Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity & A.I.

SDSU College of Engineering; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

San Diego State University invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position in AI Security at the rank of Assistant Professor with an expected start date of Fall 2027. The appointment will be in the MIS department within the Fowler College of Business, affiliated with the Cybersecurity Research and Education Center (CCRE).

Qualified applicants will pursue trustworthy AI, AI security governance, and AI privacy, with emphasis on security of AI systems.

Qualifications

• Develop a vigorous and independent program of research in AI security or related areas.
• Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses within MIS.
• Demonstrate potential for securing external funding.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead research in trustworthy AI and AI security.
• Teach MIS courses at graduate and undergraduate levels.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary centers (CCRE) and secure funding.

Skills

Original research

Independent program

Teaching graduate courses

Education

Terminal PhD in Information Systems / CS / ECE

Tools

AI security

Job description

Job Opportunities

Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity & A.I.

Job no: 562107

Work type: Instructional Faculty – Tenured/Tenure-Track

Location: San Diego

Categories: Unit 3 - CFA - California Faculty Association, Tenured/Tenure-Track, Full Time, Faculty - Computer Science, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Description

The San Diego State University (SDSU) invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position in AI Security at the rank of Assistant Professor with an expected start date of Fall 2027. The Assistant Professor will be a member of the interdisciplinary Cybersecurity Research and Education Center (CCRE; https://cyber.sdsu.edu), with an academic appointment in the Management Information Systems (MIS) department within the AACSB International-accredited Fowler College of Business.

SDSU is an R1 institution with a strategic initiative to develop world-leading research and education in cybersecurity and privacy. The CCRE is home to faculty conducting state-of-the-art research in critical infrastructure protection, cyber-physical systems, network security and privacy, and cybersecurity operations and management. The MIS Department has faculty expertise in information systems, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data science, and supply chain management, and interdisciplinary initiatives with CCRE and the Silberrad Center for Artificial Intelligence. The MIS Department offers Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management (MSCM) and Master of Science in Supply Chain Innovation (MSSCI) degrees.

The center seeks candidates working in AI security to complement its existing research activity and curricula. Qualified applicants will have demonstrated expertise in trustworthy and secure AI, AI security governance and policy, AI privacy, and/or AI/ML supply-chain security. This search specifically emphasizes the security of AI systems rather than the application of AI techniques to conventional cybersecurity problems.

Qualifications

Required qualifications by date of application

• A record of original research / scholarly accomplishments and demonstrated capacity to
  • Develop a vigorous and independent program of research and scholarship in AI security, cybersecurity, secure and trustworthy AI, or closely related areas.
  • Teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses;
  • Demonstration of past accomplishments and/or future plans in at least two (2) or more of the "Building on Inclusive Excellence" criteria.

Required Qualifications By Date Of Hire

• Terminal PhD degree in Information Systems, Computer Science or Electrical or Computer Engineering, or a closely related field, with all degree requirements met.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong understanding of statistical machine learning, large language models, generative AI, model protection, adversarial machine learning, and agent security.
• Experience in adversarial machine learning, agent security, federated learning, and model protection
• Strong record of peer-reviewed publications, presentations, and/or funding
• Preparation for teaching students from diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated potential to develop and sustain externally funded cybersecurity research, including support from U.S. government agencies, the Departments of Defense, Energy, and War, and military sponsors, subject to applicable sponsor eligibility requirements.

The minimum salary for this position is based on the current CSU salary schedule and may be revised based on contract collective bargaining. Salary placement will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. The anticipated salary range for an assistant professor in this role is $110,000 - $115,000. San Diego State University offers a rich benefits package that constitutes a major portion of total compensation.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment. We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

As part of its commitment to a safe and equitable "OneSDSU" community, SDSU requires that individuals seeking faculty employment provide at the time of application authorization to conduct background checks if they become a finalist for the position; applications without this authorization will be considered incomplete and not considered. A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.

Pursuant to Education Code 89521, the California State University requires that employment applicants disclose any final administrative decision or final judicial decision issued within the last seven years determining that the applicant committed sexual harassment. This requirement applies specifically to applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for the Academic or Administrative position they are applying to. Disclosures shall be provided to the San Diego State University Center for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination for further adjudication. Please contact [e-mail].

The person holding this position is considered a "mandated reporter" under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. SDSU is a Title IX, equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, medical condition, or covered veteran status.

Applications close: Open until filled