Contract Science Jobs in Alabama (NOW HIRING)

Computer Science - Renewable Contract Teaching Assistant Professor - 530198
Job no: 530198
Work type: Regular Full-time (Benefits eligible)
Location: Tuscaloosa
Categories: Non-Tenure-Track/Clinical Faculty
Department/Organization
214241 - Computer Science
Rank
Teaching Assistant Professor
Position Summary
The Department of Computer Science (CS) and the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering at The University of Alabama invite applications for a Renewable Contract Teaching Assistant Professor for candidates with teaching interests across all domains relevant to computer science. Candidates with interest in AI (with a Software Engineering focus) are of particular interest.
Detailed Position Information
The Department of Computer Science (CS: https://cs.ua.edu/) and the Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering (SCoE: https://eng.ua.edu/) at The University of Alabama (UA: https://ua.edu/) invite applications for a full-time, renewable-contract Teaching Assistant Professor position in Artificial Intelligence, with a focus on Software Engineering, within the CS department. This position is a non-tenure track, three-year appointment that is renewable at the discretion of the University.
Primary responsibilities of this position include: (1) teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in artificial intelligence, software engineering, and related computer science topics both in person and online; (2) mentoring and guiding students individually as part of capstone or applied project teams; (3) maintaining visible on campus presence including regular office hours; (4) innovating curriculum and assessment approaches, and (5) performing service activities for the department, college, and university commensurate with the teaching faculty position. This position is a non-tenure-earning position, renewable on a multi-year basis at the discretion of the University. This appointment is dependent upon meeting the departmental and college performance standards and complying with all faculty and general UA employment policies, with no expectation of continued employment beyond any contract period.
Candidates who bring strong classroom teaching skills and a commitment to student success in artificial intelligence and software engineering are encouraged to apply.
The department, college and university are also notable for the collegial, welcoming and supportive spirit built into the fabric of who we are and how we interact across our college family of students, faculty, and staff. It is therefore expected that candidates demonstrate an ability to support this important aspect of our community. The CS department and College also pride themselves on the outstanding educational experience provided to their students, and thus faculty candidates must demonstrate an ability to develop and teach courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in the faculty member's area(s) of expertise, as well as to teach courses that support the delivery and accreditation of the CS department's core degree programs.
At the undergraduate level, the department offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, with undergraduate student enrollments in the department consistently being maintained at approximately 800 students. The department also offers minors in computer science and computing technology and applications. At the graduate level, the department offers the Master of Science degrees in Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Computer Science. Graduate enrollments in the department are currently on the order of 100 students and growing quickly as the research programs in the department continue to grow rapidly.
Appointments to the faculty of The University of Alabama are based on the personnel requirements of the University's academic programs and on the goal of achieving and maintaining excellence in its teaching, research, and service/academic citizenship activities.
Minimum Qualifications
• Earned Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution
• Demonstrated interest and/or experience teaching artificial intelligence, software engineering, or related computer science topics at the undergraduate and/or graduate level.
• Demonstrated interest and/or record in computer science education, curriculum development, and professional service in area(s) of specialization.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Evidence of the potential to develop and deliver high-quality courses and curriculum.
• Exhibit the potential for excellent teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Applicants must also meet all university criteria for appointment to the rank of Teaching Assistant Professor.
Preferred Qualifications
• Prior full-time teaching experience in computer science, artificial intelligence, or software engineering at the collegiate level. • Industry experience in software development, machine learning/AI systems, or related fields, with the ability to bring current practice into the classroom. • Demonstrated ability to develop and update curriculum to reflect current developments in artificial intelligence and software engineering. • Experience mentoring students on capstone or applied project teams, and exceptional collegial, interpersonal, and mentoring skills.
Instructions and Required Materials for Application
Required application documents include a: (1) cover letter that includes the department name, the rank of position for which the candidate is applying (i.e. Assistant Professor/Associate Professor/Professor), and a brief description of the area(s) of specialization for the candidate; (2) a resume/curriculum vitae; (3) a three to five page statement of research interests and plans; (4) a one to two page statement of three teaching interests and plans; and (5) the names and contact information for at least four professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applications are preferred on or before September 30, 2026 to receive fullest consideration, but the search will continue until the positions are filled. A position start date of August 16, 2027 would be typical, but flexibility with respect to start date is possible. The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. Questions about the position can be directed to coe-csdept@ua.edu.
