Working Title: Assistant Professor (Tenure Track) - Data Science

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

College/Division: College of Science and Mathematics

Department: 100026 - Mathematics and Statistics

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 10/25/2024

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Department of Mathematics & Statistics at James Madison University invites applications for one tenure-track position in data science at the assistant professor level to begin in August 2025. We are particularly interested in individuals whose research and teaching interests align with core areas of data science, such as data management, machine learning, predictive modeling, artificial intelligence, network analysis and graph theory, and natural language processing. The candidate will have the opportunity to help develop and deliver a data science major and graduate certificate within the department.

James Madison University, located in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, is an R2 state research university with an approximate enrollment of 22,000 students. Our energetic, collegial department has over 50 full-time faculty in pure mathematics, applied mathematics, statistics, and mathematics education. Our programs provide meaningful learning experiences for majors and non-majors alike, both within and outside of the classroom. We care about people and value high-quality undergraduate education. Scholarship in a broad variety of forms is supported and valued across all disciplines represented in the department. We have a strong history of supporting undergraduate research and outreach efforts. For example, for decades the department has been an NSF-REU site and has organized and hosted a large, regional undergraduate research conference.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will be committed to engaged undergraduate teaching of data science to students of all backgrounds, primarily at the undergraduate level, with some involvement in the graduate certificate program. The focus will be on core data science courses such as databases and other related topics. More specifically, responsibilities of the position include:
• Teaching a variety of undergraduate courses based on faculty interest and expertise, needs of the department and the data science program. The teaching load is approximately 9 contact hours per semester.
• Fostering a welcoming classroom environment for all students.
• Pursuing scholarly interests in data science and disseminating these results in the form of peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
• Mentoring of students and active engagement of undergraduates in appropriate research projects and dissemination activities is highly valued.
• Contributing to the growth and development of data science programs through curriculum development.
• Performing appropriate departmental, college, university and disciplinary service based on interest and need.
• Seeking external funding opportunities is expected and these may include in grant proposal collaborations with colleagues.

Qualifications:

An earned Ph.D. in data science, statistics, mathematics, computational science or a closely related field by August 2025 and:
• Demonstrated excellence, or clear potential, in teaching undergraduate data science courses, especially core courses like databases and machine learning.
• Completion of at least 18 credit hours of graduate-level coursework in mathematics or statistics as verified by transcripts.
• Potential for developing an active research agenda in data science, including the potential to seek external funding.
• Ability to contribute to curriculum development in data science programs.
• Strong analytical and computational skills, including proficiency in programming languages commonly used in data science (e.g., Python).
• Potential for excellence in mentoring undergraduates in scholarly activities as well as in advising.
• An interest in and ability to contribute to supporting the department, college, and university in appropriate service positions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Preference will be given to candidates who have a demonstrated commitment towards building an equitable and diverse scholarly and teaching environment.

Additional Posting Information:

The following documents are required for application:
• A cover letter explicitly addressing this position and the applicant’s interest in undergraduate education.
• A curriculum vitae.
• A teaching statement (uploaded under "Statement of Teaching Philosophy") that also focuses on your methodology and actions that you have or would implement to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
• A research statement (uploaded under "Other Document #1") that includes, if appropriate, how undergraduate students may be involved and your methodology and actions to build an equitable and diverse scholarly environment.
• Names and contact information for three references, including at least one that addresses teaching ability.
• Unofficial transcripts should be submitted at the time of application but will only be reviewed to verify the 18 credit hours requirement in graduate-level math/statistics.

Review of applications will begin 10/25/2024.

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.