Open-Rank Faculty Position in Foundational Artificial Intelligence

Rice University; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Rice University in Houston, Texas invites applications for an open-rank faculty position in foundational artificial intelligence. Appointments may be tenure-track at Assistant Professor level or tenured at Associate/Full Professor level, with start date July 1, 2027.

Ideal candidates will advance AI foundations and contribute to interdisciplinary collaborations across Rice's Engineering and Computing domains.

Qualifications

• PhD in statistics, electrical engineering, computing, or a closely related field by time of appointment.

Responsibilities

• Establish or maintain a vigorous, externally funded research program with national/international recognition.
• Disseminate results via high-impact publications and conferences; teach undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Advise and mentor undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers; contribute to service and interdisciplinary collaborations.
• Demonstrate excellence in teaching, advising, and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds.

Job description

Open-Rank Faculty Position in Foundational ArtificialIntelligence

Tenure-Track or Tenured Faculty Opening in the

George R. Brown School ofEngineering and Computing at RiceUniversity

https://engineering.rice.edu/

https://www.rice.edu/

Position Description

The George R. Brown School ofEngineering and Computing at Rice University in Houston, Texas,invites applications for one open-rank faculty position infoundational artificial intelligence. The appointment may be madeat the tenure-track Assistant Professor level or at the tenuredAssociate Professor or Full Professor level, commensurate with thecandidate’s qualifications and experience, with an anticipatedstart date of July 1, 2027.

We seek candidates who advance the statistical, mathematical,computational, or algorithmic foundations of artificialintelligence (AI) and scientific machine learning. Applicants areencouraged to articulate their own vision of how their researchagenda will shape the future of foundational AI, whether bybuilding on established areas or opening new directions.Outstanding candidates whose work advances foundational AI in otherareas are also encouraged to apply.

Successful candidates will demonstrate deep, original contributionsto AI scholarship and the potential to shape the future of thefield. Rice seeks faculty who embrace a culture of excellence,innovation, collaboration, responsible technological development,and inclusive mentorship. Excellence in research and teaching willbe the primary criteria for evaluation.

Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be expected to establish or maintain avigorous, externally funded research program with national andinternational recognition; conduct innovative research anddisseminate results through high-impact publications, conferences,and other scholarly activities; and teach undergraduate andgraduate courses aligned with their expertise. Additionalresponsibilities include advising and mentoring undergraduate,graduate, and postdoctoral researchers; contributing todepartmental, school, university, and professional service; andfostering interdisciplinary collaborations within Rice and withexternal partners. The successful candidate will demonstrate astrong commitment to excellence in teaching, advising, andmentoring students from a broad range of backgrounds andexperiences and will contribute to the continued strength ofundergraduate and graduate education across the department and theGeorge R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing. Rice’s highlycollaborative environment provides opportunities to engage withresearchers in materials science, computational science, energy,advanced manufacturing, biomedical engineering, and otherdisciplines.

We welcome the fullness of diversity at Rice. Qualified applicantsare considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex,sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin,genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Inour candidate pools, we seek to increase the representation ofwomen, scholars of color, people with disabilities, veterans, andothers who have historically been underrepresented in engineering,computing, and the statistical sciences; attract scholars andstudents from a wide range of countries, backgrounds, andexperiences; accelerate progress toward building a faculty andstaff community with diverse perspectives and expertise; andmaintain an environment that fosters interaction, understanding,and belonging throughout our community.

About the School of Engineering and Computing’s AI Initiative

The School’s Vision 2030 strategic plan identifies three researchthrusts: Health and Well-being, Sustainability and Resilience, andComputing and AI. Consistent with that broader vision, RiceEngineering and Computing is undertaking a multi-year facultyhiring initiative in artificial intelligence. For the 2026–27hiring cycle, the School is recruiting for three positions: oneopen-rank position in Foundational AI and two Assistant Professorpositions in AI for Sustainability and Resilience. The initiativeprioritizes deep, technically rigorous AI scholarship,interdisciplinary collaboration, responsible technologicaldevelopment, and research with the potential for significantscientific and societal impact.

Within this initiative, the Foundational AI search falls within theComputing and AI thrust and prioritizes core techniques,theoretical foundations, and methodological breakthroughs in AI. Itsupports the School’s goals of reimagining computing and AIfoundations; advancing collaborative, intelligent, and resilientautonomous systems; and designing trustworthy, explainable, andhuman-centered technologies.

Candidates applying through this posting will be considered for apotential primary appointment in Statistics, Computer Science, orElectrical and Computer Engineering. Candidates whose work alignswith more than one participating department may be consideredacross multiple departmental applicant pools, and joint oraffiliated appointments may also be considered.

About Rice University

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research universitylocated on a 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas,adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice serves nearly 9,200undergraduate and graduate students and is distinguished byresearch excellence, a collaborative culture, and close engagementbetween students and faculty.

Houston’s leadership in energy, health care, aerospace,manufacturing, and data-intensive industries creates exceptionalopportunities for external partnerships and research impact.

Candidates should demonstrate excellence in research andscholarship appropriate to rank, a commitment to excellence inundergraduate and graduate teaching, the potential to establish orsustain a highly impactful, externally funded research program, anda commitment to mentoring students and contributing to acollaborative academic community. Candidates for appointment at theAssociate Professor or Full Professor level should have adistinguished record of scholarly achievement, sustained researchimpact, and national or international recognition in theirfield.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in statistics, electrical engineering,computing, or a closely related field by the time ofappointment.

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer withcommitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employmentqualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age,sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnicorigin, genetic information, disability or protected veteranstatus.

Rice Mission and Values

Mission and Values | Rice University