Assistant Professor - School of Information - Ethical AI, Information Generation & Retrieval, and Knowledge Systems

CSU Careers • San José, CA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The School of Information at San José State University is seeking an Assistant Professor specializing in Ethical AI, Information Generation & Retrieval, and Knowledge Systems, beginning August 2027. This role supports SJSU's strategic focus on artificial intelligence, large language models, data analytics, and critical technologies. The successful candidate will conduct research, teach, and provide service that advances the design, evaluation, governance, and use of intelligent information systems. The position emphasizes the interaction between humans and computational systems in creating, organizing, discovering, evaluating, and using information in AI-mediated environments. The role also involves contributing to the School's mission of preparing information professionals for diverse communities and providing curricular leadership for the Teacher Librarian Program, enhancing its relevance and reach. The School of Information prepares professionals in organizing, preserving, analyzing, protecting, teaching, and improving access to information. SJSU is a large, diverse institution with fully online graduate programs, an ALA-accredited MLIS program, and an emphasis on access, equity, community service, digital literacy, and ethical technology. The university values institutional excellence and is committed to advancing equity, serving a diverse student body including many historically underserved, first-generation, and Pell Grant recipients, and is both a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SJSU aims to create holistic learning environments that foster individual and collective transformation, seeking teacher-scholars who create inclusive spaces for mutual learning and knowledge exchange.

Requirements

• Earned doctorate in Library and Information Science, Information Science, Informatics, Information Studies, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, Data Science, Knowledge Management, or a closely related field.
• Evidence of scholarship in one or more of the following: Artificial intelligence and intelligent information retrieval systems, Critical Technology Studies, Data stewardship and governance.
• Applicants should demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to the educational goals of a socially and economically diverse student population as might have been gained in cross-cultural study, training, teaching, and other comparable experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience applying artificial intelligence, machine learning, or large language models to information discovery, knowledge management, digital curation, user services, or decision support.
• Research addressing the social, ethical, legal, and policy implications of AI and emerging technologies.
• Experience working in libraries, archives, museums, technology organizations, public-sector organizations, or other information-centered environments.
• Evidence of potential for external funding, industry partnerships, or applied research collaborations.
• Experience teaching in online, hybrid, or distributed learning environments.
• An understanding of how the fields of information science, library & information science, as well as related fields frame issues connected to: Trust, credibility, and information quality, Ethical, legal, and societal implications of AI, Information policy and governance.

Responsibilities

• Develop curricula for undergraduate and/or graduate courses across the School of Information’s many programs and certificates, for topics such as: Human and autonomous information retrieval systems, AI governance, ethics, and policy, Research methods and analytics.
• Advise students pursuing careers in libraries, archives, information management, user experience, digital curation, knowledge management, data services, AI-enabled information services, and related professions.
• Conduct an active program of research, scholarship, and/or creative activity.
• Participate in service activities that support the School, University, profession, and broader information community.
• Participate in shared governance, usually in department, college, and university committees and other service assignments.
• Organize all classes within the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS).
• Demonstrate awareness and experience in understanding the needs of a student population of great diversity – in age, abilities, cultural background, ethnicity, religion, economic background, primary language, sexual orientation, gender identity, and academic preparation – through inclusive course materials, teaching strategies, and advisement.

Benefits

• Commensurate with qualifications, experience, and rank as established by the CSU Salary Schedule.
• Anticipated hiring academic year annual salary range: $100,000 - $110,000
• Faculty employee benefits are very competitive for the higher education sector. See the CSU Employee Benefits Summary for details about the CSU’s excellent benefits package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree