Teaching Faculty Positions in Human-Centered Computing

The Pennsylvania State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% tuition discount

Excellent benefits package

Job summary

The Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Human-Centered Computing and Social Informatics (HCCSI) in IST invites applications for two open-rank, non-tenure-line teaching faculty positions at University Park, beginning January or July 2027. These are term appointments with strong renewal potential, primarily in-person teaching on the State College campus.

Candidates should demonstrate expertise in designing and developing AI-powered applications and interactive systems, with a commitment

Qualifications

• Must hold a master's degree or higher by appointment start date.
• Ph.D. or other terminal degree is preferred but not required.
• Fields include Computer Science, AI, Informatics, HCI and related computing disciplines.

Responsibilities

• Teach residential undergraduate and graduate courses in person at State College.
• Contribute to department service and governance.
• Engage in curricular innovation and development and advise diverse student populations.

Skills

AI-powered apps

Interactive systems

Undergraduate teaching

Curricular innovation

Education

Master's degree

PhD preferred

Tools

Python

Java

Job description

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Department of Human-Centered Computing and Social Informatics (HCCSI) in the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) at The Pennsylvania State University invites applications for two open-rank, non-tenure-line teaching faculty positions beginning in January or July of 2027 at the University Park campus. These are term appointments with an excellent possibility of renewal as multi-year appointments.

Candidates should demonstrate strong technical expertise in designing and developing AI-powered applications and interactive systems, a commitment to teaching undergraduate and graduate students from varied backgrounds, and an interest in curricular innovation and development.

The primary responsibility will be teaching residential undergraduate and graduate courses. These are in-person teaching positions based in State College, Pennsylvania, and most courses associated with these positions are taught in person. University service is also expected of teaching faculty.

We seek candidates who can teach students how to integrate AI models and capabilities into larger software systems and develop robust, scalable, maintainable, and usable AI-powered applications. Candidates should be prepared to help students develop the technical and critical judgment needed to build AI-powered systems effectively and responsibly. Expertise in developing or training AI or machine-learning models is not required, but experience in these areas is a plus.

The successful candidates may teach in the following areas, listed in order of importance for this search:

• Design and development of AI-powered applications and interactive systems, including integrating AI models and capabilities into larger software systems and building robust, maintainable, and usable applications.

• AI application architectures and development frameworks, including model integration and orchestration, deployment, monitoring, and evaluation.

• Agent-based application development, including LLM-powered agents, single-agent and multi-agent systems, agent coordination, and AI-powered interactive systems.

• Human-centered design and evaluation of AI-powered applications, including prototyping, human-AI interaction, user needs, human values, responsible use, and user experience.

• Software design, engineering, and application development, including object-oriented design, software validation and verification techniques, testing, debugging, deployment, maintenance, mobile application development, and capstone development.

• Programming and application development, particularly in Python and/or Java.

Applicants must hold a master's degree or higher in a relevant field by the appointment start date. A Ph.D. or other terminal degree is preferred but not required. Relevant fields include, but are not limited to, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Informatics, Information Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Engineering, and related computing disciplines. Depending on qualifications, appointments may be made at the rank of Lecturer, Assistant Teaching Professor, Associate Teaching Professor, Teaching Professor, or Professor of Practice in accordance with Penn State policy AC21.

Applicants must include the following materials with their application: (i) a cover letter describing qualifications for the position and relevant expertise in AI-powered application development and related technical areas; (ii) a one-page teaching statement; (iii) curriculum vitae; and (iv) contact information for at least three professional references. The teaching statement should describe the candidate's teaching philosophy, pedagogical approach, and teaching style, including how they engage students and support effective learning in technical courses. Applicants should also indicate which of the teaching areas described above they would be most interested in contributing to, as well as any new courses they would be interested in developing. Please upload one document that combines the above materials into a single PDF.

For more information, please visit the HCCSI department website and the College of IST degree programs.

Inquiries about the position may be directed to [e-mail].

Review of applications will begin November 1, 2026, and will continue until the positions are filled. Candidates are encouraged to apply early. On-site interviews in State College may begin as early as November 2026.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

BENEFITS

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.

EEO IS THE LAW

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.

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