The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) invites applications for the position of Associate and/or Full Professor, to be appointed as a University of Texas System (UT System) Research Excellence Regents' Associate/Full Professor. Five faculty hires will be made, and successful candidates will be part of a strategic cluster hiring initiative focused on Enhancing Transdisciplinary Materials Research at UTSA with an anticipated starting date in the Fall of the 2025-26 academic year.

 

The University of Texas System recently approved the creation of the Regents’ Research Excellence Program across its four Emerging Research Universities (ERUs), including UTSA. UT System has allocated $55 million across all four ERUs to fund the recruitment of research-active faculty to dramatically grow its national research prominence and federal funding opportunities. UTSA’s allocation from UT System translates to approximately 40 new faculty positions for new, mid- to senior-level faculty over the next several years who will add expertise in research areas that will enhance competitiveness, help solve societal needs and advance the university’s capacity to meet UT System and state goals as outlined by the Texas Legislature.

 

The Clustered & Connected Hiring Program is designed to recruit and hire some of the best and brightest minds of varying backgrounds and experiences in select fields to The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) to join in efforts to address some of today’s most significant challenges.

 

For the STEM Education cluster, the 3 positions open are in the following areas:

 

Associate/Full Professor in STEM Education and/or AI, Machine Learning, and/or Data Science

 

This position seeks a tenured professor with a proven record of advancing research in AI, machine learning, data science, or STEM education within higher education contexts. Candidates for this position must demonstrate strong evidence of high-impact scholarly work that contributes to interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly within STEM education. Candidates should have a strong track record of securing external funding and leading collaborative research projects. A deep understanding of how systemic inequities affect STEM education, along with a record of broad sustaining teaching practices, is critical. The candidates’ work should reflect an innovative approach to integrating AI and machine learning techniques into STEM curricula, with a particular emphasis on enhancing the learning experiences of students in various educational settings. This may include exploring how AI and machine learning can be leveraged to support bilingual students and how data-driven approaches can improve teaching practices in multilingual classrooms.

 

Associate Professor in Professional and Workforce Development in STEM

 

This position seeks a tenured professor with a robust academic and research background in mentoring, industry partnerships, and community-based initiatives within the STEM fields. The candidates’ research should reflect a commitment to addressing the skills gap in STEM fields through the creation of innovative programs and partnerships that prepare a broad workforce. Ideal candidates should demonstrate a strong history of fostering collaborations between academic institutions and industry, aiming to bridge the gap between education and workforce needs. The candidates’ research should also explore innovative models of workforce development, including the integration of cutting-edge technology, such as AI and data science, to enhance workforce readiness and adaptability in rapidly changing industries. A deep understanding of addressing systemic barriers in STEM and workforce development is highly valued.

 

Associate Professor in STEM Education with a Focus on Bilingual Education and Literacy

 

 This position seeks a tenured professor with a strong academic and research background in STEM education, with specific expertise in bilingual/multilingual education and literacy across the K-20 continuum. The ideal candidates should have experience in preparing educators to teach in various, multilingual classrooms, particularly in STEM subjects such as computer science, mathematics, engineering, and the sciences. Their research should focus on developing pedagogical strategies that support bilingual/multilingual students in STEM through interdisciplinary collaborations. The candidates should be committed to advancing literacy in STEM fields, recognizing the unique challenges faced by bilingual/multilingual students. The candidates should also engage in teacher education, preparing future educators to navigate the complexities of bilingual and multilingual classrooms.

 

Faculty members in the STEM Education Cluster will be appointed to a primary department with a secondary appointment within one of the three colleges—KCEID, COEHD, and COS—according to the candidate’s expertise. A percentage of their time will be distributed among these units to fully embrace the interdisciplinarity of the cluster.

 

Position Summary

 

The STEM Education Cluster aims to recruit distinguished scholars for three key faculty positions at the Associate/Full Professor level, dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research and practice in STEM education with a focus on bilingualism/multilingualism. This cluster emphasizes the integration of emerging technologies, workforce development, literacy, and bilingual and multilingual education within STEM fields. The overarching goal is to develop high-impact collaborative research and innovative educational strategies that address the various needs of students and the broader community, particularly within the context of the region served by UTSA to create both national and international impact on STEM education.

 

Faculty members in this cluster will lead interdisciplinary research projects, secure external funding, and support UTSA’s mission and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge. The STEM Education Cluster will play a crucial role in mentoring students, junior faculty, and early-career researchers, and preparing a broad student population, with a strong emphasis on supporting bilingual and multilingual learners. Through these efforts, the cluster aims to prepare the next generation of STEM professionals to thrive in a rapidly changing world with complex challenges.

