Assistant Professor

The Department of Statistics and Operations Research ( STOR) in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Department of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have an opening for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level starting July 1, 2027. The departments are seeking candidates with a doctorate (or foreign equivalent) in statistics, biostatistics, operations research, artificial intelligence or a related field. This early career hire will focus on foundational statistical and optimization methods for safe and reliable AI, with applications in biomedicine and public health. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, robust and stochastic optimization, generative and foundation models, reliable and robust machine learning, uncertainty quantification, sequential decision-making, and AI systems operating under uncertainty in high stakes environments. The secondary appointment in Biostatistics will facilitate close collaboration with applied researchers and provide pathways for translating methods into practice. Candidates are expected to highlight the connection between their research and their application focus in their cover letters. Duties of this position include teaching, research, and service. The hired candidate will be expected to teach courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels at the intersection of their expertise and the needs of the department. Screening of applications will begin November 9, 2026, on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to apply by that date to be included in the initial review cycle; applications submitted afterward will continue to receive full consideration while the position remains open. The application package should include a cover letter, an up-to-date curriculum vitae, research and teaching statements, representative papers, and a list of relevant graduate courses taken. Applicants should also arrange for four letters of recommendation. At least one of the letters should include an evaluation of the applicant's teaching ability. Application materials and letters of recommendation must be submitted in electronic form only; click on https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/ to apply for this position. This position is part of a cluster hire on Safeguarding Artificial Intelligence in Health: Foundations, Uncertainty, and High Stakes Decision Making, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that involves three jointly appointed positions with the Department of Biostatistics and the Department of Computer Science. This is structured to strengthen collaboration across these departments. The ideal candidate will have research and/or teaching interests that make substantive connections with related fields and would be excited to engage in cross-disciplinary conversations and collaborations. For inquiries, please contact STOR-Cluster@unc.edu . Further information about STOR is at http://stor.unc.edu, and about BIOS at https://sph.unc.edu/bios/biostatistics/.

The primary mission of the Department of Statistics & Operations Research ( STOR) in the College of Arts & Sciences is teaching, research, and service in statistics, operations research, probability, optimization, stochastic modeling, data science, analytics, and decision-making under uncertainty. The department is nationally recognized for graduate education and research; the College's current rankings page lists Statistics at UNC-Chapel Hill as 11th nationally in U.S. News & World Report rankings, and the department's research sits at the core of data science, machine learning/AI, analytics, network science, and related fields. The department administers graduate programs leading to the Ph.D. in Statistics and Operations Research and the M.S. in Statistics, Analytics and Data Science ( STANDS), as well as undergraduate programs including the B.S. in Statistics and Analytics, the B.A. in Data Science, the undergraduate minor in Statistics and Analytics, and the Data Science minor. The Ph.D. program provides advanced training in statistics, optimization, probability, and stochastic modeling and typically requires four to five years of full-time graduate work; the M.S. program requires 30 credit hours of graduate coursework and a master's essay and is normally completed in three to four semesters; the B.S. program requires four years of undergraduate study. In the most recent reporting year, the department awarded 223 B.S. degrees in Statistics and Analytics, 66 B.A. degrees in Data Science, 21 M.S. degrees, and 9 Ph.D. degrees. STOR also offers many high-demand courses serving students across the University in statistics, data science, optimization, analytics, probability, actuarial science, and quantitative reasoning. Historically, the department helped build the Research Triangle's strength in the statistical and mathematical sciences through its support of the Center for Stochastic Processes, NISS, and SAMSI; today it continues this campus and regional role through interdisciplinary research, the UNC Statistical/Data Science Consulting Center, Data OPS, DataFest, industry/capstone activities, and participation in University initiatives in data science, AI, health systems engineering, and systems engineering. For more information about the department, please visit our website at https://stor.unc.edu/.

This early career hire will focus on foundational statistical and optimization methods for safe and reliable AI, with applications in biomedicine and public health. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, robust and stochastic optimization, generative and foundation models, reliable and robust machine learning, uncertainty quantification, sequential decision-making, and AI systems operating under uncertainty in high stakes environments. The secondary appointment in Biostatistics will facilitate close collaboration with applied researchers and provide pathways for translating methods into practice.

Primary responsibilities of the position will include high-quality research, publishing in peer-reviewed journals and broader dissemination, seeking external funding for research, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, contributing to research mentoring of doctoral students, and engaging in departmental, university, and professional service activities.

The departments are seeking candidates with a doctorate (or foreign equivalent) in statistics, biostatistics, operations research, artificial intelligence or a related field.

This position is part of a cluster hire on Safeguarding Artificial Intelligence in Health: Foundations, Uncertainty, and High Stakes Decision Making, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that involves three jointly appointed positions with the Department of Biostatistics and the Department of Computer Science. This is structured to strengthen collaboration across these departments. The ideal candidate will have research and/or teaching interests that make substantive connections with related fields and would be excited to engage in cross-disciplinary conversations and collaborations.

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the University's Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost office at (919)-962-1091 or send an email to facultyrecruitment@unc.edu.

Please note: The Executive Vice Chancellor & Provost office will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

If you have any questions about the job requirements or the hiring department notify the Department Contact.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.