The Department of Computer Science at Tennessee Tech University invites applicants for multiple positions, including an Assistant Professor with the primary responsibility of teaching artificial intelligence and data science as part of our new B.S. in Artificial Intelligence, and an open rank (Assistant, Associate, or Full) Professor position with an emphasis at the intersection of high-performance computing and artificial intelligence. Both are full-time, nine-month, tenure-track positions beginning August 2026.
Assistant Professor (focused on AI and Data Science)
Selected candidates will be student-centered and expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses primarily in AI, machine learning, and data science, with an initial focus on undergraduate courses. They will contribute to curriculum development and participate in scholarly activities centered on teaching, learning, and/or computer science related pedagogy. This includes publishing research papers and pursuing external funding. They will also direct projects and research of students at undergraduate and graduate levels; serve on committees at the department, college, and university levels; engage in professional and public service; and advise students on professionalism and career opportunities.
Minimum qualifications: Earned doctorate in computer science, AI, data science, or a closely related field by the start date of employment; an ability and desire to strive for teaching excellence in AI and data science at the undergraduate and graduate levels; potential to engage in externally funded research; engagement in scholarly activities as demonstrated by peer-reviewed journal and conference publications; and effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Preferred qualifications: Expertise in the areas of AI and data science; relevant teaching experience; experience with best practices in the development, deployment, and management of AI and data science tools; and industry experience.
Open-Rank Position (focused on intersection of HPC and AI)
Selected candidates will be expected to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in computer science, engage in scholarly activities, develop externally funded research programs, direct the research of students at the B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. levels, serve on committees at the department, college, and university levels, engage in professional and public service, and advise students on professionalism and career opportunities.
Minimum qualifications: Earned Ph.D. from an accredited institution in computer science or a closely related field by the start date of employment; expertise in high-performance computing with secondary interest in artificial intelligence; potential to develop and conduct externally funded research; engagement in scholarly activities as demonstrated by peer-reviewed journal and conference publications; an ability and desire to strive for teaching excellence at the undergraduate and graduate levels; and effective communication and interpersonal skills.
Preferred qualifications: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in computer science; relevant teaching experience; established research program including experience in proposal writing; industrial experience.
To apply for either position, please visit https://jobs.tntech.edu. Applicants are required to electronically upload a cover letter, curriculum vitae, teaching philosophy (including philosophy and experience teaching students from ethnically and socio-economically diverse backgrounds), research statement, copies of transcripts (official transcripts for all degrees conferred required upon hire), and email contact information for three references who will be contacted via email to provide a reference letter if selected for interview. Applications without all required materials are incomplete and will not be considered. Screening of applications begins January 15, 2026; open until filled.
About the Department
TTU’s Department of Computer Science has an ABET accredited program in Computer Science, 25 full-time faculty members and approximately 800 students (700 undergraduate, and 100 graduate students in our M.S. and Ph.D. programs). The department conducts comprehensive teaching and research in both basic and applied aspects of computer science. Research activities in the department are broadly categorized into Information Assurance & Security, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, High Performance & Distributed Computing, and Software Engineering. The department has multiple funded research programs from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, and Department of Defense that are currently active, and has multiple collaborations across campus, with other colleges and universities, with local, statewide, regional, and national corporations, and with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Faculty in the department direct multiple centers on campus, including the Machine Intelligence and Data Science (MInDS) Center (https://www.tntech.edu/minds) and the Advanced Scalable Computing Extreme Networks and Data (ASCEND) Center (https://www.tntech.edu/ascend/). The Department of Computer Science values innovation, collaboration, and opportunity for all students. We are committed to cultivating an environment where every learner can succeed and contribute meaningfully to the computing community. Through endowed scholarships, mentoring initiatives, and academic partnerships, the department actively supports first-generation students and expands pathways to computing careers for students across Tennessee and the region.
