Assistant/Associate Professor Workforce Development and AI Literacy

Details

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the nature of work, reshaping industries, and redefining the skills required for success in a rapidly changing economy. Preparing students, communities, and organizations for this shift requires dedicated expertise in AI literacy, workforce development, and applied learning strategies.

The University of Utah, under its Strategy 2030 and One-U Responsible AI Initiative (One-U RAI), is investing in faculty who will strengthen teaching, research, and partnerships at the intersection of AI, workforce readiness, and equitable access to digital literacy and skills. This faculty member will build transdisciplinary collaborations across colleges, develop applied research on AI literacy and workforce development, and contribute to Utah's economic and educational ecosystem through training and innovation in responsible AI use.

We seek candidates with demonstrated expertise in research in workforce development, AI education, and/or digital upskilling initiatives. This may include but is not limited to the exploration of curriculum design for AI literacy, research on the impacts of AI on labor markets, stackable certificates and micro-credentials on AI, the design and evaluation of AI-powered learning tools, cognitive processes involved in learning and memory, including motivation and metacognition, or applied training programs for diverse learners (undergraduate, graduate, professional, and community). This recruitment specifically targets faculty with expertise in AI literacy and workforce development, helping students and communities thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.

This specific recruitment is for a tenure-track position at the Assistant or Associate Professor level to begin in Fall 2026. The successful candidate will have a research appointment with the Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute at the University of Utah, and their tenure home in one of the following participating colleges and departments: College of Architecture + Planning: Department of City and Metropolitan Planning and Multi-Disciplinary Design, Division of Games, School of Architecture; College of Business: Departments of Operations & Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis of Markets and Organizations (QAMO); College of Education: Department of Educational Psychology; College of Engineering: School ofComputing; College of Humanities: Departments of Communication and Writing & Rhetoric Studies; College of Science: Department of Mathematics; College of Social and Behavioral Science: Department of Psychology. We seek a colleague with a commitment to excellence in teaching and demonstrated ability to obtain research funding and publish high-quality peer-reviewed research. We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to our university's Strategy 2030 and the One-U RAI.

Qualified candidates may come from education, instructional design, educational technology, learning sciences, social sciences, psychology, humanities, communication, writing studies, computer science, physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, design, architecture, planning, business, economics, or related fields.

Responsibilities


Research & Scholarship:

• Develop a program of applied research in workforce development, AI literacy, or AI-enabled learning.

• Publish high-quality peer-reviewed research and secure external funding in AI/education/labor market research.

• Explore workforce impacts of AI in sectors relevant to Utah (e.g., healthcare, tech, business, government).

Teaching & Curriculum Development:

• Teach and develop courses on AI literacy, workforce development, and applied AI for undergraduate and graduate students.

• Contribute to certificate and other programs in AI skills and responsible AI use.

• Mentor students and professionals seeking careers in AI-augmented industries.

Collaboration & Engagement:

• Partner with the Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute (sci.utah.edu) and with industry partners and workforce boards to design scalable programs.

• Collaborate with colleagues across departments (Education, Business, Engineering, Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, etc.).

• Support statewide initiatives in AI literacy and workforce development aligned with Utah's economic development goals.

Leadership & Service:

• Contribute to the University's national leadership in AI in teaching and learning.

• Participate in faculty governance and committee work.

• Advance inclusive practices that expand access to AI skills for underrepresented populations.

Qualifications


Required:

• A doctoral degree in education, instructional design, educational technology, learning sciences, social sciences, psychology, humanities, communication, writing studies, computer science, physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, design, architecture, planning, business, economics, or related fields (by start date).

• Demonstrated record of scholarship or applied practice in workforce development and/or AI literacy.

• Evidence of teaching excellence and curriculum development.

• Commitment to responsible, ethical, and equitable approaches to AI.

Preferred:

• Experience securing external funding from foundations, government, or industry.

• Demonstrated partnerships with employers, government agencies, or community organizations.

• Expertise in designing accessible training for diverse populations, including nontraditional learners.

