Department Chairperson - Computer Science

39037BR

Computer Science

Position Description

The Department of Computer Science (CS) in the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering at Texas Tech University invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, tenured Professor to begin September 1, 2025. The successful candidate will be an innovative, dynamic, collaborative, and entrepreneurial Chair of the CS Department, providing intellectual and strategic leadership for teaching, research, service, and outreach and engagement endeavors in the CS Department.

Among other duties, the Chair will: manage and mentor departmental personnel; budget and allocate department's resources; increase student recruitment efforts; administer the undergraduate and graduate programs with the assistance of Associate Department Chairs; effectively represent the department to internal and external entities to promote teaching, research, development, and outreach; increase research expenditures; improve the department's reputation and visibility; strengthen alumni relationships and fundraising efforts; and promote the success of the faculty, staff, and students in the department.

About the University

Established in 1923, Texas Tech University is a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity) Doctoral/Research-Extensive, Hispanic Serving, and state-assisted institution. Located on a beautiful 1,850-acre campus in Lubbock, a city in West Texas with a growing metropolitan-area population of over 300,000, the university enrolls over 40,000 students with 33,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. As the primary research institution in the western two-thirds of the state, Texas Tech University is home to 10 colleges, the Schools of Law and Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School. The flagship of the Texas Tech University System, Texas Tech is dedicated to student success by preparing learners to be ethical leaders for a diverse and globally competitive workforce. It is committed to enhancing the cultural and economic development of the state, nation, and world.
About Lubbock:Referred to as the "Hub City" because it serves as the educational, cultural, economic, and health care hub of the South Plains region, Lubbock boasts a diverse population and a strong connection to community, history, and land. With a mild climate, highly rated public schools, and a low cost of living, Lubbock is a family-friendly community that is ranked as one of the best places to live in Texas. Lubbock is home to a celebrated and ever-evolving music scene, a vibrant arts community, and is within driving distance of Dallas, Austin, Santa Fe, and other major metropolitan cities. Lubbock's Convention & Visitors Bureau provides a comprehensive overview of the Lubbock community and its resources, programs, events, and histories.

About the College

The Whitacre College of Engineering (WCOE, https://www.depts.ttu.edu/coe/) serves approximately 4800 undergraduate and 1300 graduate students, supported by 220 faculty and instructors. The college had 852 BS, 557 MS and 68 PhD graduates in the 2023-24 fiscal year. All incoming first year students are enrolled in a common foundational curriculum for all undergraduate programs. Foundational students declare a program of choice and can move into upper division after completing the foundational classes with a TTU GPA of 2.5 or higher. The WCOE consists of the Departments of Chemical Engineering; Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical & Computer Engineering; Industrial, Manufacturing and Systems Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Petroleum Engineering. All BS programs and the Environmental Engineering Master's program are ABET accredited. All departments have Master's and PhD programs. Annual research expenditures at the college are around $18M.

About the Department/School/Area

The Computer Science (CS) Department currently has about 1046 undergraduate students, 576 graduate students (83 PhD), and 23 faculty members and has open positions at various levels. The Department offers an ABET-accredited Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. The Department currently offers two Master of Science and one Doctor of Philosophy degrees, with various modalities (face-to-face, distance) and specializations (Computer Science and Software and Security Engineering). The CS Building houses excellent laboratories and classrooms for teaching and research and the department continues to enhance its curriculum to encompass customized academic options in response to societal needs. The department was awarded 5.9 million dollars in external funding in FY24. Additional information about the department is available at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/CS/.

Major/Essential Functions

In line with TTU's strategic priorities to engage and empower a diverse student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with diverse student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.

Organization

Texas Tech University

Faculty Qualifications

• PhD in Computer Science (CS), or closely related fields.
• Full professor or research record commensurate with the ability to be appointed as a full professor at TTU.
• Record of Outstanding Research: A demonstrated track record of securing competitive research funding as PI, scholarship via high quality publications and citations, supervision of PhD students and other appropriate metrics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Leadership: The candidate should have demonstrated leadership experience at the department, college, or institutional level. The candidate should have demonstrated the ability to work with and lead others in professional settings. The candidate should have demonstrated a strong record of mentoring of students, post-docs, or junior faculty and staff.
• Vision: The candidate needs to articulate a strong vision for the department.
• Research: The candidate should have a proven record of research scholarship.
• Teaching: The candidate should have demonstrated a strong commitment to teaching scholarship and practice. The candidate should have the ability to teach core CS material in the undergraduate and graduate program and should be able to demonstrate a record of excellence in teaching.
• Service: The candidate should have demonstrated a commitment to service and engagement at institutional and professional levels.

Duty Point

TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities

Safety Information

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Does this position work in a research laboratory?

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Vision for the Department
• Leadership and Mentoring Statement
• Research Statement
• Teaching Statement
• Service Statement

To ensure full consideration, please complete an online application at: http://www.texastech.edu/careers/ using Requisition # 39037BR.

Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. Andrew Jackson, Search Committee Chair at andrew.jackson@ttu.edu. The deadline to submit applications is on January 15, 2025.

Job Type

Full Time

Pay Basis

Monthly

Pay Statement

Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan. For additional information, please reference the institutional pay plan by visiting www.depts.ttu.edu/hr/payplan.

Travel Required

Up to 25%

Schedule Details

8-5

Grant Funded?

No

Job Group

Faculty Administration

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

Salary Grade

800

Applications must be received by

01/15/2025