Assistant Professor of Data Science

Davidson, NC, United States

JOB DESCRIPTION

The newly-created Department of Data Science at Davidson College invites applications for a tenure-track statistician at the assistant, associate or full professor rank, beginning July 1, 2025. Candidates must possess a Ph.D. in Statistics or a Ph.D. in a closely related field by August 1, 2025. We seek candidates with a strong commitment to building a data science program and broadening access to statistics, and data science more generally, for all students across the liberal arts.  Preference will be given to candidates whose teaching and research expands offerings and collaborative opportunities at the college.  Teaching all levels of undergraduate students, developing and sustaining a research program that engages students, and excellence in classroom teaching grounded in inclusive pedagogy are essential. The course load (4 in the first year, and 5 per year after that) would include an introductory statistics course that satisfies Davidson's justice, equality, and community (JEC) graduation requirement, and new course offerings in data science that are accessible and appealing to a wide range of students.

Applications must be submitted online at https://employment.davidson.edu. Please include the following items:

1. A teaching statement (two page limit*) that discusses:
   1. your approach to teaching an introductory statistics class that satisfies our JEC requirement
   2. a specific example of how you would teach a particularly important introductory statistics topic that students might find difficult or confusing
   3. how your training, experience and interests position you to offer a breadth of intermediate and advanced electives with broad appeal at an undergraduate liberal arts college, and describe three of these electives you would be most excited to teach
   4. how your pedagogical approaches demonstrate your commitment to inclusivity
2. One* research paper (peer-reviewed or ready for peer review)
3. A research statement (two page limit*) that:
   1. Summarizes past scholarship and describes ongoing and future plans for research
   2. Highlights how your research expands scholarly opportunities at Davidson, and how it might connect to other Davidson faculty research programs.
   3. Discuss how you might mentor undergraduate student research and/or integrate students into your research program, including the background or skills they would need to make meaningful contributions.
4. A cover letter (two page limit*) that:
   1. Briefly summarizes your research, teaching, and other scholarly training and interests
   2. Describes challenges and opportunities of building a data science program at a liberal arts college that you find particularly exciting or relevant to your experience
   3. Addresses how your experience has informed your approach to broadening participation in statistics by undergraduates across the liberal arts
   4. Discusses how your experience has informed your work to alleviate barriers to participation by those historically underrepresented in data science

Applications completed by Tuesday, October 8 will receive priority consideration, though the position will remain open until filled.

(*) In the interest of an equitable hiring process, we will neither review any additional materials nor read beyond the page limits listed for each document.

ABOUT US

Davidson is a highly selective, nationally ranked, residential, four-year liberal arts college located in Davidson, North Carolina, close to the city of Charlotte.  Davidson is strongly committed to achieving excellence and cultural diversity (https://www.davidson.edu/about/commitment-diversity-and-inclusion), and welcomes applications from women, members of minority groups, and others who would bring additional dimensions to the college’s mission.

At Davidson College, we believe the college grows stronger by recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff committed to building an inclusive community.  In order to achieve and sustain educational excellence, we seek to hire talented faculty and staff across the intersections of diverse races, ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, socio-economic backgrounds, political perspectives, abilities, cultures, and national origins.