Assistant/Associate/Full Professor Tenure System

Working/Functional Title

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor Tenure System

Position Summary

The Department of Computational Mathematics, Science and Engineering (CMSE) in the College of Natural Science at Michigan State University (MSU) leads an open-rank, inter-college search with the CREATE for STEM Institute, the Program in Mathematics Education (PriME), and the Departments of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Statistics and Probability (STT), and Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education (CEPSE) to identify a tenure system scholar in postsecondary Computing Education, Data Science Education, AI Education, or overlapping and related disciplines. This position is part of our continued commitment to address major and enduring challenges in undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning. This is an academic year position with a preferred (but negotiable) starting date of August 16, 2026, and with a salary commensurate with rank and qualifications. 

The successful applicant will be jointly appointed in the Department of CMSE and one of the participating departments or programs (CSE, STT, PriME, CEPSE). We seek a colleague whose work demonstrates potential to improve undergraduate experiences and life outcomes of people who have been historically and contemporarily disenfranchised in STEM undergraduate education. This new colleague will join a collaborative team committed to addressing contemporary issues and overcoming inequities in these areas from a range of perspectives and methodologies in STEM education. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to promoting a culture of inclusion and belonging in STEM and computing education, with the ultimate goal of building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive scholarly community focused on computing and data science education. 

Major responsibilities 

The successful candidate will be expected to conduct scholarly research and inquiry in the targeted areas; seek external funding; teach undergraduate- and graduate-level courses; advise doctoral students; and participate in service and outreach activities. Additional duties will vary depending on departmental placement and rank, university and academic unit education needs, and the candidate’s experience and interest. The candidates will also have opportunities to join and expand ongoing collaborative projects in the targeted areas and contributing to continuing efforts to foster inter-departmental collaborations across the College of Natural Science and with units across campus. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Relevant Field

Minimum Requirements

Applicants must demonstrate their potential (assistant professor) or provide a record (associate/full professor) of external funding and/or improvements in undergraduate STEM education commensurate with their experience and rank. They must also demonstrate the ability to contribute to a climate of inclusion, ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and members of underrepresented groups in STEM, and a commitment to excellence in teaching and service. 

Applicants must have earned a PhD in a relevant field prior to the planned start of the position (August 16, 2026) and demonstrate a record of research accomplishments in Computing Education, Data Science Education, AI Education, or an overlapping and related discipline at the postsecondary level and commensurate to rank. PhD degrees in non-quantitative fields of expertise may also be considered when complemented with an advanced degree (e.g., master’s) in a quantitative field such as data science, mathematics, and statistics. 

Desired Qualifications

Preference will be given to applicants with a research portfolio that focuses on critical issues in computing education, data science education, and/or AI education including but not limited to reducing bias, removing barriers for students to fully engage, and/or ensuring students’ belonging in the fields of computational and data science. Candidates who challenge the ways systems of privilege and oppression operate in undergraduate STEM education and in STEM fields are strongly encouraged to apply. Experience taking a critical and responsive stance toward improving undergraduate experiences and life outcomes of people who have been historically and contemporarily disenfranchised in STEM undergraduate education is also preferred. 

Required Application Materials

Interested applicants should submit: 

1. A 1-2 page cover letter that frames the application in the context of this position and how the applicant views the nature of their potential joint appointment across at least two of the units. The cover letter should also describe how the applicant’s work demonstrates potential to improve undergraduate experiences and life outcomes of people who have been historically and contemporarily disenfranchised in STEM undergraduate education; and how the applicant’s work aligns with the focus of the department(s), college, and university. 
2. A CV with, at a minimum, a list of publications, accepted or pending proposals for funding/resources, contributed and invited talks, teaching and mentoring roles, contributions to institutional and academic communities, and efforts in service and/or public outreach. 
3. A 2- 3 page research statement highlighting past research accomplishments and future plans. This statement should include experience or plans to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in computing, data science and/or AI education, or related research disciplines. Applicants should explain in this statement how their research aligns with the target areas and impacts the experiences and life outcomes of undergraduate students who have been historically and contemporarily disenfranchised in STEM undergraduate education. 

4. A 1-2 page teaching statement describing the applicant’s experience in instruction and research mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students, including experiences or plans to create an inclusive and equitable learning environment for students. The teaching statement should address which courses the applicant is prepared to teach, including course level and format (e.g., large lecture, small seminar, lab, etc.). 

5. A sample of scholarly writing demonstrating the applicant’s ability to conduct and communicate scholarly research that may lead to improvements in undergraduate STEM education. 

6. Names and contact information of three references, with at least one who can address the applicant’s role in research innovations. 

Special Instructions

Questions may be directed to the chair of the search committee, Prof. Danny Caballero (CMSE, Physics and Astronomy, CREATE for STEM Institute) at caball14@msu.edu

Review of Applications Begins On

06/30/2025

Website

cmse.msu.edu

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.