Assistant Professorship on AI – UNC School of Information and Library Science

The School of Information and Library Science (SILS) and Center for Information, Technology, and Public Life (CITAP) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invite applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Artificial Intelligence (AI). We seek a scholar whose research examines the complex interconnections between AI technologies and social, organizational, and/or ethical systems.

Position Summary 

The successful candidate’s research should focus not only on AI itself but also on the implications of AI in diverse contexts such as work, employment, education, healthcare, media, politics, or communities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain an active research agenda focused on the sociotechnical dimensions of AI, including topics such as human-centered AI, ethics, human-AI interaction, responsible AI, and the broader societal implications of AI in different application contexts.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses on topics related to AI from a sociotechnical perspective, contributing to the core curricular requirements of both undergraduate and graduate degree programs at SILS. These may include computational/technical courses as well as curricula that explore AI’s role in shaping our work contexts and society, policy, and ethical considerations, and their intersection with information science.
• Mentor and advise graduate and undergraduate students, guiding them in qualitative or quantitative research approaches and interdisciplinary projects.
• A record of scholarly publications in high-quality, peer-reviewed venues.
• Seek external funding to support innovative research on AI
• Engage in service activities within the school, the university, and the broader academic community, contributing to the development of the school’s interdisciplinary AI initiatives.* A PhD (or equivalent degree) in Information Science, HCI (Human-Computer Interaction), Sociology, Science and Technology Studies (STS), Psychology, Business, Data Science, Political Science, Communication, Computer Science or a closely related discipline.
• A promising record of research productivity in sociotechnical approaches to AI, as demonstrated by publications or conference presentations.
• A commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring, with experience or demonstrated potential to teach both undergraduate and graduate courses, including contributions to the core curriculum.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

• A PhD (or equivalent degree) in Information Science, HCI (Human-Computer Interaction), Sociology, Science and Technology Studies (STS), Psychology, Business, Data Science, Political Science, Communication, Computer Science or a closely related discipline.
• A promising record of research productivity in sociotechnical approaches to AI, as demonstrated by publications or conference presentations.
•  A commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring, with experience or demonstrated potential to teach both undergraduate and graduate courses, including contributions to the core curriculum

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experiences 

Experience with interdisciplinary research and collaboration, particularly with scholars in technical AI fields.

• Expertise in one or more specific areas of AI research, such as human-centered AI, human-AI collaboration, responsible AI, or the societal and political implications of AI.
• A strong interest in contributing to the school’s focus on AI’s impact in diverse areas such as work, education, public policy, healthcare, media, politics, or local communities.
• Ability and interest in teaching technical courses in AI, such as machine learning, natural language processing, or responsible AI design, especially at the intersection of technical and social contexts

Applicant Documents 

1. Curriculum Vitae / Resume
2. Cover Letter
3. List of References
4. Teaching Philosophy/evaluations
5. Research Statement