Associate/Assistant Professor in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning

Professor, Associate or Assistant Professor in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning

Full Time, Open Ended

Salary: Grade 8, Salary: £45,585 - £54,395, Grade 9, Salary: £56,021 - £66,857, Grade 10, Salary: from £66,857 - negotiable (dependent on experience and qualifications). 

 

Join us and be part of a vibrant community dedicated to advancing knowledge and driving innovation in geoenergy engineering through data science, AI, and ML.

The Institute of Geoenergy Engineering at Heriot-Watt University is seeking a highly qualified and motivated individual to join our dynamic team as a Full/Associate/Assistant Professor in Data Science, specializing in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). This role presents a unique opportunity for a passionate individual to contribute significantly to pioneering research, advanced teaching, and impactful knowledge exchange within the domain of Geoenergy Engineering. The focus will be on advancing the Energy Transition agenda, particularly exploring topics such as Geological Carbon Storage, Geothermal Energy, Hydrogen Storage, and Production. 

This position is integral to Heriot-Watt University's strategic investment in establishing the iNetZ+ Global Research Institute (GRI), dedicated to driving forward solutions for achieving net-zero carbon emissions and beyond. Within the GeoEnergy theme, iNetZ+ leverages cutting-edge research to integrate low-carbon energy sources with the Earth's subsurface, addressing critical environmental challenges. This initiative underscores our university's commitment to spearheading global endeavours toward sustainability and carbon neutrality, thereby delivering outstanding societal impact. It builds upon nearly 50 years of pioneering expertise in fundamental and applied research, along with highly esteemed graduate teaching programs offered by the Institute of Geoenergy Engineering. We proudly maintain a ranking of 3rd in the UK and 12th globally for subsurface engineering (2023 QS World Universities Ranking). Our legacy revolves around the seamless integration of geoscience and engineering to comprehend the complexity and intricacies of the subsurface environment for the betterment of the energy industry and the society it serves. Our endeavours encompass world-class research and training across a broad spectrum of subsurface energy challenges, spanning from reservoir engineering to carbon capture and storage, geothermal energy, and renewable energy storage, all geared towards fostering innovation for the low-carbon transition, sustainable energy practices, and responsible resource management. 

Global Research Institute for Net Zero and Beyond (iNetZ+)

This appointment will support Heriot Watt University’s Global Research Institute in Net Zero and Beyond (iNetZ+).  As such the appointee will play an active role in the promotion of iNetZ+ through engagement in collaborative research initiatives from across the University’s Schools and campuses.   

The vision of iNetZ+ is to address the climate emergency though accelerating collaboration, bringing together excellence from the whole spectrum of expertise (engineering, industry, manufacturing, policy, business) to address the multi-disciplinary and multi-stranded challenges faced at a local, national, and global level, in achieving our net zero ambitions.  To do this we need to build human capital at scale through growing existing excellence within our Schools, attracting world leading academics to build teams at Heriot-Watt, and providing the world class facilities and support that will enable them to thrive and create an unrivalled global community of excellence. 

In the next five years iNetZ+ will recruit over 50 leading academics across Heriot Watt’s schools and forge a coherent and inclusive community of over 200 multidisciplinary researchers, collaborating at scale to create the inventions, products, and solutions of the future. We will integrate fundamental research, technology development, commercialisation, and future talent creation to create a unique model for accelerating research impact and lead the way to a Net Zero future.

 

Key Responsibilities 

Assistant Professor

• Conduct innovative research in data science, AI, and machine learning applied to geoenergy engineering, with a focus on areas such as reservoir characterization, fluid flow modelling, and energy optimization.
• Secure external research funding from national and international funding bodies to support research initiatives and collaborations.
• Publish high-quality research outputs in leading peer-reviewed journals and present findings at international conferences.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of postgraduate courses related to data science, AI, and ML within the Institute of Geoenergy Engineering.
• Supervise and mentor postgraduate research students, fostering their intellectual and professional development.
• Engage in collaborative projects with industry partners and contribute to knowledge exchange activities to ensure the impact of research outcomes.

Professor/Associate Professor

• All responsibilities of the assistant professor role
• Leadership in including but not limited to 
• Doctoral training centres (publicly funded or by industry)
• Joint Industry Projects (JIP) on AI/Data Sciences
• Teaching (across different modes such as BSc, MSc, CPD, executive education)
• Strong networking vision to better link HWU activities in AI for geoenergy into national academic and industry networks.
• Strong cross-disciplinary vision to expand data science/AI beyond subsurface energy towards wider NetZero engineering/geoscience field.
• Mentoring and line-management of academic staff  

Education, Qualifications and Experience

Assistant Professor - Essential  Criteria

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant discipline

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Established track record of high-quality published research
• A record of involvement in applications for external funding for research and/or knowledge transfer
• Experience of co-supervising dissertation projects across the range of undergraduate/ postgraduate and of supervising doctoral students
• Experience of providing contributing to high quality teaching across a range of programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level preferably including online/digital programmes
• Experience of contributing to designing and delivering course modules
• Evidence of successful co-ordination, support, supervision, management and/or mentoring of others
• Ability and willingness to learn new digital skills and capabilities appropriate to your role and how it evolves
• Understand and adhere to information security practices particularly as it relates to personal or sensitive information
• Maintain awareness of my own digital wellbeing by being mindful of the length of time spent at a screen and the impact on mental and physical health in using digital technologies

Desirable criteria 

Qualifications

• Higher Education teaching qualification or equivalent e.g. PGCert and/or holding an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and be working towards Fellowship

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Evidence of collaborative research with other institutions and interdisciplinary work
• Demonstrates a thorough understanding of effective approaches to teaching and learning support as a key contribution to high quality student learning
• Evidence of programme innovation and development
• Evidence or knowledge to support international activities
• Evidence or knowledge of the Higher Education context and regulatory framework
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. This might include - but is not limited to - evidence of work to advance gender equality, positive mental health, disability equality, anti-racism or tackling gender-based violence

 

Associate Professor - Essential criteria

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant discipline
• Higher Education teaching qualification or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• A track record of publication in peer-reviewed journals to levels of outstanding international excellence and a strong REF profile
• A record of securing research grants / external funding and delivering on research projects
• A significant record of attracting and supervising research students
• Experience of delivering high quality, inspirational and motivational teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels preferably including online/digital programmes
• Extensive knowledge of issues and challenges facing universities in such areas as curriculum design, course assessment, quality assurance, enhanced student experience and unregulated income generation
• Demonstrated academic leadership in research, teaching, and learning
• Evidence of developing internal and external networks with the ability to instigate activity
• Ability and willingness to learn new digital skills and capabilities appropriate to your role and how it evolves
• Understand and adhere to information security practices particularly as it relates to personal or sensitive information
• Maintain awareness of my own digital wellbeing by being mindful of the length of time spent at a screen and the impact on mental and physical health in using digital technologies

Desirable criteria

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Experience of undertaking a senior academic management role within the School
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. This might include - but is not limited to - evidence of work to advance gender equality, positive mental health, disability equality, anti-racism or tackling gender-based violence

 
Professor - Essential criteria

Qualifications

• PhD in relevant discipline
• Higher Education teaching qualification or equivalent

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• A track record of publication in peer-reviewed journals to levels of outstanding international excellence and a strong REF profile
• Evidence of national and international excellent research reputation
• A record of securing research grants / external funding and delivering on research projects
• A significant record of attracting and supervising research students
• Experience of delivering high quality, inspirational and motivational teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels preferably including online/digital programmes
• Extensive knowledge of issues and challenges facing universities in such areas as curriculum design, course assessment, quality assurance, enhanced student experience and unregulated income generation
• A track record of academic leadership in research, teaching, and learning
• Extensive internal and external networks with the ability to instigate activity
• Ability and willingness to learn new digital skills and capabilities appropriate to your role and how it evolves
• Understand and adhere to information security practices particularly as it relates to personal or sensitive information
• Maintain awareness of my own digital wellbeing by being mindful of the length of time spent at a screen and the impact on mental and physical health in using digital technologies

Desirable criteria 

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• A track record of undertaking a senior academic management role within the School
• Able to demonstrate a commitment to advancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. This might include - but is not limited to - evidence of work to advance gender equality, positive mental health, disability equality, anti-racism or tackling gender-based violence

 

How to Apply 

Applications can be submitted up until midnight on 30th Septmeber2024.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, a statement of research interests and teaching philosophy, and contact information for two academic references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

For inquiries about the position, please contact Professor Mehran Sohrabi m.sohrabi@hw.ac.uk.

Join us and be part of a vibrant community dedicated to advancing knowledge and driving innovation in geoenergy engineering through data science, AI, and ML.

At Heriot-Watt, we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact, which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.

Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to leverage your enterprising mind to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us, and Heriot-Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.

Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised, and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.

Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website https://www.hw.ac.uk/uk/services/equality-diversity.htm and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers https://disc.hw.ac.uk/.

Use our total rewards calculator: https://www.hw.ac.uk/about/work/total-rewards-calculator.htm to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.