Open-Rank Faculty Position in Foundational Artificial Intelligence

Open-Rank Faculty Position in Foundational Artificial
Intelligence

Tenure-Track or Tenured Faculty Opening in the

George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing at Rice
University

https://engineering.rice.edu/

https://www.rice.edu/

Position Description
The George R. Brown School of
Engineering and Computing at Rice University in Houston, Texas,
invites applications for one open-rank faculty position in
foundational artificial intelligence. The appointment may be made
at the tenure-track Assistant Professor level or at the tenured
Associate Professor or Full Professor level, commensurate with the
candidate’s qualifications and experience, with an anticipated
start date of July 1, 2027.

We seek candidates who advance the statistical, mathematical,
computational, or algorithmic foundations of artificial
intelligence (AI) and scientific machine learning. Applicants are
encouraged to articulate their own vision of how their research
agenda will shape the future of foundational AI, whether by
building on established areas or opening new directions.
Outstanding candidates whose work advances foundational AI in other
areas are also encouraged to apply.

Successful candidates will demonstrate deep, original contributions
to AI scholarship and the potential to shape the future of the
field. Rice seeks faculty who embrace a culture of excellence,
innovation, collaboration, responsible technological development,
and inclusive mentorship. Excellence in research and teaching will
be the primary criteria for evaluation.

Responsibilities

The selected candidate will be expected to establish or maintain a
vigorous, externally funded research program with national and
international recognition; conduct innovative research and
disseminate results through high-impact publications, conferences,
and other scholarly activities; and teach undergraduate and
graduate courses aligned with their expertise. Additional
responsibilities include advising and mentoring undergraduate,
graduate, and postdoctoral researchers; contributing to
departmental, school, university, and professional service; and
fostering interdisciplinary collaborations within Rice and with
external partners. The successful candidate will demonstrate a
strong commitment to excellence in teaching, advising, and
mentoring students from a broad range of backgrounds and
experiences and will contribute to the continued strength of
undergraduate and graduate education across the department and the
George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing. Rice’s highly
collaborative environment provides opportunities to engage with
researchers in materials science, computational science, energy,
advanced manufacturing, biomedical engineering, and other
disciplines.

We welcome the fullness of diversity at Rice. Qualified applicants
are considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin,
genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. In
our candidate pools, we seek to increase the representation of
women, scholars of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and
others who have historically been underrepresented in engineering,
computing, and the statistical sciences; attract scholars and
students from a wide range of countries, backgrounds, and
experiences; accelerate progress toward building a faculty and
staff community with diverse perspectives and expertise; and
maintain an environment that fosters interaction, understanding,
and belonging throughout our community.

About the School of Engineering and Computing’s AI
Initiative

The School’s Vision 2030 strategic plan identifies three research
thrusts: Health and Well-being, Sustainability and Resilience, and
Computing and AI. Consistent with that broader vision, Rice
Engineering and Computing is undertaking a multi-year faculty
hiring initiative in artificial intelligence. For the 2026–27
hiring cycle, the School is recruiting for three positions: one
open-rank position in Foundational AI and two Assistant Professor
positions in AI for Sustainability and Resilience. The initiative
prioritizes deep, technically rigorous AI scholarship,
interdisciplinary collaboration, responsible technological
development, and research with the potential for significant
scientific and societal impact.

Within this initiative, the Foundational AI search falls within the
Computing and AI thrust and prioritizes core techniques,
theoretical foundations, and methodological breakthroughs in AI. It
supports the School’s goals of reimagining computing and AI
foundations; advancing collaborative, intelligent, and resilient
autonomous systems; and designing trustworthy, explainable, and
human-centered technologies.

Candidates applying through this posting will be considered for a
potential primary appointment in Statistics, Computer Science, or
Electrical and Computer Engineering. Candidates whose work aligns
with more than one participating department may be considered
across multiple departmental applicant pools, and joint or
affiliated appointments may also be considered.

About Rice University

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university
located on a 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas,
adjacent to the Texas Medical Center. Rice serves nearly 9,200
undergraduate and graduate students and is distinguished by
research excellence, a collaborative culture, and close engagement
between students and faculty.

Houston’s leadership in energy, health care, aerospace,
manufacturing, and data-intensive industries creates exceptional
opportunities for external partnerships and research impact.

Candidates should demonstrate excellence in research and
scholarship appropriate to rank, a commitment to excellence in
undergraduate and graduate teaching, the potential to establish or
sustain a highly impactful, externally funded research program, and
a commitment to mentoring students and contributing to a
collaborative academic community. Candidates for appointment at the
Associate Professor or Full Professor level should have a
distinguished record of scholarly achievement, sustained research
impact, and national or international recognition in their
field.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in statistics, electrical engineering,
computing, or a closely related field by the time of
appointment.

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with
commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment
qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age,
sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic
origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran
status.

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