Unleash Your Potential With Us

As a next-generation public research institution, we are an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to shape the future and solve the world’s most challenging problems. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you become an integral part of our mission to become a university for the future. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with uniquely talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses and regional locations. That means greater challenges to tackle, more meaningful opportunities to grow, and rewarding experiences that go beyond a paycheck.

The Opportunity

The University of Central Florida's (UCF) Faculty Cluster Initiative leverages our existing strengths and fosters the development of strong, interdisciplinary teams focused on solving today's most demanding scientific and societal challenges through teaching and research. As one of America's largest and most innovative universities, we encourage you to learn more about the Faculty Cluster Initiative at https://www.ucf.edu/research/faculty-clusters/.

In support of this effort, we are recruiting one full-time, 9-month faculty member in the learning sciences with a special interest in the nexus of human learning and machine learning (https://www.ucf.edu/research/learning-sciences/). The Learning Sciences cluster is a partnership between the School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and the College of Community Innovation and Education. The cluster has evolved over the last five years to include many UCF units as well as local K-12 schools, industry, and two-year colleges.

We are seeking candidates at the rank of assistant professor (tenure earning) or associate professor or professor (tenured). Assistant professor candidates must be able to effectively facilitate new and existing research collaborations and have strong potential to secure extramural funding. Senior faculty candidates (associate professor or professor) must also have a proven record of research funding and high impact publications, mentoring and teaching, and demonstrate a strategic vision for how interdisciplinary research and development has the potential to transform learning as we gain new understanding about how humans learn and how machines learn. We anticipate that the successful candidate will have broad interests in learning, research, development, and innovation that span age/grade levels and content domains.

The successful candidate will join a large team focused on the integration of transdisciplinary knowledge regarding ways in which big data can inform machine learning algorithms to create more effective personalized learning environments for students of all ages and abilities. Specifically, we seek to understand how systems (e.g., users, tools, data, analysis, visualization), interfaces (e.g., natural language,  speech, vocalizations, vision, gestures, agents, robotics), and cognition (e.g., memory, emotion, metacognition, curiosity, pattern-interfaces, problem-solving, reasoning, decision making), interact in ways that improve students' academic, behavioral, emotional, and social outcomes through personalized learning (e.g., games, simulations, virtual/augmented/extended/mixed reality, intelligent tutoring systems, human digital twins, growth curves, learning pathways, reinforcement, remediation) based on a multitude of data (e.g., learning outcomes, problem solving behaviors, self-report measures, log files, eye movements, facial expressions of emotions, physiological sensors, verbalizations, discourse, gestures). A broad range of perspectives and research paradigms are used to conduct basic and applied research relative to cognition, metacognition, emotions, and motivation; the nature of learning, thinking, reasoning, problem solving, and understanding; physical, social, and cultural contexts; learning environments, instructional materials, and systems; the conditions impacting memory, thinking, metacognition, reflection, problem solving and performance in novice to expert learners; the ways knowledge and data are represented through machine learning, artificial Intelligence, knowledge engineering, and multimodal data analytics; and learner analytics generating meaningful data about student performance, accomplishments, and optimal pathways through knowledge bases and curricula that improve efficacy and reduce time and foster transfer across humans, tasks, domains, and educational and training contexts.

We seek candidates with expertise in any of the following areas:

• Simulations, virtual/augmented/mixed reality, intelligent tutoring systems, artificial agents, intelligent virtual humans, tangible computing, large language models, and human digital twins across students of all ages, topics, and domains (e.g., STEM, aerospace, healthcare, military);

• Cognition, metacognition, emotions, motivation, learning theory, interface design, user testing, personalized learning, human-AI teaming; 

• Multimodal data (e.g., learning outcomes, problem solving behaviors, self-report measures, log files, eye movements, facial expressions of emotions, physiological sensors, verbalizations, discourse, gestures);

• Systems for gathering big data, multimodal multichannel trace data, data mining methodologies, recommendation algorithms, data visualizations, and generative and explainable AI; or

• Knowledge representation, supervised and unsupervised machine learning approaches, decision making, complex systems, signal processing, parallel and cloud computation, natural language processing, robotics, speech, and vision.

Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis and interview dates will be communicated to invited candidates at the earliest possible time to coordinate travel.

The selected candidate will be expected to strengthen both the cluster and their chosen tenure home department in either the School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training (https://www.ist.ucf.edu/) or the College of Engineering and Computer Science (https://www.cecs.ucf.edu/ ). The successful candidate will be able to choose a tenure home and is encouraged to seek secondary appointments with other units where appropriate. Startup support will be provided. The anticipated start date for this position is August 8, 2024.

