Assistant Professor, Computing and Information Systems

Guided by Like No Other, Athabasca University's (AU) strategic plan, AU's approach to accessible yet transformative education and research is truly distinctive. Our academic mission is to remove barriers to post-secondary education for learners, regardless of their age, location, career, or educational background.

Based in the beautiful region of Athabasca, Alberta, AU is one of four Comprehensive Academic and Research Universities (CARUs) in the province. We are a public, board-governed, open, and online university serving more than 35,000 students across Alberta, Canada, and around the world.

AU seeks to be an agile and inclusive workplace in which all team members can grow, make their highest contribution, and each make a difference to our academic vision and mission.

Led by President Dr. Alex Clark, AU is embarking on an exciting new chapter. Drawing from five decades of growth in distance and online education, we aim to grow our position as Canada's foremost innovator in flexible, online and accessible learning. With an inclusive Senior Leadership Team dedicated to empowering every team member to contribute, learn and thrive, AU stands poised for an exciting and ambitious next stage of development.

Athabasca University's Faculty of Science and Technology invites applications for a tenure-track position of Assistant Professor, Computing and Information Systems, with emphasis on Cybersecurity commencing Spring 2026.

The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) is committed to fostering a meaningful and inclusive learning experience through excellence in teaching and scholarly activities. Our students, whether enrolled in programs or taking individual courses in science, computing science or architecture to fulfill other areas of study, are diverse in their demographic and geographical location.

In the realization of the themes of access, opportunity, and community, we aim to change lives and communities from local to global like no other university. In an increasingly complex world, our flexible model enables learners to obtain the necessary skills for future employment while developing their ability to be resilient, think creatively, and work collaboratively as global citizens.

Our faculty is home to emerging research, innovative courses, responsive student support, recognized programs, and community outreach. Please visit our website for more information: Faculty of Science and Technology.

FST's School of Computing and Information Systems is home to Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs in Computing and Information Systems and a wide range of courses covering computer science, information systems, and data science. The school is also conducting advanced research and developing new programs and innovative courses in emerging computing fields, all supported by our dedicated faculty and staff.

The Position: Reporting to the Chair, School of Computing and Information Systems and to the Dean, this position has three key areas of responsibility as follows:

Teaching and Learning: The faculty member will be responsible for teaching and course administration for existing courses in Computer Science (COMP) and Data Science (DATA), and potential development of graduate or undergraduate level courses to contribute to programs in the faculty, with a focus on cybersecurity. This includes the development and revision of course content and assessments using innovative pedagogical methods, providing support to students, and the supervision of academic experts involved in the course.

Research and Scholarship: The faculty member will be responsible for the development and maintenance of a sustained program of research that contributes to the overall strategic research goals of the faculty. This includes securing research funding, disseminating knowledge via traditional and innovative means, fostering research collaborations, and the supervision of undergraduate and graduate students.

Service to the Community: The faculty member will be responsible for service to the university and the larger community through committee participation, supporting initiatives, outreach, and service to their discipline.

Qualifications: The successful candidate will have a completed PhD in Computer Science, Computing and Information Systems, or a related field is required. Applications are encouraged from scholars researching in the areas of Cybersecurity.

• A completed Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computing and Information Systems, or a related field is required.
• Familiarity with a variety of subjects in computer science and information systems, including computing foundations and theories as well as emerging topics in cybersecurity, data science, and/or artificial intelligence.
• We are seeking a candidate with expertise in cybersecurity and an active research program in one or more of the following areas: cybersecurity, data science, big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. Research programs in related fields of computer science may be considered.
• The successful candidate is expected to teach in the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs in Computing and Information Systems and supervise students in both undergraduate and graduate levels for their research projects and theses.
• Experience teaching online in undergraduate and/or graduate programs is preferred.
• Experience supervising graduate students is preferred.
• The candidate will be expected to develop new courses as determined by the needs of the programs and their research interests. The candidate will also coordinate and revise existing courses in the program. Evidence of research excellence at the graduate level and beyond is required.
• Awareness and knowledge about open education is an asset. All educational credentials must be recognized in Canada.

This full-time position is located in Alberta. The institutional academic job profile can be viewed at: Academic Role Description

Application Requirements: All qualified candidates will be considered. Applications will only be received and accepted through our online recruitment system. When applying, please include:

• A letter of application
• Curriculum Vitae
• Evidence of research effectiveness including
  • A research statement
  • A published article
  • One or more research outputs (formal or informal knowledge dissemination that you want to highlight based on the CV)
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness, ideally a teaching dossier including
  • A teaching philosophy statement
  • Teaching or course evaluations if available
  • A sample syllabus
  • Artifact of teaching initiatives (e.g., websites, videos, podcasts)
• Names and contact information of three referees

Please note that applications from those with incomplete doctorates will not be reviewed.

Contact Information: For further information regarding this position, please contact Dr. Dunwei Wen, Chair, School of Computing and Information Systems, at [contact details available in the full listing].

Athabasca First Wherever possible, AU seeks to attract and hire qualified team members to reside in the Athabasca region. We will offer relocation assistance for the right candidate should you decide to relocate to the Town of Athabasca. As a resident of the town or county of Athabasca, you can choose to work on and from our beautiful campus in Athabasca.

To discover the Town and Region of Athabasca, go to: Visit Athabasca.

To apply, please visit our Career Opportunities page.