Information field scholars interested in finding a highly collegial, interdisciplinary teaching environment at a top-rated information school, and who will collaborate within a new Syracuse University cluster-hire teaching initiative, may want to explore four new positions now open at the Syracuse University School of Information Studies.
Kevin Crowston, associate dean for research and distinguished professor of information science at the Syracuse School of Information Studies, and chair of the search committee, notes that candidates are being sought who have interest in these specific areas:
- Network Social Dynamics—including causal networks, network science, social cognition, social contagion, relationship science, social networks or group decision
- Augmented Cognition—including forecasting, prediction systems, artificial intelligence, recommender systems, deep learning, data fusion, voting systems, machine learning, agent-based modeling, distributed cognition, human factors and collective behavior
- Data-Centered and Big Data approaches to innovation
- Technical, Behavioral and/or Social Approaches to address security and privacy for trustworthy cyberspace.
The first two positions are part of an Invest Syracuse Cluster Hire Initiative in artificial intelligence, deep learning, and autonomous systems and policy. These faculty members will build on the iSchool’s existing strengths and will also be part of an organized teaching cluster that spans five Syracuse University schools and departments: the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, the College of Law, the Departments of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science and Psychology and the School of Information Studies, Crowston notes.
The third position is part of an Invest Syracuse Cluster Hire Initiative in innovation and entrepreneurship whose goal is building an Innovation Living-Learning Ecosystem at the University. Those hired will participate in a teaching cluster that spans the University’s College of Visual & Performing Arts, College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Whitman School of Management, the School of Information Studies, and the Syracuse University Libraries.
The fourth position is part of an Invest Syracuse Signature Hire Initiative designed to strengthen teaching and research capacity in security for trustworthy cyberspace in the School of Information Studies. Signature faculty roles are designed to attract faculty who can contribute to the national and international reputation of Syracuse University and also translate their success into practical, real-world action with students.
According to Crowston, the iSchool’s research and teaching often adopt a socio-technical approach, recognizing that important problems are not simply technical nor just about people, but rather require both social and technological insights.
“We seek applicants whose topic areas and skills adopt that philosophy and can speak to overlapping areas within the school. The successful candidates will join our “Faculty of One,” a highly collegial environment that stresses interdisciplinary collaboration among our school’s faculty and with other members of the university community and beyond,” he adds.
The iSchool offers five degree programs and numerous certificate programs. It is ranked No. 4 overall by U.S. News and World Report for library and information science, No. 2 for information systems and No. 6 in the QS World University Rankings (2019). The school hosts seven research centers and laboratories and is recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Research and in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense (IA/CD) by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. In the past year, iSchool faculty members received more than $5 million in external research support.
Applications can be submitted online to the Syracuse University portal at www.sujobopps.com, where there is more information about requirements and qualifications. You can also find the listings on the iSchool’s jobs page. Screening of applications begins in October. Questions can be directed to Search Committee Chair Crowston at: crowston@syr.edu.