UCF is one of the nation's largest universities with a diverse student body of more than 68,000 students and has grown substantially in size, quality, diversity, and reputation in its first 50 years. Today, the university offers more than 240 degree programs at its main campus in Orlando. UCF is an economic engine, attracting and supporting industries vital to the region's future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. UCF's Orlando location also puts it at the center of the Florida High Tech Corridor. The corridor has an excellent industrial base, including healthcare, software, defense, space, simulation and training, and a world-renowned entertainment industry. Adjacent to UCF is a thriving research park that conducts over $2 billion in funded research, hosting over 100 high-technology companies and UCF's Institute for Simulation and Training. The Central Florida area is designated by the state of Florida as the Center of Excellence in Modeling and Simulation. UCF also has an accredited medical school, established in 2006, and is a neighbor to large corporations such as Disney, Harris Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Siemens, and many others. Great weather, easy access to the seashore, one of the largest convention centers in the nation, and one of the world's best airports are just a few features that make Orlando an ideal location.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A doctorate from an accredited institution in an area appropriate to the cluster at the time of appointment, and relevant teaching experience.

• Assistant professor candidates must have expertise in two or more relevant disciplines, demonstrate experience in building new or extending existing research collaborations, evidence of high-impact publications with expertise in two or more relevant disciplines, and have strong potential to secure extramural funding.

• Applicants at the associate professor or professor rank must have a proven record of interdisciplinary collaboration, research funding, and high-impact publications with expertise in two or more relevant disciplines.

• Candidates must demonstrate appropriate technical skills (e.g., machine learning, human learning, multimodal data analyses) to support relevant research and development relative to the nexus of human learning (e.g., cognition, metacognition, personalized learning, learning analytics, multimodal data analyses) and machine learning (e.g., neural networks, interface design, databases, sensors, statistical analysis, visualization).

To be eligible for appointment as a tenured associate professor or professor upon hire, the selected candidate must have a demonstrated record of teaching, research, and service commensurate with rank in a department/school related to the candidate’s area of expertise.

Preferred Qualifications:

We are looking to form a diverse and inclusive group of interdisciplinary thinkers with novel ideas and a passion for learning to help distinguish the UCF Learning Sciences cluster. Strongly preferred qualifications include:

• Candidates with a history of collaborating within research teams, especially teams that span multiple disciplines.

• Candidates with exceptional technical skills.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/ .  In addition to the online application, candidates should upload:

• A cover letter.

• A complete curriculum vitae.

• A research statement and summary of technical skills.

• Three publication reprints.

• A list of names and contact information for at least 3 professional references (please include email addresses).

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to:  Chair of the Search Committee, Lead Scientist, and Learning Sciences Cluster Co-Lead, Dr. Roger Azevedo (roger.azevedo@ucf.edu ). Questions about the Learning Sciences Cluster may also be directed to the Learning Sciences Cluster Co-Lead, Dr. Charles Hughes (charles.hughes@ucf.edu ).

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

N/A

Job Close Date:

Open until filled.

Note to applicants: Please keep in mind that a job posted as ‘Open until filled ’ may close at any time without notice. As such, we encourage you to submit your application and all required documentation as quickly as possible to ensure consideration for the posted position.

Are Benefits Important to You?

Working at UCF has its perks!  In addition to helping drive change and having a positive impact by supporting our students, staff, and faculty, UCF offers:

• Benefit packages including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, healthcare flexible spending accounts, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid time off, including annual and sick leave and paid holidays.
• Retirement savings options.
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando area attractions.
• Education assistance.
• Flexible work environment.

And more…For more benefits information, go to ‘Prospective Employees’ on the UCF Human Resources website (https://hr.ucf.edu/ ).

Who Are We?

Founded in 1963 to fuel the region’s talent pipeline and support the growing U.S. space program, UCF is built to make a better future for our students and society. It’s one of the reasons U.S. News & World Report ranks UCF among the nation’s top 20 most innovative colleges, while Forbes, Kiplinger , and The Princeton Review rank us a best-value university. UCF is one of 14 universities nationwide designated as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution and a Research 1 university. With 13 colleges, including a fully accredited College of Medicine, UCF offers more than 240 degree programs between its main campus, downtown campus, hospitality campus, academic health sciences campus, and 11 UCF Connect centers located throughout the region. In addition, UCF extends its reach to communities in and beyond Central Florida by offering complete, online programs leading to bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, Ph.D.'s., certificates, and more.

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of higher education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to employment in research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty positions (including employed visiting positions), graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, postdoctoral scholar positions, and undergraduate positions.

Department

Office Of Research, Research Centers & Institutes, College Of Graduate Studies, And Burnett Honors College HR Business Center

Work Schedule

Varies

Type of Appointment

Regular

Expected Salary

Negotiable

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

As an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, UCF encourages all qualified applicants to apply, including women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations. UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement can be viewed at  http://www.oie.ucf.edu/documents/PresidentsStatement.pdf.

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.