Director Data Science Jobs in Athens, GA (NOW HIRING)

Posting Number F2690P

Working Title Clinical Data Science & Digital Mental Health Division Director

Department SOM-Research

About the University of Georgia Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state's flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University's main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University's enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department The University of Georgia School of Medicine was founded in 2024 and received preliminary accreditation in 2026. The establishment of a new public medical school at UGA comes as the state faces a significant shortage of medical professionals. The population of Georgia, the nation's eighth-largest state, has surged to approximately 11 million residents, straining existing medical infrastructure and resulting in longer wait times for appointments and reduced access to care. Georgia currently ranks 39th in the nation for the number of active patient care physicians per capita and 41st for the number of public medical students per capita.

The School of Medicine is located on UGA's Health Sciences Campus in Athens. In its inaugural year, the UGA School of Medicine will enroll 60 students per class, but a new $100 million medical school building will enable the UGA School of Medicine to grow to 120 students per class in the future.

College/Unit/Department website https://medicine.uga.edu/

Posting Type External

Retirement Plan TRS or ORP

Employment Type Employee

Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible

Underutilization

Advertised Salary Salary is commensurate with education, experience, and achievements.

Anticipated Start Date 08/01/2026

Effective End Date (for Limited-Term postings)

Job Posting Date 04/15/2026

Job Closing Date

Open until filled Yes

Location of Vacancy Athens Area

EEO Statement The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02. Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 06.05 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Position Information

Classification Title Open Rank

FLSA

Faculty Rank Open Rank (Tenure Track)

Contract Type Fiscal (12 mo.)

Tenure Status Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or equivalent) in data science, clinical informatics, psychology, psychiatry, public health, social work, or a closely related field

Position Summary The University of Georgia School of Medicine, in partnership with the School of Social Work, invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Clinical Data Science & Digital Mental Health within the newly established Division of Digital Health & Behavioral Health. This position will play a catalytic role in building a university-wide platform for digitally enabled, equitable, and scalable behavioral health care. The successful candidate will be a scholar at the intersection of clinical data science, artificial intelligence (AI), and behavioral health. This role is central to the University of Georgia's vision of developing a learning health system that integrates clinical data, digital interventions, and implementation science across medicine, social work, psychology, and community partners. The faculty member will contribute to research leadership, undergraduate and graduate teaching, and public service and outreach.

Additional Requirements

• Record of peer-reviewed scholarship in digital health, behavioral health, AI or data-driven health research
• Demonstrated ability or strong potential to secure external research funding
• Commitment to interdisciplinary teaching, mentoring, and collaboration
• Demonstrated capability in working with complex health-related data sources (e.g., electronic health records, patient-reported outcomes, digital phenotyping, sensors, or language data)
• Evidence of collaborative research across disciplines or institutions
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Commitment to advancing health equity, ethical practice, and responsible use of AI in health care

Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, and/or Certification

• Demonstrated expertise in conducting prospective clinical, pragmatic, or hybrid effectiveness-implementation studies
• Prior involvement in digital intervention development or evaluation
• Proven ability to collaborate with health systems, community-based organizations, or public-sector partners
• Familiarity with regulatory, privacy, and governance issues related to clinical data and digital health

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Advanced quantitative or computational methods relevant to clinical data science
• Knowledge of ethical, legal, and policy frameworks governing digital health and AI
• Ability to lead and mentor interdisciplinary research teams
• Demonstrated effectiveness teaching students from a wide range of educational and experiential backgrounds
• Strong record of externally funded research
• Commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration

Physical Demands

Is this a Position of Trust? Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? No

Does this position require a P-Card? No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No

Is driving a responsibility of this position? No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) Yes

Credit and P-Card policy Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Research & Scholarly Activities

• Build and manage multimodal data environments integrating clinical, behavioral, and digital data
• Develop and sustain an externally funded research program in clinical data science and digital mental health
• Lead or co-lead multi-investigator grants aligned with NIH , NSF , PCORI , HRSA , SAMHSA , and related agencies
• Publish in high-impact peer-reviewed journals and contribute to national research leadership in digital behavioral health

Teaching & Curriculum Development

• Teach undergraduate and graduate/professional courses in digital health, AI for behavioral health, clinical data science, and ethics
• Participate in the development of interdisciplinary curricula, certificates, or minors in Digital Health & Behavioral Health
• Mentor undergraduate, graduate, and professional students across participating schools

Practice, Service & Community Engagement

• Collaborate with clinical and community partners (e.g., hospitals, FQHCs, community-based organizations) on practice-improvement initiatives
• Contribute to continuing education (CE/ CME / CEU ) efforts in digital health competencies, ethics, and implementation
• Participate in governance and strategic planning for the Division of Digital Health & Behavioral Health
• Engage in university, college, and professional service consistent with faculty rank

Percentage Of Time 100

Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter
3. List of References with Contact Information
4. Teaching Portfolio/Philosophy
5. Research Portfolio/Philosophy