About the Division/College/School
As the premier flagship university for the state of Alabama and as one of the first five universities in the nation to offer engineering instruction, The University of Alabama (UA) has more than 175 years of proud engineering history. UA's Lee J. Styslinger Jr. College of Engineering is committed to conducting cutting-edge research that advances the frontiers of science and engineering, translating such fundamental advancements through applied research and technology commercialization into impactful solutions which improve the human condition and address the challenges facing humankind, and using that immersive research environment to provide unparalleled educational experiences and opportunities for our students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. As a College, we pride ourselves on educating and preparing the next generation of engineering and computer science scholars and professionals who will positively shape the future around us. Through our educational, research, and service activities that support our overall vision to be one of the most impactful engineering programs in the nation, our College continues to provide leadership in the many professional disciplines represented by our College and to the community, state, and nation as we advance our professions, the economy, and the lives of all those whom we serve.
The College is comprised of seven departments: Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics; Chemical and Biological Engineering; Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. These departments currently deliver 14 different undergraduate and 17 different graduate degree programs. Overall, the College enrolls approximately 6,000 students, making it one of the largest colleges out of the more than 40,000 students on UA's campus.
While the university has been on a constant mission to advance in every aspect of its operations since its inception, UA has in particular seen transformative growth in its research enterprise and impact over the past decade. Through the efforts of The University, UA Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED), the Styslinger College of Engineering and its' centers, departments, and faculty, UA's research enterprise has surged dramatically higher in the last five to ten years. This recent and continuing steep growth rate of research has positioned UA as one of the fastest growing research institutions in the nation. More specifically, the College has seen annual research awards and expenditures grow at an average of more than 25% per year for more than the last 5 years, now surpassing $100 million annually in new research awards. By more than doubling research over the past 5 to 7 years, the size of the graduate programs across the College have more than doubled as well. The continued ambitious growth of research programs amongst our existing faculty and research centers combined with the recent significant additions of a large number of new tenure-track and tenured faculty, particularly the addition of more than 80 such new highly research active faculty over the past four years, has positioned the College for maintaining this steep trajectory of research growth and impact well into the future.
The educational activities of the Styslinger College of Engineering and its constantly increasing volume of impactful research are enabled and supported by a tremendous combination of amazing faculty and staff, an outstanding array of modern new facilities that are the envy of its peers, and a world-class student body at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The College currently has more than 185 faculty members, which includes the significant infusion of both young and experienced faculty talent over the past four years that was mentioned earlier. This year again there are plans to add yet another new cohort of tenure-track and tenured faculty to the College across all of its departments. In terms of facilities, the College has one of the largest overall footprints of any college at UA, currently occupying all or significant portions of 17 different facilities across campus. Some of the most recent additions to that space are the state-of-the-art facilities provided for many of the College's departments in the recently completed Shelby Science and Engineering Quad that was built at a cost approaching $400 million.
In addition to the traditional engineering departments and their facilities, there are also more than 10 different major research centers housed within the College that span and support a wide-ranging set of research thrust areas including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, additive manufacturing, advanced materials, functional polymers and soft matter, water resources and water technology, advanced transportation and vehicle technology, and more. These centers bring together faculty from across the College and the University to capitalize on emerging technological opportunities and to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the planet both today and well into the future. In addition to these College research centers, a number of university-level research institutes and centers, including the Alabama Water Institute, the Alabama Transportation Institute, and the Alabama Mobility and Power Center, also provide support and infrastructure to an array of research thrusts and projects that engage faculty from across the College and University. This synergistic combination of outstanding people, facilities, and resources will continue to fuel the Styslinger College of Engineering's advancement and growth in education and research well into the future.
Overall, with its award-winning faculty and staff, outstanding and growing student body, tremendous array of state-of-the-art facilities, diverse offerings of nationally accredited degree programs, and the strong support of its local, state, and national partners, the College has positioned itself for continued success and rapid advancement as a leader in engineering science, education, and practice. The College is looking for new faculty who want to build or continue their career in a dynamic organization with truly unlimited potential.
It is indeed an exciting time to join The University of Alabama and the Styslinger College of Engineering. The College recently embarked on its "Top-30+ by '30" initiative which aims to have the College and all of its departments and programs achieve top-30 impact in all dimensions of our operations by 2030. Those impacts and dimensions include offering a comprehensive set of innovative degree program covering the full spectrum of engineering and computer science fields, enrolling a number of students and conferring a number of degrees at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to be one of the largest producers of engineering talent in the nation, achieving continued outstanding growth in research awards and expenditures to enable continued expansion of our graduate programs and research activities, continuing to scale scholarly research productivity to be a major force in pushing the frontiers of our disciplines, and to playing an ever more important role in shaping our disciplines and the future of computer science, engineering, and technology through local, national and international service. To achieve those goals, the College, with strong support of the University, is deploying substantial resources in hiring new faculty, developing new facilities including both laboratory and computing resources, and expanding our research and educational programs. These activities present an outstanding opportunity here at The University of Alabama for individuals to fulfill their career objectives and dreams as a faculty member in an environment that can fully support their development as an excellent scholar, researcher, and teacher.
About the Universi