 

Qualifications

 

The successful candidates will possess the following qualifications:

• Record of developing scholarly products that are critical to advancing research with an ability to collaborate and align within the interdisciplinary cluster of STEM Education, particularly in the three areas related to the cluster.
• Demonstrate a record of leadership in high-quality, collaborative research, and strong evidence of external funding.
• Ability to work with and be sensitive to the educational needs of first-generation and low-income students while affirming and supporting the University’s commitment to thrive as a Hispanic Serving Institution.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate students, graduate students, and early-career researchers in relevant fields.
• Expertise in designing and implementing community engagement and outreach strategies.
• Evidence of service to the university, field, and profession through leadership in STEM Education at the national and international level. Evidence of integrating technology into instruction, online teaching, or using other emerging technologies.
• Strong publication record in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and active participation in relevant professional organizations related to STEM and bilingual STEM education. Please refer to the description of each position above for additional details on research expertise and focus areas.

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

• Demonstrate successful mentoring of graduate students and junior faculty (e.g., doctoral graduates, postdoctoral researchers and fellows, etc.).
• Experience and record of research activities in bilingual education contexts and teacher education contexts.
• Strong evidence of contributions that address the STEM education needs of the culturally, linguistically, and educationally broad populations of Texas, particularly through partnerships serving those populations.
• Understanding of the intersections of systemic barriers that reproduce STEM inequities.
• Evidence of effective, engaged, and culturally sustaining teaching and learning scholarship and practices that support historically marginalized populations.  

 

About The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)

 

The University of Texas at San Antonio is a Tier One research university and a Hispanic Serving Institution specializing in digital economy, human health, fundamental futures, and social-economic transformation. With more than 35,000 students, it is the largest university in the San Antonio region. UTSA advances knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement, and public service, and with an intentional focus on career readiness, the university produces more graduates for the workforce than any other institution in the region. It is a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property — for Texas, the nation, and the world. In August 2024, the UT System Board of Regents authorized the UT System to begin integrating UTSA and the UT Health Science Center at San Antonio into one unified institution, establishing a world-class university that integrates academic, research, and clinical excellence to build a profoundly impactful university of the future. Driven by a vision for growth and impact, this merger will expand the capacity to offer robust undergraduate and graduate programs, attract top-tier faculty and staff, develop innovative initiatives, and elevate transdisciplinary research to address the evolving needs of the region.

 

UTSA has been recognized as a Top Employer in Texas by Forbes Magazine. Learn more about UTSA online, on UTSA Today, or on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.

 

There are three affiliated colleges. Visit the following websites for more information:

• Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID) https://klesse.utsa.edu/
• College of Education and Human Development (COEHD) https://education.utsa.edu/
• College of Sciences (COS) https://sciences.utsa.edu/

 

Application Process

Interested candidates must apply through the following link: https://zahr-prd-candidate-ada.utshare.utsystem.edu/psc/ZAHRPRDADA/EMPLOYEE/UTZ_CG/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&SiteId=21&FOCUS=Applicant&JobOpeningId=12572&PostingSeq=1&PortalActualURL=https%3a%2f%2fzahr-prd-candidate-ada.utshare.utsystem.edu%2fpsc%2fZAHRPRDADA%2fEMPLOYEE%2fUTZ_CG%2fc%2fHRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL%3fPage%3dHRS_APP_JBPST_FL%26Action%3dU%26SiteId%3d21%26FOCUS%3dApplicant%26JobOpeningId%3d12572%26PostingSeq%3d1&PortalRegistryName=EMPLOYEE&PortalServletURI=https%3a%2f%2fzahr-prd-candidate-ada.utshare.utsystem.edu%2fpsp%2fZAHRPRDADA%2f&PortalURI=https%3a%2f%2fzahr-prd-candidate-ada.utshare.utsystem.edu%2fpsc%2fZAHRPRDADA%2f&PortalHostNode=HRMS&NoCrumbs=yes&PortalKeyStruct=yes

 

To apply applicants must upload the following:

• A current curriculum vitae
• Cover letter
• A research statement (2-page limit)
• A teaching and mentoring statement (2-page limit)
• A statement highlighting potential areas for transdisciplinary collaboration (2-page limit)
• Copies of 3 significant publications demonstrating expertise in the research and focus areas described above
• Complete contact information for at least three professional references
• Tenure is contingent upon Board of Regents approval, and applicants must show a demonstrated commitment.

 

Cluster Hiring Interview Process

 

UTSA aims to bring transdisciplinary and collaborative groups of faculty researchers to the university through its CCP program. As such, the on-campus interview for these positions will be conducted as a collaborative group interview, during which all on-campus candidates for a set of clustered positions will have a joint session to meet with UTSA faculty and staff simultaneously. This collaborative process allows candidates to discuss potential research collaborations with fellow candidates and current UTSA faculty. Additionally, each candidate will be given the chance to present their job talk and engage the faculty, staff, and students from their discipline’s home department.