Job Details

Assistant/Associate Professor Tenure-Track or Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice in Data Science

Main Campus - Boston, MAMain Campus - Boston, MA
R10578

Located in Boston's historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons University was one of the first higher education institutions to focus on preparing women to become leaders. It has evolved into a university offering a women-centered undergraduate program, with graduate programs open to all. Simmons University strives for inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience: One of our strategic goals is to become the most inclusive campus in New England. As a University committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we seek candidates with a demonstrated ability to work with students across various social and personal identities and perspectives. We particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups.

The Department of Computer, Data, and Mathematical Sciences (CDMS) is committed to educating women, trans, and non-binary students, as well as students from all racial and ethnic backgrounds, in the skills they will need for various careers. Our graduates are prepared for a wide range of professional and academic paths, including Masters and PhD programs and jobs in software engineering, data analytics, teaching, biostatistics, cybersecurity, applied mathematics, and many more. As a faculty, we embrace a student-centered approach to teaching and strive to include hands-on learning wherever possible.

CDMS is housed in the School of Sciences and Health Professions (SSHP), launched in July 2024. In SSHP, you'll find inspiration at the intersection of health, life, nature, science, technology and mathematics - cultivating innovative practices and procedures required to advance our scientific future, address complex problems, ask tough questions, reduce disparities, and improve our individual and collective health. SSHP's vision is to actualize our knowledge of these fields to lead with courage, practice with integrity, and bring about positive change and justice in our communities. SSHP is a collegial and supportive community of teachers and scholars within a uniquely multidisciplinary School.

Simmons faculty and staff are committed to empowering students to navigate, innovate, advocate, and collaborate in the rapidly changing and diverse fields of mathematics, technology, science and the health professions. Our faculty are leaders in their fields and pride themselves on being personal mentors and guides for your intellectual and professional journeys; they are dedicated to helping students master the knowledge and fundamentals required to put competency and capability into practice through in-depth discussion and hands-on learning in our modern labs and facilities. Many SSHP faculty engage in collaborative research with several of the many R1 institutions in the area, as well as the many medical and research labs in the Longwood Medical Area and the greater Boston area.

Our students consider the natural and social worlds from multiple angles and perspectives, intersecting the health, public, life, mathematical and computational sciences to address intriguing and complex issues related to our communities, practices, behaviors, and experiences. The Simmons campus is surrounded by world-renowned teaching hospitals, research facilities, healthcare clinics, and bio and life science industry leaders - like Brigham and Women's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, the Broad Institute, and over 1,600 other life science, biotech, biomedical and biopharmaceutical organizations. Our health science and life students are highly sought after for clinical and experiential rotations, research and design, and employment opportunities with leading experts in the industry. Students in the Computer, Data and Mathematical department are successful in finding positions in the robust technology environment in the Boston area, including large, well-known technology, government, and financial firms as well as smaller start-ups - like Akamai, Google, Hubspot, Wellington Financial.

Job Summary

CDMS is seeking applicants to teach in the Data Science program in a full-time Boston-based 10-month tenure-track or contract faculty position to begin in Fall 2025. We are particularly looking for applicants with expertise in Mathematical Modeling and Machine Learning, though all specialties will be considered. Data Wrangling and Visualization experience is a plus. We are a teaching-centered institution and invite candidates who share our commitment to educating women, trans, and non-binary students, as well as other underrepresented groups, in data science and related fields. Depending on the candidate's experience and professional goals, we offer several possibilities for faculty rank.

Primary Responsibilities

The faculty member will have the opportunity to teach courses in their areas of expertise, introductory-level classes in their field, and courses that contribute to the general education requirements of Simmons students. The faculty member is expected to advise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, participate in curriculum development, and actively serve the Simmons community. Tenure-track faculty will be required to conduct and publish scholarly research on a regular schedule, ideally with the goal of including students in their research. Contract faculty must maintain involvement in the broader academic and professional communities.

Qualifications

The primary difference between these two faculty tracks is whether the candidate has a PhD (in which case they are qualified for the tenure-track position) or, at minimum, a Master's and relevant work experience (in which case they can apply for the practice-track position).

Candidates for the tenure-track position should have a PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, etc.) by the time the appointment begins. They are expected to have an active research agenda and an interest in leading undergraduate/graduate research. Tenure-track positions at Simmons carry a teaching load of six courses per academic year. Candidates for this position must also demonstrate the capability to generate high-quality, high-impact scholarship and to publish in peer-reviewed venues. Interest in leading undergraduate and graduate student/faculty research is highly desirable.

Candidates for the professor of practice position should have at least a Master's in a relevant field (e.g., Data Science, Mathematics, Computer Science, Statistics, etc.) and are expected to have substantial experience (5-10+ years) working in a professional environment. They should also be able to maintain professional relevance and contacts. Practice track faculty carry a teaching load of seven courses per academic year.

Candidates for either position will have demonstrated teaching experience or strong potential to excel at teaching.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should submit the following electronically with their application:

(1) a cover letter including key qualifications for the position, relevant interests, and which position (tenure-track or practice track) they are applying for;

(2) curriculum vitae;

(3) a statement of teaching philosophy, including a list of courses the candidate can excel in teaching;

(4) [for tenure-track positions] a statement of research interests; and

(5) the contact information for at least three professional references. Additional supporting materials to document excellence in teaching, such as course evaluations and syllabi of courses taught, are optional and welcomed.

Application review will begin in November 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.

For further information, please contact the CDMS Department Chair, Amber Stubbs, at stubbs@simmons.edu.

Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.


To apply, visit https://simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Simmons-Careers/job/Main-Campus---Boston-MA/Assistant-Associate-Professor-Tenure-Track-or-Assistant-Associate-Professor-of-Practice-in-Data-Science_R10578

Located in Bostons historic Fenway area, Simmons College is a small, private, non-sectarian College which has educated students for enriching careers and purposeful lives since 1899. Working at Simmons means joining a collaborative, diverse and mission-driven community of educators and professionals.

We prepare students to be leaders for themselves, their communities and the world. Our faculty and staff members lead by example - sharing a commitment to excellence and putting the students first.