Science is a research-focused position in the Baylor University Computer Science and Informatics Department. Data Science is one of the five Signature Academic Initiatives in Baylor’s strategic plan Illuminate (Illuminate - Data Science) and is involved in key research for the University (Data Science Research). This transformative, endowed position is a visionary investment in the future of Data Science research and education across the university (Endowment Details).

Qualifications: The University invites applications for this tenure-track position at the rank of full Professor beginning in the Fall 2021 semester. An ideal candidate will help shape a comprehensive, university-wide strategic plan for Data Science. This will be done through leadership, collaboration, and growth of infrastructure and interdisciplinary research. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Data Science or a related discipline; Baylor is recruiting new faculty with a deep commitment to excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship. Other qualifications include an established history of extramural funding, high impact academic artifacts, and graduate student mentorship. A viable applicant should demonstrate excellent potential as an individual researcher and collaborator across multiple disciplines.

The Department: Computer Science and Informatics is one of three departments in the School of Engineering and Computer Science. It offers a B.S. in Informatics with majors in Data Science and Bioinformatics, B.S. and B.A. degrees in Computer Science, and a B.S. in Computing with a major in Computer Science Fellows. On location M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science are offered, as well as an online M.S. program which started Fall 2020. The Department has 17 full-time faculty, over 280 undergraduates, and over 25 graduate students. Departmental website: Informatics

The University: Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, consistently listed with highest honors among The Chronicle of Higher Education's "Great Colleges to Work For." Baylor seeks faculty who share in our aspiration to become a tier-one research institution while strengthening our distinctive Christian mission. As the world’s largest Baptist University, Baylor offers over 40 doctoral programs and has over 17,000 students from all 50 states and more than 85 countries.

Appointment Date: Fall 2021. For full consideration, applications must be received by December 31, 2020.

Application Procedure: To apply, please submit a letter of application, a 1-2 page research plan, a 1-2 page teaching philosophy, a copy of an official transcript showing the highest degree conferred (if the Ph.D. is in progress, a copy of the official transcript of completed Ph.D. hours should also be submitted), and the names and email addresses of three persons willing to provide letters of recommendation as a single PDF file through this Interfolio link: Application Link Finalists for this position will be required to submit official transcripts for the doctoral degree in advance of a campus visit. Inquiries about the position can be sent to CSSearch@Baylor.edu.

Baylor University is a private not-for-profit university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, Baylor is committed to compliance with all applicable anti-discrimination laws, including those regarding age, race, color, sex, national origin, marital status, pregnancy status, military service, genetic information, and disability. As a religious educational institution, Baylor is lawfully permitted to consider an applicant’s religion as a selection criterion. Baylor encourages women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply.