Professor of Digital and Computational Studies

Bates College • Lewiston, ME

22d • $87,000 - $135,000

About The Position

The Program in Digital and Computational Studies at Bates College seeks two full-time, open-rank, tenure-line faculty members in Computer Science, beginning July 2027. The program is interdisciplinary, connecting computer science, data science, and digital studies with the arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and other campus programs. It teaches students to design, build, and analyze digital and computational tools and algorithms, as well as to critique them.

The successful candidates will teach undergraduate students in a liberal arts environment, support students with a range of prior programming experience, and help build an interdisciplinary and inclusive computing program. They will teach introductory computer science sequences in Python, upper-level computing courses in their areas of expertise, and the DCS senior capstone course. They will also contribute to the general education curriculum, including the First Year Seminar program; advise senior theses; and serve as academic advisors.

The position carries a standard five-course teaching load, arranged as either a 2-3 or 3-2 load across two semesters, or a 2-2-1 load across two semesters and Bates Short Term. Faculty responsibilities include teaching, professional achievement, governance, and engagement. Candidates are expected to contribute to inclusive and evidence-based teaching, maintain an active program of scholarship or creative work, and participate in the life and governance of the College. Areas of expertise are open; potential areas include human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence and machine learning, natural language processing, and disciplinary-based computer science education. The anticipated salary range is $87,000–$135,000, commensurate with rank, experience, qualifications, and other relevant factors. Appointment may be at the assistant, associate, or full professor level.

Bates supports faculty scholarship and creative work through start-up packages, paid pre-tenure leave, post-tenure sabbatical support, internal grants, professional travel funding, and a staffed external grants office. Community-engaged learning and study abroad are encouraged and institutionally supported. Pedagogical development and innovation are supported by the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning. Educational access and racial justice are central to Bates’ history and mission.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computer Science, completed no later than July 1, 2027.
• Demonstrated commitment to excellent undergraduate teaching and mentorship in a liberal arts environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary computing in the liberal arts.
• Demonstrated interest in teaching undergraduate students and supporting students with a range of prior programming experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration and collegiality.
• Demonstrated interest in collaboratively building an interdisciplinary and inclusive computing program.
• Ability to contribute to inclusive and evidence-based teaching and maintain an active program of scholarship or creative work.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in human-computer interaction (HCI), artificial intelligence or machine learning (AI/ML), natural language processing (NLP), or disciplinary-based computer science education.
• Research or creative work that adds to the existing breadth of the Digital and Computational Studies faculty.

Responsibilities

• Teach introductory computer science sequences in Python, including courses such as DCS 109X, DCS 229 Data Structures, and DCS 211 Computing for Insight.
• Teach upper-level computing courses based on areas of expertise.
• Regularly teach the DCS senior capstone course.
• Contribute to the general education curriculum, including the college-wide First Year Seminar program.
• Advise senior theses and serve as an academic advisor.
• Contribute to inclusive and evidence-based teaching.
• Maintain an active program of scholarship or creative work.
• Participate in the life and governance of the College.
• Collaboratively build an interdisciplinary and inclusive computing program for the liberal arts.
• Support a diverse student population with a range of prior programming experience, including students with no prior experience.

Benefits

• Start-up packages supporting faculty scholarship and creative work.
• Paid pre-tenure leave.
• Support for post-tenure sabbaticals.
• Internal grants.
• Professional travel funding.
• Support from a well-staffed external grants office.
• Institutional support for community-engaged learning and study abroad.
• Pedagogical development and innovation support through the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning.

What This Job Offers

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