Director of AI Lab

Biola University, Inc.; La Mirada (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Biola University, La Mirada, CA invites applications for a Director of the AI Lab. The director will mentor students and faculty, shape AI curriculum, and lead interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of AI, business, and technology within a Christian tradition.

The role is exempt, full-time, with a campus presence in La Mirada and a limited hybrid/flexible arrangement, overseeing program development, partnerships, and responsible AI education for diverse learners.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in AI, CS, or Data Science preferred; master’s with industry experience considered.
• Demonstrated commitment to student development and teaching excellence.
• Experience in applied AI, research, or industry practice.
• Strong alignment with the university mission and integration of faith.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a student-centered AI Lab with hands-on learning.
• Mentor students in AI projects from problem definition to reflection.
• Create pathways for project-based learning, internships, and research.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in AI with experiential learning.
• Provide coaching in technical skills, collaboration, and ethics.
• Foster industry partnerships to expand student opportunities.
• Design and refine AI curriculum across disciplines.
• Collaborate with faculty to integrate AI into teaching and research.
• Oversee AI Lab programs enabling interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Represent the AI Lab to internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

AI applications

MLOps

Ethical AI

Mentorship

Curriculum design

Education

PhD in AI/CS/Data Science

Master’s in AI/CS/Data Science

Tools

API integration

Cloud platforms

Embeddings

Retrieval-augmented generation

Job description

Director of AI Lab

Position Description: The Director of the AI Lab serves as a thought leader, mentor, and builder of transformative student capabilities at the intersection of AI, business, and technology. This appointment positions the individual to shape how students learn, apply, and lead in an AI-driven world. The role centers on developing students (primary) and faculty (secondary) in technical capability and judgment, ethics, and purpose, equipping them to navigate and lead within evolving technological environments grounded in the Christian tradition.

Alignment with Theological Positions

The person who fills this position must be someone who personally agrees with Biola’s Articles of Faith and Statement of Biblical Principles and who is supportive of the positions taken by Biola as contained in its Eschatology Teaching Position. As such, this person may not speak against or act in a manner inconsistent with these positions during the course of their employment at Biola.

Department

Crowell School of Business

Supervisor

Dean, Crowell School of Business

Educational Requirements

A Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field is preferred. Candidates with a master’s degree in one of these fields and substantial relevant industry experience will also be considered.

Work Requirements

Exempt, full-time, 40 hours/week, 12 months per year.

This position requires personal attendance at Biola’s campus in La Mirada, California, but will consider a limited hybrid/flexible work arrangement

Essential Duties

• Lead the development of a student-centered AI Lab that prioritizes hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world application through projects, research, and industry engagement.
• Mentor students in applied AI projects by guiding them from problem definition through solution design, implementation, and reflection, ensuring both technical rigor and practical relevance.
• Create structured pathways for student development, including project-based learning, micro-consulting opportunities, internships, and research experiences that translate into career readiness.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in artificial intelligence and related fields while integrating experiential learning and direct mentorship into the classroom experience.
• Provide ongoing coaching to students in both technical skills and professional formation, including critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and ethical decision-making.
• Build strong connections between students and industry partners by facilitating applied projects, guest engagement, and networking opportunities that expand access for domestic and international students.
• Design and continuously refine AI curriculum across disciplines to ensure students have both foundational knowledge and applied capabilities aligned with current industry practices.
• Work closely with faculty across departments to integrate AI into their teaching and research while also mentoring them in developing student-centered, applied learning experiences.
• Oversee the development and execution of AI Lab programs that enable students to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration and solve meaningful, real-world problems.
• Serve as an accessible and visible leader within the university community who actively invests in student growth, fostering a culture of curiosity, initiative, and excellence.
• Guide students in research and innovation efforts, helping them develop projects that lead to publications, presentations, or entrepreneurial ventures.
• Cultivate a learning environment where students are encouraged to wrestle with the ethical, societal, and human implications of artificial intelligence.
• Represent the AI Lab to internal and external stakeholders while consistently advocating for student opportunity, development, and impact.
• Partner with the AI Lab Advisory Committee to ensure that all initiatives remain aligned with both student outcomes and broader strategic goals.
• Commit to ongoing growth as both an academic leader and mentor by engaging in professional development, industry collaboration, and scholarly contribution.
• Support and uphold the Biblical Principles for the Use of AI, Data Classification Chart, and Data Handling Guide.

Technical Capabilities

• Demonstrate the ability to guide students in expertly using AI applications, model architectures, training methods, and evaluation approaches, while helping them apply these concepts to real-world problems.
• Demonstrate the ability to mentor students in designing and building end-to-end generative AI systems, including retrieval-augmented generation, agent-based workflows, and API-integrated applications.
• Demonstrate fluency in data systems and the ability to teach students how data pipelines, embeddings, and governance practices influence AI performance and outcomes.
• Demonstrate experience in deploying AI systems and guiding students through the full lifecycle from prototype to production using modern cloud platforms and MLOps practices.
• Demonstrate systems-level thinking and the ability to help students understand how AI integrates into broader software architectures, including APIs, microservices, and enterprise environments.
• Demonstrate the ability to mentor students in recognizing and addressing AI risks, including bias, security vulnerabilities, and ethical concerns, while designing responsible and trustworthy systems.

Qualifications

• A Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field is preferred. Candidates with a master’s degree in one of these fields and substantial relevant industry experience will also be considered. A finalist with a Ph.D. may be eligible for a faculty appointment.
• Demonstrated commitment to student development, mentorship, and teaching excellence in both classroom and applied settings.
• Experience in applied AI, research, or industry practice that informs real-world student learning.
• Strong alignment with the mission of the university and a commitment to integrating faith, learning, and practice.

Hiring Range

$110,000.00 - 125,000.00 annual