Professor, Department Chair of AI and Society

University of Buffalo•Buffalo, NY

56d

About The Position

The Department of AI and Society at the University at Buffalo, invites applications from outstanding scholars with excellent leadership abilities for the position of Department Chair. The Department of AI and Society - the first of its kind in the nation - is explicitly intended to be a home for transdisciplinary research on the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and society, with its vision of creating a future world where AI systems are built by society, for society. As a transdisciplinary department that is part of both the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences, the department is home to faculty with diverse disciplinary and training backgrounds, and their profiles of research and creative activity reflect this breadth. The transdisciplinary nature of the Department means that its faculty may engage in research and creative activities spanning the arts, humanities, social sciences, cognitive sciences, computer science, and engineering. The Chair will work with the department to achieve its vision and to support the university's goal of becoming a top 25 public research institution. Priorities include overseeing the department's research, creative, teaching, operational, and community engagement activities; facilitating collaborative grant writing and research activities; helping to foster research collaborations between academic faculty; recruitment of several additional faculty to fill already approved positions; and advocating for the department at the academic unit and university levels, as well as externally. The successful candidate will have an exceptional academic record and evidence of administrative leadership abilities, in addition to holding a PhD in an area relevant to the mission of the department. The position is at the rank of tenured Full Professor. Tenured faculty in AIS are expected to obtain external funding to support and conduct research leading to research outputs and creative activities; engage in scholarly work that has strong community engagement; present at professional venues; teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels in addition to mentoring students and postdoctoral scholars; and provide service to the department, school, college, university, discipline, and the community. A teaching release is granted for faculty serving in administrative capacities such as Department Chair. AI and Society currently supports a set of seven new AI+X degrees: AI and Geospatial Analytics AI and Policy Analysis AI and Logic and Ontology AI and Language Technology AI and Responsible Communication AI and Quantitative Economics AI and Language and Intercultural Competence The department will also be creating new undergraduate and graduate degrees in AI and Society. The position is open until filled; applications received by December 15, 2025 will be given priority consideration. Learn more: Our benefits, where we prioritize your well-being and success to enhance every aspect of your life. Being a part of the University at Buffalo community. University at Buffalo is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and, in keeping with our commitment, welcomes all to apply including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Requirements

Earned PhD in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence or other related field.
Strong record of research in AI (specifically in its interaction with society).
Teaching experience at the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Nice To Haves

Administrative experience managing an academic department or research center.
Supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

Overseeing the department's research, creative, teaching, operational, and community engagement activities
Facilitating collaborative grant writing and research activities
Helping to foster research collaborations between academic faculty
Recruitment of several additional faculty to fill already approved positions
Advocating for the department at the academic unit and university levels, as well as externally
Obtain external funding to support and conduct research leading to research outputs and creative activities
Engage in scholarly work that has strong community engagement
Present at professional venues
Teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels in addition to mentoring students and postdoctoral scholars
Provide service to the department, school, college, university, discipline, and the community