Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice in Human-AI Interaction, Machine Learning, and Data Design

University of Southern California; Glendale (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

USC Iovine and Young Academy seeks a faculty member with expertise in human-AI interaction, modern ML architectures, and data design, focused on applied innovation and cross-cutting learning. The role blends teaching, research, and service within USC’s vibrant, multidisciplinary culture.

The successful candidate will teach and mentor across undergraduate and graduate levels, advance practice-based scholarship, and develop partnerships translating AI advances into educational and industry impact,

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s with 5+ years of relevant industry or academic experience.
• Strong background in developing, training, and deploying AI/ML systems from a human-centered innovation lens.
• Preference for cross-disciplinary experience across technology, design, business strategy, and product development.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in machine learning, interactive AI systems, data design, and generative AI.
• Develop applied transdisciplinary curricula integrating AI/ML with human-centered design and business strategy.
• Design learning experiences from foundational knowledge to deployment of AI-driven products or services.
• Foster industry partnerships and practice-based scholarship within USC and beyond.

Skills

Human-AI interaction

ML architectures

Data design

Applied innovation

Education

PhD in Computer Science or Engineering

Master's in Computer Science or Engineering (with 5+ years experience)

Job description

The Iovine and Young Academy (https://iovine-young.usc.edu), a nationally leading school for transdisciplinary design and product innovation, is seeking a highly skilled faculty member with expertise in human-AI interaction systems, modern ML architectures, and data design with a focus on applied innovation and cross-cutting learning. The successful candidate would be joining a lively and dynamic multidisciplinary campus culture where AI is a centerpiece of various schools, departments, centers, and initiatives: https://www.usc.edu/ai/

The position is allocated approximately as 50% teaching, 30% practice-based scholarship, and 20% service. Practice-based scholarship at IYA consists of research and development of novel products and processes that are applied within industry and socio-cultural contexts and result in partnerships, projects, publications, patents, contracts, and awards.

Candidates should hold a PhD in computer science, engineering, or a related field OR hold a Master's in computer science, engineering, or a related field and have at least 5 years of relevant industry or academic experience. Candidates should have a strong background in developing, training, and deploying advanced AI, data, and machine learning systems from a human-centered innovation lens. Preference will be given to candidates whose background includes i) experience that crosses the areas of technology, design, business strategy, product development, and/or technology commercialization, ii) prior teaching and mentoring experience at the undergraduate and/or graduate level, and iii) industry experience in AI, ML, and/or data design.

The successful candidate will collaborate with other IYA and USC faculty to create novel methodologies for co-designing augmented human performance and technology innovation. They will teach students how to explore and enhance these methodologies through innovative pedagogy, novel partnerships, and application-oriented scholarship. The candidate will be capable of translating technical AI/ML concepts into accessible, application-oriented learning experiences for students with varying levels of technical background. The ideal candidate is comfortable teaching both technically rigorous material and applied AI workflows for students interested in entrepreneurship, product development, and innovation.

Salary to be commensurate with applied experience.

Responsibilities

Teaching

• Teach undergraduate and graduate-level courses in machine learning, interactive AI systems, data design, and generative AI, including courses oriented toward product development, management, and innovation.
• Develop applied transdisciplinary curricula that integrate AI/ML with human-centered design, product development, and business strategy.
• Design learning experiences that enable students to move from foundational knowledge to implementation, including prototyping, experimentation, and deployment of AI-driven products or services.

Practice-based scholarship

• Partner with IYA faculty and faculty across USC to create novel methodologies for co-designing augmented human performance and technology innovation.
• Develop industrypartnerships and funded project proposals that provide financial and programmatic support for practice-based scholarship and development in Human Technology Interaction at IYA and USC
• Be a forward-thinking thought leader on AI who can serve as a bridge between the Academy, industry, and the University at large, particularly in translating AI advances into educational and applied innovation contexts through human-AI collaborations.
• Contribute to the development of institutional AI initiatives, labs, or venture studios that integrate research, teaching, and applied innovation.

About the USC Iovine and Young Academy

USC Iovine and Young Academy students develop expertise at the intersection of design, technology, business, and communication, as well as competencies in each of these areas. Academy graduates can integrate divergent ideas to develop new ways of working, learning, and collaborating in key emerging specializations of the 21st century-design strategy, product innovation, integrated business innovation, extended reality, physical computing, health innovation and participatory wellness, purpose-driven innovation, and entrepreneurship. Academy students and graduates regularly receive offers for top internships and jobs from leading companies such as Apple, Google, Intel, Adidas, Sony, Spotify, Khan Academy, Tesla, Facebook, and Ernst and Young, and student startups have garnered more than $150M in funding and acquisition payouts since the school's opening in 2014.

The Academy is proud of our efforts to foster an accessible, inclusive, diverse, and equitable learning community. As a school, our express purpose is to reinvent undergraduate and graduate education, specifically to meet the changing needs of our students and, through their abilities, of society. Through these new models for education, we are intent on providing greater access for students from diverse backgrounds, especially those who exhibit talents, traits, and attributes that differ from those traditionally sought by higher education programs.

About the University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is one of the world's leading private research universities. An anchor institution in Los Angeles, a global center for arts, technology, and international business, USC's diverse curricular offerings provide extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary study and collaboration with leading researchers in highly advanced learning environments. USC strongly values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity employment. Women and men, and members of all racial and ethnic groups, are encouraged to apply.

Instructions to the applicant

Applicants should submit

• a letter of application discussing professional and scholarly work, teaching, scholarship, and related work experience;
• curriculum vitae;
• portfolio of projects, funding, and partnerships (if applicable)
• and names and contact information of three references.

All application materials should be uploaded through the online portal at usccareers.usc.edu. Finalists will be asked for additional materials. The application deadline is November 1, 2026.

The annual base salary range for the following faculty ranks in this posting is:

Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice, Technology: $120,000 - $179,000.

Questions can be addressed to the chair of the search committee, Professor Thanassis Rikakis ([e-mail])

USC is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance.