Associate or Full Professor, Cyber Security Policy Cluster

University of Texas at San Antonio•San Antonio, TX

38d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio), College for Health, Community and Policy invites applications for the position of Associate or Full Professor, to be appointed as a University of Texas System (UT System) Research Excellence Regents' Professor. Successful candidates will be part of a strategic cluster hiring initiative focused on policy questions associated with cyber threats to critical infrastructure systems at the state and national levels, with an anticipated start date in the Fall of the 2026-27 academic year. The University of Texas System approved the creation of the Regents' Research Excellence Program across its four Emerging Research Universities (ERUs), including UT San Antonio. UT System has allocated funds across all four ERUs to fund the recruitment of research-active faculty to dramatically grow its national research prominence and federal funding opportunities. The university's allocation from UT System translates to approximately 40 new faculty positions for new, mid- to senior-level faculty over the next several years who will add expertise in research areas that will enhance competitiveness, help solve societal needs, and advance the university's capacity to meet UT System and state goals as outlined by the Texas Legislature. UT San Antonio is utilizing our Clustered & Connected Hiring Program (CCP), which is designed to recruit and hire some of the best and brightest minds of varying backgrounds and experiences in select fields to UT San Antonio to join in efforts to address some of today's most significant challenges. For the Cyber Security Policy Cluster, three positions are available in the areas of: Criminology and Criminal Justice, Sociology and Demography, or Public Administration Political Science and Geography Urban and Regional Planning The University of Texas at San Antonio (UT San Antonio) is a nationally recognized, top-tier public research university that unites the power of higher education, biomedical discovery and healthcare within one visionary institution. As the third-largest research university in Texas and a Carnegie R1-designated institution, UT San Antonio is a model of access and excellence - advancing knowledge, social mobility and public health across South Texas and beyond. UT San Antonio serves approximately 42,000 students in 320 academic programs spanning science, engineering, medicine, health, liberal arts, AI, cybersecurity, business, education and more. With 17,000 faculty and staff, UT San Antonio has also been recognized as a Top Employer in Texas by Forbes Magazine. The mission of HCAP is to train students to develop solutions for complex social issues to improve the well-being of our communities. We do this via high-quality research, community engagement, teaching, service, and via policy recommendations that are rooted in our research. The NSCC has a robust ecosystem membership to engage with government, industry, and academia to tackle the nation's greatest threats. HCAP and the NSCC have begun working together on several project ideas and at least one active research proposal-however, if we augment these relationships, join forces with faculty in PSG and URP, and hire faculty specifically meant to unite all four entities, we know that we can buttress existing strengths in policy development and analysis and expand the funded research agenda that helps us make the City, State, and Nation stronger. The College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP) in connection with the College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA), the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID), the College of AI, Cyber, and Computing (CAICC), and the National Security Collaboration Center (NSCC) intend to build a team that can answer policy questions associated with cyber threats in the state and the nation. Cyber threats to critical infrastructure systems are growing and jeopardizing the economy and our security across the country with potentially severe consequences. This cluster of faculty would work with state agencies including the new Texas Cyber Command-co-located with the NSCC-and Federal agencies including the U.S. Cyber Command, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and others to identify key challenges, develop tailored solutions, and recommend courses of action that reduce critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, renew confidence in their operations, and advance U.S., state, and local economic and security objectives. The NSCC and HCAP, in concert with the Departments of Political Science and Geography (PSG) in COLFA and Urban and Regional Planning (URP) in KCEID plan to hire three faculty across HCAP, COLFA, and KCEID. The Cybersecurity Policy Cluster faculty will also have a part-time appointment in the NSCC to support their research agenda, with the expectation that successful hires will eventually provide their own grant funding and/or provide applied mission support through NSCC. Most would be at the senior level, with a well-developed research agenda and record of external funding. This cluster hire would allow HCAP, NSCC, COLFA, and KCEID to combine forces in a way that will develop and expand the potential for policy expertise within each unit. These hires will specifically contribute to the following themes: 1) advancing national security policy through a broad lens, and 2) moving beyond the traditional studies of defense and cybersecurity to a wider, innovative focus on critical social and public infrastructure. This infrastructure includes: public health systems; energy and natural resources; transportation networks; digital twins and urban sensing (IoT) infrastructure; integrity/growth of public communication networks; climate resilience; and emergency/disaster readiness. We aim both to advance the NSCC's operational mission and also to examine cyber policy from other perspectives, including consideration of potential unfair burdens and inefficiencies that cyber and infrastructure vulnerabilities could impose across the population. These themes represent the broad and overlapping research domains across the multiple colleges and the NSCC. We believe that this cluster hire will provide an intentional space to consolidate and expand previous multidisciplinary research efforts leveraging our city and region as it provides a particular test bed for many of these issues to inform the nation. The College for Health, Community and Policy at the University of Texas at San Antonio seeks to fill one tenure-track position at the Associate or Full Professor rank beginning Fall 2026. Those with research agendas in the areas of cybersecurity governance, ethics, privacy, digital security, and data privacy for civil societies to secure systems or other areas related to cybersecurity public policy is desirable. We seek established scholars with research expertise that integrates Urban Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things and city sensing technologies, as well as cybersecurity systems to create smart and connected communities. The Department of Political Science and Geography is seeking applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Cybersecurity Policy. This role is aimed at candidates at the Associate or Full Professor rank and involves research, teaching, advising students, and participating in service activities. The position is part of the University of Texas at San Antonio's interdisciplinary Clustered and Connected Hiring Program in Cybersecurity Policy, which focuses on identifying key challenges, develop tailored solutions, and recommend courses of action that reduce critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and advance U.S., state, and local economic and security objectives.

