Open Rank - Fixed Term - (Assistant/Associate/Full) Teaching Professor

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for an open-rank, fixed-term Teaching Professor in Data Science within the Division of Data Science and Society. The position focuses on foundational computational tools, computational thinking, and introductory data science concepts.

We seek candidates with a PhD, proven college-level teaching experience in data science or related fields, and a commitment to mentoring undergraduates.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent terminal degree in a field aligned with DSS mission.
• Demonstrated experience teaching at the college/university level in data science, computational methods, or related fields.
• Ability to articulate methodological expertise and its relevance to data science.

Responsibilities

• Teach foundational computational tools and data science concepts.
• Develop and teach courses (e.g., DATA 110, DATA 140, DATA 215) and related offerings.
• Advise and mentor undergraduate students and collaborate across disciplines.

Skills

Teaching introductory data science

Programming concepts

Advising undergraduates

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD or equivalent terminal degree

Job description

Department:

Data Sci and Society - 371210

Posting Open Date:

10/12/2026

Application Deadline:

11/16/2026

Open Until Filled:

No

Position Type:

Permanent Faculty

Working Title:

Open Rank - Fixed Term - (Assistant/Associate/Full) Teaching Professor

Appointment Type:

Open Rank

Vacancy ID:

FAC0006163

Full-time/Part-time:

Full-Time Permanent

Hours per week:

40

FTE:

1

Position Location:

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range:

Commensurate with Education and Experience

Proposed Start Date:

07/01/2027

Be a Tar Heel!:

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

In July 2026, UNC Chapel Hill launched the Division of Data Science and Society within the School of Data and Information Sciences (SDIS), a division devoted to data science teaching, research, scholarship, service, and creativity. DSS’s vision is to be a leader in shaping the field of data science through an interdisciplinary and rigorous grounding in theory and methods with a human centric approach to the entire data life cycle.

The mission of DSS is to empower a diverse community of faculty conducting research in the fundamentals and/or the applications of data science. The Division is training undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to be the next generation of data science leaders with the knowledge and skills to thrive in this data-driven world. The Division will serve the state, the nation, and the world through premier data science educational programs and innovative research directed to advancing the public good with human centric and ethical applications.

The core elements of SDIS include porous borders: leveraging our low walled collaborative Carolina culture to solve major societal problems. Interdisciplinary research clusters that cross Division and School boundaries are a vital element of our Scholarly community. The School of Data and Information Sciences is focused on students and education – the emphasis is not just on data science majors but on all students becoming data literate. The school’s culture has an open and transparent structure, governance, and business model.

Position Summary:

The Division of Data Science and Society (DSS) in the School of Data and Information Sciences (SDIS) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for 9- or 12-month, fixed-term, open-rank (Assistant/Associate/Full) Teaching Professor position in Data Science, with a focus on foundational computational tools, computational thinking, and introductory data science concepts. Sample courses include DATA 110, DATA 140, and DATA 215, with opportunities to develop and teach additional courses in these areas.

We seek candidates with expertise or experience in:

• Teaching foundational computational tools, programming concepts, and computational thinking.
• Data structures and introductory data science methods.
• Teaching and engaging undergraduate students, particularly in first-year and foundational courses.
• Teaching college-level introductory courses in data science, programming, computational methods, or related fields.
• Advising and mentoring a growing undergraduate student population.

The successful candidate will contribute to the continued development of the School’s undergraduate data science curriculum by identifying emerging instructional needs, developing new courses and learning experiences, and incorporating effective computational tools and teaching practices. The candidate will collaborate across disciplines to ensure that foundational courses provide students with the computational knowledge, skills, and conceptual understanding needed for success in advanced data science coursework.

The standard instructional assignment is three courses per semester for 9-month appointments (six courses annually) and four courses per semester for 12-month appointments (eight courses annually).

This is a permanent fixed-term faculty position with an initial three-year appointment, subject to reappointment, and a pathway for advancement in rank.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• A PhD or equivalent terminal degree in any substantive field relevant to the mission, vision, and values of the Division of Data Science and Society (DSS).
• Demonstrated experience teaching at the college or university level in data science, computational methods, programming, statistics, or a related field.
• Candidates must be able to articulate their methodological expertise and its relevance to the domains of data science.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

• Teaching introductory data science, computational methods, programming, or related courses at the undergraduate level.
• Ability to explain computational concepts clearly to students from diverse disciplinary backgrounds.
• Experience developing or contributing to undergraduate data science curricula and courses.
• Ability to apply disciplinary or methodological expertise to data science questions and problems.
• Advising and mentoring undergraduate students.
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines in an interdisciplinary academic environment.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:

This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority in accordance with the Clery Act. This position will be required to report Clery crimes to the Clery Compliance Manager and complete annual training about reporting responsibilities.