ReliaQuest Endowed Professorship

University of South Florida•Tampa, FL

31d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of South Florida invites applications for the ReliaQuest Endowed Professorship in AI and Cybersecurity, a senior tenured appointment at the associate professor or professor level with an anticipated start in fall 2027. This is an opportunity for an accomplished scholar to build a nationally visible program at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity and to help shape a university-wide and regional agenda connecting research, talent development, industry, government, and national security. Tampa Bay offers an unusual concentration of university, industry, government, and military partners working at the convergence of AI, cybersecurity, and national security. CyberBay brings these sectors together to position the region as a national hub. The region is also home to MacDill Air Force Base, U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, and many mission partners. This concentration of expertise and organizations positions the successful candidate to develop durable research programs, workforce initiatives, translational partnerships, and public impact. The Bellini College, established in 2025 with a $40 million gift, brings together faculty, students, and programs from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, serving over 3,000 students with undergraduate and graduate programs spanning AI, cybersecurity, and computing. Its hub-and-spoke model connects faculty and programs across USF to develop interdisciplinary research and education. Bellini College faculty currently lead $12.8 million in active externally funded research. Research infrastructure includes the shared GAIVI GPU cluster, cloud computing options through Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, and USF’s AWS-supported Secure Research Environment incorporating GovCloud for defense and national security research, complemented by university research computing and technical support. Cyber Florida at USF, which works closely with Bellini College, provides additional opportunities for research funding and collaboration through its statewide mission to support cybersecurity research and development and its partnerships with government, industry, and defense organizations. The College houses the USF Institute for Artificial Intelligence + X, the Rapid7 Cyber Threat Intelligence Lab, and the Center for Innovation, Technology, and Aging. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities and reported $531 million in research expenditures for fiscal year 2025.

Requirements

Hold a doctorate in computer science, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, computer engineering or a closely related field.
Have a record that meets USF’s requirements for appointment with tenure at the associate professor or professor rank.
Demonstrate a distinguished scholarly record.
Sustained success in securing competitive external funding.
Evidence of research leadership and collaboration.
A record of teaching and mentoring appropriate for a tenure-track appointment at the associate professor or professor level.
Evidence of developing collaborations across disciplines or with external partners is particularly relevant.

Responsibilities

Sustain a nationally recognized, externally funded research program.
Lead ambitious collaborative initiatives.
Advance innovation.
Strengthen and expand the cohort of early-career researchers.
Contribute to undergraduate and graduate education.
Translate scholarship into impact through partnerships with industry, government, and community organizations.
Convene talent across USF and the region.
Shape new research and educational directions.
Mentor the next generation of scholars and leaders.
Catalyze programs and partnerships with lasting impact for the Bellini College, USF, and the Tampa Bay region.