Assistant / Associate Professor - Applied Artificial Intelligence and Offensive Cybersecurity

Dakota State University; Madison (SD); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

Retirement benefits (SDRS 6% match)

Paid family leave

Job summary

Dakota State University’s Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the intersection of Applied Artificial Intelligence and Offensive Cybersecurity beginning in Fall 2027 (August).

The position will contribute to the continued growth of Dakota State’s programs and research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cyber operations.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in artificial intelligence, computer science, cybersecurity, computer engineering, or a closely related discipline by the appointment start date. ABD candidates may be considered.
• Expertise applying artificial intelligence or machine learning to cybersecurity, cyber operations, or related security applications.
• Effective written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Residence in South Dakota, or willingness to relocate to South Dakota, by the time of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cyber operations, and areas at the intersection of AI and offensive cyber.
• Develop hands-on labs and applied/technical learning experiences involving AI-enabled cybersecurity.
• Mentor master’s and doctoral students and serve on graduate research and dissertation committees.
• Develop and maintain a productive research agenda at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
• Conduct and publish high-quality research and pursue external grants and sponsored research opportunities.
• Connect research and teaching real-world applications and build collaborative relationships with industry, government, national laboratories, and other external partners.
• Contribute through student advising, curriculum development, university service, and recruitment activities.

Job description

The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences at Dakota State University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track, benefits-eligible faculty position at the intersection of Applied Artificial Intelligence and Offensive Cybersecurity beginning in Fall 2027 (August). The position will contribute to the continued growth of Dakota State’s programs and research in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and cyber operations.

The successful candidate will teach and conduct research focused on applying artificial intelligence to offensive cybersecurity and cyber operations, with emphasis in areas such as AI-enabled penetration testing, autonomous or semi-autonomous offensive cyber operations, AI-assisted vulnerability discovery, intelligent attack-path analysis, adversarial AI, AI-supported malware analysis and reverse engineering, automated red teaming, intelligent cyber agents, and the security implications of generative AI and large language models.

Depending on expertise, the successful candidate may teach across undergraduate and graduate programs and will have opportunities to mentor graduate students and contribute to interdisciplinary research connecting artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Academic rank will be at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, determined by the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cyber operations, and areas at the intersection of AI and offensive cyber.
• Develop hands-on labs and applied/technical learning experiences involving AI-enabled cybersecurity.
• Mentor master’s and doctoral students and serve on graduate research and dissertation committees.
• Develop and maintain a productive research agenda at the intersection of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
• Conduct and publish high-quality research and pursue external grants and sponsored research opportunities.
• Connect research and teaching real-world applications and build collaborative relationships with industry, government, national laboratories, and other external partners.
• Contribute through student advising, curriculum development, university service, and recruitment activities.

Required Qualifications

• Ph.D. in artificial intelligence, computer science, cybersecurity, computer engineering, or a closely related discipline by the appointment start date. ABD candidates may be considered.
• Expertise applying artificial intelligence or machine learning to cybersecurity, cyber operations, or related security applications.
• Effective written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Residence in South Dakota, or willingness to relocate to South Dakota, by the time of appointment. Exceptions may be considered when compelling programmatic or institutional needs to justify an alternative arrangement.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research, teaching, or professional experience applying artificial intelligence or machine learning to offensive cybersecurity or cyber operations.
• Experience in applied, hands-on technical learning or research environments.

About the Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences

The Beacom College is a national leader in technology-focused education and research, with undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs spanning artificial intelligence, computer science, cyber defense, cyber operations, cyber and network security, data privacy, and related emerging technologies.

The College has particular depth in cybersecurity, with doctoral programs in Cyber Operations and Cyber Defense and extensive applied coursework and research in offensive and defensive cybersecurity. Dakota State University holds all three National Security Agency Centers of Academic Excellence designations in Cyber Defense, Cyber Operations, and Cyber Research. The College also supports growing programs and research in artificial intelligence and quantum computing, providing opportunities for interdisciplinary work at the intersection of cybersecurity and emerging technologies.

Information about DSU

Dakota State University is a special-focus STEM university emphasizing computing, information technologies, and cyber sciences across all areas of human endeavor. DSU has established a reputation as a distinguished regional and national leader in computer science and cybersecurity education and research. We embrace opportunities to provide our students, faculty, and future collaborators with the most innovative technologies and facilities, produce transformative research and development, and create an outstanding community of faculty, students, and programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels.

We are also home to the Madison Cyber Labs (MadLabs), a cyber R&D hub with research clusters that explore and advance technology applications, workforce development, business expansion, economic growth, and policy improvement across multiple disciplines and fields. DSU also has a growing Applied Research Lab and is one of two state institutions in the Center for Quantum Information Science & Technology.

DSU holds three prestigious designations from the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, Cyber Research, and Cyber Operations, making DSU one of only nine institutions that hold all three designations.

Benefits

• Flexible benefits package including health, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, hospital indemnity insurance, flexible spending account, health savings account, and health reimbursement account.
• South Dakota Retirement System. Employees receive 6% fully matched contributions and are vested after three years of service.
• Paid sick leave.
• Reduced tuition for education.
• Professional liability coverage.
• Paid family leave.

DSU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to, and DSU prohibits unlawful discrimination of all legally protected classes in the offering of all educational programs and employment. Arrangements for accommodations required by disabilities can be made by emailing [e-mail].
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