Assistant Professor of History, Philosophy, and Sociology (HPS) of Computing, Networks, or Big Data (EXPIRED)

Lyman Briggs College (LBC), an undergraduate, residential, liberal arts, science program at Michigan State University, invites applications for a tenure-system assistant professorship in HPS of Computing, Networks, or Big Data, to be jointly appointed between the LBC and one of the following units: James Madison College or the Department of Geography. The candidate must have a background in the history, philosophy, or sociology of science, technology, environment, or medicine, and studies computational or network sciences as a subject illustrating core HPS topics such as: expertise and trust; methods of data collection and analysis; or, participatory GIS. We also welcome candidates who use natural language processing or social network methods for studying collaborative research and scientific production. The successful candidate will have an excellent record of teaching and research accomplishments and be committed to undergraduate education. Requirements include a Ph.D (or be scheduled to have a conferred Ph.D. by August 15, 2015) with expertise in the HPS of science, technology, environment, or medicine. Interests in non-western science and/or diversity and inclusion as related to science would be especially welcomed. Duties include teaching three HPS courses in LBC and one course in the joint appointment department, and maintaining an active research program.  Salary and start-up support is competitive and commensurate with experience.

 Founded in 1967, LBC is a vibrant college at MSU focusing on the study of science and society. Bridging the two cultures, the LBC curriculum integrates natural sciences and mathematics courses with courses in the history, philosophy, and sociology of science, and faculty work closely with students in small classes. Nearly all of the students in LBC major in the natural sciences; about 60% are women; around 20% are students of color; 20% also belong to MSU’s Honor’s College.  Faculty, staff, and students in LBC promote inclusion through a range of initiatives. The college, for example, hosts student groups such as the Briggs Multi-Cultural Alliance and Women in Science. Briggs faculty, staff, and students have also won university awards for diversity and inclusion for their instruction and research.

The Department of Geography at MSU is one of 12 degree-granting units in the College of Social Science. Housed in the Geography Building, the Department has over 30 faculty, 70 graduate students, 80 undergraduate majors, and 130 undergraduate minors. Faculty and student research centers on such topics as people-environment relationships, climate, geographic information science, soils-geomorphology, urban structure, and global change. The spatial extent of these research interests range from local to global in such places as Kenya, Brazil, the Great Lakes, China, and Michigan. James Madison College provides a liberal education in public affairs, combining the ethos of a small liberal arts college with the advantages of a large, diverse university. The faculty's primary mission is excellence in undergraduate teaching, and the College is noted for its rigorous academic standards and attention to the analytical, writing and speaking skills of its students.  It houses four interdisciplinary majors and important all-university minors.  It also maintains close collaboration with many other academic units on campus as well as MSU's international teaching and research centers.

MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer. MSU is committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. The University actively encourages applications and/or nominations of women, persons of color, veterans and persons with disabilities.