Assistant Professor in Agentic AI and Autonomous Systems

University of Hawaii • Honolulu, HI

7d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS) at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa invites applications for a full-time, permanent, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Agentic AI and Autonomous Systems, beginning in the 2027–2028 academic year. The position is part of a three-position Human-First AI cluster and is a separate search. The successful candidate will contribute to the department’s growing AI curriculum, the proposed BS in Computer Science Artificial Intelligence Track, and the Professional MCS in AI/Data Science. The position will be connected to the new University of Hawaiʻi AI Institute, which is under development and aims to advance human-first AI through research, education, and service that strengthen the capabilities and well-being of Hawaiʻi’s people. Its work is guided by human judgment and decision-making, responsible stewardship, and community-defined priorities.

The department seeks candidates who develop AI systems capable of reasoning, planning, using tools, and collaborating with people. Areas of interest include planning and sequential decision-making; learning and reasoning for autonomous agents; embodied and physical AI; interaction with external data and software; workflow orchestration; multi-agent coordination; memory and adaptation; and human-AI collaboration and oversight. Research on agent behavior and the design and evaluation of trustworthy autonomous systems that preserve human agency and operate effectively in real-world environments is also welcome.

The appointee will teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses, establish or sustain an extramurally funded research program, publish scholarly work, supervise and mentor students, build collaborations, and contribute service to the department, college, and university. The appointment is subject to position clearance. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience; the appointment is nine months.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computer Science or a closely related field by the start date.
• Evidence of high-quality research through peer-reviewed publications in conferences or journals relevant to the position.
• Commitment to excellence in undergraduate and graduate teaching, mentoring, and advising.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse groups of students, faculty, and external partners.
• Strong potential to establish an independent research program and obtain extramural funding.

Nice To Haves

• Experience developing or evaluating AI methods or computing systems relevant to the position, including efficient AI computing, agents that plan and use tools, or systems operating under safety, security, reliability, privacy, or resource constraints.
• Experience translating research into usable tools, models, software, platforms, benchmarks, or evaluation methods, with attention to accessibility, meaningful human control, and impacts on users and communities.
• Experience with interdisciplinary or applied research involving government, industry, or nonprofit partners.
• Experience mentoring students from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines through research, internships, or collaborative projects.

Responsibilities

• Teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise, related areas of artificial intelligence, and other information and computer sciences courses.
• Establish or sustain an extramurally funded research program.
• Publish high-quality scholarly work.
• Supervise graduate research.
• Mentor and advise undergraduate students.
• Participate in capstone mentoring.
• Develop interdisciplinary and external collaborations.
• Provide department, college, and university service.
• Perform other scholarly duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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