• Experience with AI-enhanced education tools, learning analytics, or micro-credentialing.

About the Initiative


The One-U RAI housed within the Scientific Computing and Imaging (SCI) Institute at the University of Utah is growing and pursuing multiple new faculty hires over the next five years. These hires will expand the core research expertise in responsible and translational AI within three thematic areas: environment, healthcare and wellness, and teaching and learning. A major goal is to attract new partnerships across the University and beyond. Candidates whose research expertise integrates social and technical aspects are of particular interest.

About the SCI Institute


The SCI Institute is a transdisciplinary, research-focused partnering entity at the University of Utah, comprising faculty from four academic colleges, as well as students and staff (185 current personnel). The SCI Institute's vision is to advance translational computing and data to enable the transformation across disciplines in a way that benefits the University of Utah and society at large. Its mission is to advance computation and data science to catalyze research excellence and discovery in diverse domains applied to multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary problems of societal importance. The Institute accomplishes these goals through the collaborative development, deployment, and application of software systems and tools for applied scientific and data computing, imaging, and visualization.

Over more than three decades, the SCI Institute has established itself as an internationally recognized leader in translational innovations across computational and data science, with leading research and training programs in the areas of visualization, scientific and biomedical computing, and image analysis applied to a broad range of challenging problems.

Alongside its research goals is a passion to educate students and staff. The SCI Institute is proud to have supported over 400 graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and nearly 100 undergraduates to achieve an education at the cutting edge of research. Additional information about the Institute and current faculty can be found at sci.utah.edu.

About the University of Utah


The University of Utah is a Carnegie Research I Institution. Located in metropolitan Salt Lake City in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, the University of Utah is the state's flagship research institution and emphasizes exceptional scholarship, quality teaching, and professional service. The university serves over 32,000 students from across the U.S. and the world with over 72 major subjects at the undergraduate level and more than 90 major fields of study at the graduate level, including law and medicine. Known for its proximity to seven world-class ski resorts within 40 minutes of campus, the University of Utah encourages an active, holistic lifestyle, innovation, and collaborative thinking to engage students, faculty, and business leaders. The University of Utah provides a generous benefits package with a variety of medical and dental plans from which to choose. Other important benefits include retirement, tuition reduction, a wellness program, and an Employee Assistance Program.

Salt Lake City is a vibrant, major metropolitan area with a diverse, multicultural population and numerous cultural and outdoor activities. Utah and the stunning Salt Lake Valley are undergoing robust economic growth with one of the Nation's fastest-growing technology sectors, and the University of Utah is acclaimed for its successes in technology-driven start-ups. The University has invested significantly in the SCI Institute, and substantial further investments are now enabling these recruitments.

Salt Lake City is home to a robust array of diverse communities, facilitating numerous opportunities for interaction with a range of civic and political organizations, given the city's role as the governmental and social nerve center of the state. Utah public schools serve a diverse student body (statewide average: eight percent ELs and twenty-six percent non-white), notably higher in its urban districts. Utah is also home to the first state-legislated and funded K-16 dual language education model in the country.

The University of Utah is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and educator. Minorities, women, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans' preference is extended to qualified veterans. Reasonable disability accommodations will be provided with appropriate notice. For additional information about the University's commitment to equal opportunity and access. For more details see: http://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students from diverse backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education for historically underrepresented students.

Special Instructions for Candidates


Qualified applicants must submit:

• A letter of intent outlining research and teaching interests

• Curriculum vitae

• Teaching philosophy statement

Review of applications will begin November 15, 2025, and will remain open until the position is filled. References will not be contacted without candidate consent.

Inquiries regarding the position may be directed to the Search Committee Co-Chairs, Chenglu Li (chenglu.li@utah.edu) and Rob MacLeod (macleod@sci.utah.edu).



Department: 00810 - Scient Comp & Imag Instit-Oper
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Track: Tenure Track
Close Date:
Open Until Filled: Yes
Requisition Number: PRN01421CF

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/190663

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at:
https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu








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