"Assistant Professor - Computer Science"

Job Details

The Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) invites applications for multiple tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant Professor level, starting in Spring or Fall 2026. Well-qualified candidates in all areas of computer science will be considered, including but not limited to LLMs, NLP, computer vision, pattern recognition, multi-agent systems, explainable AI, trustworthy AI/LLMs, cybersecurity/privacy using AI, and AI-based software engineering, human-computer interaction, AR/VR, and quantum computing/networks.

VCU is a Carnegie R1 “Very High Research Activity” university, ranking among the top 100 U.S. universities—and among the top 50 public universities—in federal R&D expenditures, with more than $500 million in sponsored research funding. Located in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia, VCU fosters innovation through strong community and industry partnerships, creating exceptional opportunities for faculty and students.

As the commonwealth’s capital, Richmond, Virginia, offers a vibrant mix of history, culture and real-world opportunities. In fact, Travel + Leisure named Richmond the best place to live in Virginia in 2023, and Southern Living named Richmond one of the 20 best cities to live in the South in 2024. Richmond’s location in the middle of the state allows for day or weekend trips to the beach, the Blue Ridge Mountains or Virginia’s many wineries. It’s within a two-hour drive of Washington, D.C., and a multitude of excellent institutions of higher education. The Richmond metropolitan area is also home to several Fortune 500 companies, a broad base of financial institutions, hospitals and media firms, high-tech manufacturing companies, and state and local government agencies. Entrepreneurs and artists put down roots in Richmond, and Thrillist named it one of the best U.S. cities for creatives in 2022.

Established in 1996 through a public–private partnership, VCU’s College of Engineering was founded to drive innovation for the 21st-century economy. Today, VCU Engineering fosters dynamic collaborations with industry, community, and academic partners, leading to breakthroughs in areas such as pharmaceutical engineering; smart cities, sustainability, and clean energy; materials development; health care, regenerative medicine, rehabilitation, and medical device development; data science, cybersecurity, and cyber-physical systems. Its multidisciplinary and entrepreneurial approach to education integrates meaningful research experiences into every level of study—undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral—preparing students to lead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Under new leadership, the College of Engineering at VCU is experiencing rapid growth and transformation, expanding its interdisciplinary research and educational programs while pursuing excellence in areas of global importance. A key initiative is the VCU AI+ Cluster Hire in Artificial Intelligence for Public Good, underscoring the College’s commitment to innovative, socially impactful scholarship. These tenure track positions are part of this initiative.

The Department of Computer Science is central to this momentum. With 23 faculty members – including national award recipients, NSF CAREER awardees, and fellows of leading professional societies – and a new chair, the department is expanding with a strong focus on innovation, collaboration, and societal impact. It is the largest department in the College, enrolling approximately 800 undergraduates and nearly 200 graduate students across BS, BA, MS, and PhD programs in Computer Science. Students benefit from flexible pathways with concentrations in cybersecurity, data science, and software engineering, preparing them for careers in both academia and industry.

Faculty research spans all major areas of computer science, with recognized strengths in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, software engineering, and wireless networking. The department is home to the AI Convergence Lab and leads the Virginia Cybersecurity Center, both hubs for cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research and education. Faculty research is regularly funded by premier federal agencies, including the NSF, NIH, DARPA, AFRL, DoD, and DoE.

The department also maintains strong collaborations with the School of Medicine and School of the Arts, and is expanding its footprint in the Washington, D.C. metro area with new programs that connect students and faculty to regional industry and research opportunities.

More information about the department, its programs, and faculty is available at http://www.egr.vcu.edu/departments/computer/

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Computer Science or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated potential in securing extramural funding and conducting impactful research.
• Commitment to high-quality teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• A strong record of scholarly publications at top computer science venues.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a faculty at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in areas aligned with VCU’s research strengths, such as health and arts.
• A record of industry collaboration or technology transfer.
• Experience contributing to or leading large, multi-investigator research proposals.
• Commitment to community engagement and enhancing the university’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit their materials, including a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research and teaching statements, and contact information for three references (reference letters will be requested only for shortlisted candidates).

Only complete applications will be reviewed. Review of applications will continue until the positions are filled.

For additional information, please contact the Chair of the faculty search committee, Dr. Irfan Ahmed, email: csrecruit@vcu.edu

Benefits

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Unit:

College Of Engineering MBU

Department:

Computer Science

Duties & Responsibilities:

1. Teaching: The faculty member will be required to teach courses within the Computer Science curriculum and to mentor students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Courses will include undergraduate and/or graduate Computer Science courses as well as courses in the ENGR curriculum (as appropriate).
2. Research: Faculty at the Assistant Professor rank will be required to have an established research agenda and a clear potential for external funding, as appropriate, and potential for scholarship or creative expression to complement and expand existing expertise in the department and the College of Engineering.
3. Service: The faculty member will be involved with service activities for the department, the College, the University, and for professional and scientific organizations.

FLSA Exemption Status:

Exempt

Restricted Position:

No

ORP Eligible:

Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement:

Hybrid

Rank:

Assistant Professor

Tenure:

Tenure Track

Months:

9 months

Contact Information:

Contact Name: Dr. Irfan Ahmed
Contact Email: csrecruit@vcu.edu