Assistant Professor (EXPIRED)

The University of Oregon’s Department of Philosophy and Presidential Initiative in Data Science invite applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level with a specialization in Data/Information Ethics, to begin in fall 2019. The Philosophy Department construes ethics in a broad sense as pertaining to a wide range of moral, social, and cultural issues arising in connection with burgeoning data technologies. Competitive applicants will be capable of outstanding research and teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

The position will be located in the Philosophy Department (philosophy.uoregon.edu) with potential affiliations with other campus units (and a possibility for a split appointment depending on the research trajectory of the successful candidate). The Philosophy Department is a diverse and growing unit with an expansive view of the discipline, a broad understanding of the multiple theoretical traditions that constitute philosophical work, an intellectual climate conducive to interdisciplinary work, a commitment to engaged scholarship, and a strong commitment to faculty and graduate student diversity.
This search is one of nearly a dozen associated with the Presidential Initiative in Data Science (provost.uoregon.edu/data-science).  This initiative is focused on the development of advanced computational and quantitative tools and training programs for gathering and analyzing large amounts of data and associated metadata, as well as interpreting and communicating the findings and social and ethical implications of data science research.  It will spur intentional growth in research and education, using big data and cutting-edge analytics across the entire campus. We are building a cross-disciplinary data science program on a foundation of strong interdisciplinary research and innovative education at a liberal arts research university. We seek scholars prepared to contribute to the program’s growth through excellence in a specific academic focus, as well as through interdisciplinary collaborations across data science writ large. Data Science is supported by the university’s multi-million-dollar investment in the recently launched Talapas supercomputing cluster (hpcf.uoregon.edu). The Data Science Initiative will also have synergies with the newly-launched Knight Campus for Accelerating Impact (accelerate.uoregon.edu).

Minimum Requirements: AOS in Data/Information Ethics; record of research excellence with evidence of publication trajectory in AOS; evidence of commitment to collaborative intellectual inquiry with data science researchers; Ph.D. by time of appointment required; Ph.D. in Philosophy preferred (but applicants with a strong philosophical background from any relevant discipline are encouraged to apply). Salary is competitive. 

Required Application Materials: letter of application, c.v., research statement, writing sample of up to 20 pages focused on the area of specialization, teaching statement, sample syllabi for up to three relevant courses, and three to five letters of reference. Applications accepted until October 21, 2018 6:00 p.m. PST.

Expectations for interdisciplinary collaboration associated with this position are informed by a university goal of furthering ethical inquiry in research contexts developing next-generation data science techniques and methodologies. Competitive applicants will be both successful collaborators and interdisciplinary thinkers. Potential clusters of collaboration include but are not limited to the following areas of data science research: machine learning and artificial intelligence, data-driven analysis (and related “Big Data” and unstructured data research), predictive analytics, bioinformatics, measurement and psychometrics, assessment (in multiple disciplinary contexts), human-computer interaction, and dataveillance/privacy. Specific contexts for research and teaching collaboration in the data sciences include the UO Presidential Initiative in Data Science (provost.uoregon.edu/data-science), the UO Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact (around.uoregon.edu/accelerate), and numerous departments and centers across campus.

Research expectations include publication, conference presentation, collaborative interdisciplinary inquiry with the goal of joint grant applications and co-authored publications, and other impactful research.

Teaching expectations include graduate teaching (including data ethics curriculum geared to graduate students across a range of disciplines), undergraduate teaching from introductory to advanced levels (including standard philosophy courses and undergraduate-specific data ethics curriculum), and mentoring and thesis advisement at graduate and undergraduate levels. UO is on the academic quarter system and the standard teaching load in the Philosophy Department is five courses across three terms per year, with numerous opportunities for course-load reductions.

The University of Oregon is dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and strongly encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups. Applicants are encouraged to include in their cover letter a statement about how they will further this goal.