Visiting Instructor or Lecturer, Economist in Residence

University of Central Florida • Orlando, FL

17h • Onsite

About The Position

The Barry S. Miller College of Business at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a 9-month, non-tenure earning, visiting instructor or lecturer to teach and mentor undergraduate students in the Department of Economics. The selected candidate will also have responsibilities as Economist-in-Residence to help lead a new Initiative on Economic Decision Systems with an anticipated start date as early as Spring 2027. This appointment is renewable for up to 4 years and is located on the UCF main campus. The Economic Decision Systems Initiative is focused on how organizations design and operate decision systems in environments where data, technology, and human judgment increasingly interact. Through the Economic Decision Systems Lab, organizations will bring real decision problems into a working environment where faculty, students, and organizational partners examine how decisions are structured, how incentives are aligned, and how organizational capability develops over time. The Economist-in-Residence will play a foundational role in helping establish the operating model for the Initiative. This role is intended for an economist with a dynamic, entrepreneurial interest in building new programs, creating applied partnerships, and translating economic reasoning into organizational practice. The successful candidate will lead applied projects and will mentor students participating in structured project experiences. The projects will be tied to real organizational decision environments involving issues such as organizational design, decision rights, pricing systems, automation, risk and resilience, and human-machine decision integration. This institution-building role focuses on establishing the Initiative during its formative phase. Continued appointment may be considered based on the success of the Initiative, the evolution of organizational partnerships, and the strategic direction of the college. Success will be defined primarily by the establishment of a functioning and sustainable Economic Decision Systems Lab through the development of a distinctive student experience, meaningful industry engagement, and successful applied projects. Over the initial period, the Economist-in-Residence will be expected to help establish: a distinctive student experience tied to real organizational decision environment sustained engagement with external organizational partners a repeatable pipeline of applied decision-system projects operating processes and practices that allow the Initiative to function as a durable platform for applied engagement visible integration of economic reasoning into organizational decision-making challenges involving technology, data systems, and human judgment. Consistent with UCF’s identity as Florida’s technological university, the College of Business is expanding its focus on technology-enabled business transformation, industry engagement, and applied research while remaining deeply committed to student success and academic excellence. The College is entering a period of significant strategic investment and institutional momentum following a transformative $50 million philanthropic commitment from entrepreneur and investor Barry S. Miller. At the heart of this commitment is the focus on the intersection of business, technology, markets, organizations, and decision-making. Economic Decision Systems represents one component of the college’s broader effort to help organizations navigate environments increasingly shaped by data systems, artificial intelligence, and technological change.

Requirements

• A master's degree (for an instructor) or a terminal degree (for a lecturer) in economics or a related discipline from an accredited institution at the time of application.
• Demonstrated experience applying economic reasoning and data analysis to support organizational decision-making in data-rich environments.

Nice To Haves

• Experience applying economics to improve decisions in industry, consulting, government, financial services, technology, or other organizations.
• Experience leading applied projects at the intersection of economic reasoning, analytics, technology, and organizational design.
• Experience mentoring students or early-career professionals, or leading collaborative teams.
• Experience integrating human and artificial intelligence for organizational decision-making.
• A dynamic, entrepreneurial interest in developing partnerships and new programs.
• Ability and willingness to engage external organizations and help shape the direction of the Initiative.

Responsibilities

• Teach and mentor undergraduate students in the Department of Economics.
• Help lead a new Initiative on Economic Decision Systems.
• Play a foundational role in establishing the operating model for the Initiative.
• Lead applied projects.
• Mentor students participating in structured project experiences.
• Help establish a distinctive student experience tied to real organizational decision environments.
• Help establish sustained engagement with external organizational partners.
• Help establish a repeatable pipeline of applied decision-system projects.
• Help establish operating processes and practices that allow the Initiative to function as a durable platform for applied engagement.
• Help establish visible integration of economic reasoning into organizational decision-making challenges involving technology, data systems, and human judgment.

Benefits

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.
• Retirement savings options.
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions.
• Education assistance.
• Flexible work environment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level