Requirements

Ph.D. in public policy, public management, criminology or criminal justice, sociology, public administration, or a related field.
Strong potential for research productivity, the ability to teach core graduate courses in our programs and mentor graduate students, and have, or show promise for, excellence in grant acquisition.
A tenured or tenurable Associate or Full Professor with a well-established, clearly defined research agenda aligned with the Cluster's strategic focus areas.
Demonstrated excellence in effective teaching, and be committed to service at departmental, college, university, and national levels.
Have a strong track record of success in garnering external support for research.
An ability to collaborate across multiple disciplines is also essential to the success of cluster hire candidates.
Ability to work with and be sensitive to the educational needs of a varied population and support the University's commitment to thrive as a model for student success.
Teaching and research expectations are commensurate with Research I institutions. Participating in collaborative teaching, research, and service activities within the Department of Political Science and Geography, the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, the National Security Collaboration Center, across the University, and with local and national policy stakeholders.
This position requires the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure.
Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning is preferred. Candidates holding a PhD in Landscape Architecture and Architecture and related fields will also be considered.
Evidence of strong research productivity and potential or a record of sustained research excellence, extramural funding, and leadership.
This position requires the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure.
Ph.D. or equivalent in Political Science, International Relations, Public Affairs or a related discipline prior to employment.
Research interest in governance, national security and intelligence, ethics, privacy, data and digital security for civil societies, artificial intelligence, technologies and algorithms to secure systems or other areas related to cybersecurity policy.
Demonstrate knowledge of the intersection of the technical aspects of cybersecurity and the broader public policy implications of the field.
Candidates should have a record of excellence in teaching, research, and external funding commensurate with rank.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate the ability to work effectively in a highly collaborative, engaging, and dynamic environment comprised of individuals with a range of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives.
This position requires the ability to maintain the security and integrity of UT San Antonio and its infrastructure.

Nice To Haves

Relevant credentials for Associate/Full Professor rank that align to the domain expertise.
Record trans- and inter-disciplinary research.
Commitment to excellence in teaching, mentoring, and research.
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification.

Responsibilities

Conducting research in the field of Cybersecurity Policy.
Teaching undergraduate and graduate courses related to Cybersecurity Policy.
Advising and mentoring students in their academic and professional development.
Participating in collaborative teaching, research, and service activities within the Department of Political Science and Geography, the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, across the University, and with local and national policy stakeholders.

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