For FY2021, we have an approved position to hire interdisciplinary faculty at the interaction of AI and neuroscience at any rank. An opportunity-hire of an exceptional candidate is possible.
Why and how at the AI Institute at the University of South Carolina offers an unparalleled opportunity to build a career for ambitious and talented AI researchers and educators?
1.The opportunity to be part of a major growth opportunity that a campus-wide initiative provides:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6618287384318537728
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6618287279796482048
Also see additional information at:
News - AI Institute (especially the podcast and the emphasis on student success)
Look at the vision: Leadership talk: Artificial Intelligence Institute at UofSC
We are working to build the largest AI organization in the US Southeast, with an exciting portfolio of core AI and interdisciplinary AI projects.
Browse to review the start of the AI Institute and the related information: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1054055/
Compared to a traditional position in a department where you carry out your teaching, research and service activities, here you get to be part of a research-intensive institute for your research and most of your professional services, and even your teaching to graduate students will be aligned with the institute. The institute borrows features from some of the top institutes in CS such as USC-ISI or UMD-UMIACS, with attractive new facilities, and a highly collaborative environment that will provide you and your students many advantages.
Get a sense of the earlier leadership effort by Prof. Sheth (Feb 2019 profile overview): https://www.slideshare.net/apsheth/knoesis-approach-to-impactful-research-creating-exceptional-careers-economic-development. He has been invested in the success of his colleagues, postdocs, and students at all levels. With a larger initiative, exceptional campus-wide support, and higher-quality institution, we have an opportunity to significantly exceed prior successes. A full professor has already been attracted/recruited to join the AI Institute in early summer [1].
2. Very low teaching load: 1 + 1 that provides plenty of time for research and the mentoring of research students to collaborate with you. Your teaching assignment will usually alternate between one undergraduate course one semester and one graduate course the next semester (the graduate course can be a specialized course in your area of research). We already have 15-20 AI-related courses. In addition to a PhD, we offer an MS in CS with AI Certification and an MS in AI is being planned!
3. You will have a very competitive startup package, with funds for equipment, travel, summer support, and support for research assistants.
4. Excellent faculty with AI expertise in Computer Science & Engineering with whom you can collaborate:
https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/engineering_and_computing/study/computer_science_and_engineering/our_people/index.php
Some examples: Jianjun Hu, Pooyan Jamshidi, Song Wang, Marco Valtorta ...
Excellent opportunities to be a significant part of large and impactful interdisciplinary AI projects: see a partial list of examples at Artificial Intelligence Institute.
Exceptional infrastructure:
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6611045225785810944
https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/division_of_information_technology/rci/index.php
You will have free access to a shared and growing computing environment (especially GPU cluster).
5. Excellent collaborative environment with world-class resources, but with strong encouragement/support to build your own/independent research presence and leadership in the chosen area of AI. A highly intellectual, engaging, fun, and supportive environment for both faculty and students (e.g., designed to make PhD students independent and confident researchers).
A very congenial and collaborative environment where students of all AI Institute faculty collaborate or interact. Processes (e.g., weekly group meetings that everyone attends, frequent afternoon walks, which SC weather allows nearly year-round, frequent long and short term visitors whose talks are attended by everyone) and infrastructure planned to support collaboration (E.g., well-equipped kitchen, informal seating places, conference rooms, quiet room). Strong support and encouragement for diversity and inclusion - leading participation in several formal and informal activities that have led to higher diversity.
The AI Institute is already attracting high-quality student applicants (little or no difficulty in recruiting very good Ph.D. students, always several to choose from); high-quality undergrads who can help in building tools and systems.
6. Benefits of being the state’s flagship university. The campus adjoins the state capitol, with excellent access to state government institutions (e.g., participation in the state’s priority in education, rural health, connected manufacturing, etc. with an opportunity to make a significant impact). UofSC is a Carnegie Research Tier 1 university (comprehensive research university). Several highly-ranked colleges/schools (e.g., Public Health is ranked #19, Darla Moore School of Business). Excellent access to resources for technology transfer, commercialization, and entrepreneurship (including seed funding and incubation). Significant external collaborations with top researchers and teams at: ISI- Univ of Southern California, San Diego Super Computing - UCSD, Ohio State U., Arizona State University, Weil Cornell Medicine….
7. Excellent campus with modern facilities and historical core (university was established in 1801 so has very lovely central campus and yet has access to a lovely city), excellent weather (no snow), moderate cost of living, great and affordable housing choices, very good school districts nearby, no history of major hurricanes/tornadoes/earthquakes/wildfires. Lovely mid-sized city with several museums, a variety of cuisines, extensive cultural activities, and engaged sports culture.
8. AI Institute will be aligned along with the principles of the 20-year AI Roadmap developed by the AI community [2].
References:
[1] The incoming faculty has spent 20 successful years at IBM Research and is a master inventor with 50+ patents, 2020-2021 AAAS Leshner Fellow, AAAI Senior Member, ACM Distinguished Scientist.
[2] A 20-Year Community Roadmap for Artificial Intelligence Research in the US, https://cra.org/ccc/ai-roadmap-executive-summary/