Assistant Professor in Data Science in Crime, Law and Justice

Classification Title:

Assistant Professor

Job Description:

The Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law at the University of Florida, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences invites applications for a full-time, nine-month, tenure-accruing position at the rank of Assistant Professor with research and teaching interests related to data science in crime, law and justice beginning August 16, 2025. This position is part of the UF Artificial Intelligence initiative (https://ai.ufl.edu), and the new hire would join a concentration of faculty in the department and university using data science in their research and teaching.

Data science in criminology is the use of data analytics to solve problems, make decisions, and prevent crime. It typically involves computational analysis of “big data” in its various forms, including numeric, textual, image, and video data. Computational methods may include natural language processing/text mining, machine learning (ML) algorithms, predictive risk modeling (PRM), agent based modeling, and social network analysis/network science.

Examples of data science research can span the fields of law enforcement, corrections, legal studies, and psychology and the law. For example, scholars might analyze government administrative data (e.g., 311 or 911 calls, crime reports, or GPS data) to identify potential suspects, crimes, and crime patterns; use digital forensic analysis to assist in criminal investigations; employ algorithms to model the likelihood of criminal offending and recidivism; or utilize language models to assess case law or statutes to improve legal decision-making. Researchers may partner with criminal justice and other community agencies to examine and help mitigate against potential harms associated with the collection or analysis of these data (e.g., lack of privacy, oversurveillance, bias/discrimination of minoritized or oppressed populations, etc.) and to inform policies and practices that will improve public safety (e.g., analyzing data from police body worn cameras to identify best practices for de-escalation and non-escalation during police/citizen interactions).

We seek applicants whose records show commitment to rigorous scholarship with the promise of external funding, as well as excellence in teaching. The ability to contribute significantly to graduate education and the mentoring of graduate students is highly desirable.

The Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law is a large and dynamic department with over 600 undergraduate Criminology majors and roughly 20 Criminology, Law and Society graduate students. The Department has two undergraduate programs, both offered via in-person and online courses, and new minors in Sociology of Social justice & Policy and Environmental Justice & Policy. Faculty conduct research in diverse areas, including criminology and criminal justice; psychology and law; families and gender; health, aging, and the life course; environment and resources; and race and ethnicity. Many faculty are affiliated with other academic programs at UF, including the School of Natural Resources and the Environment, the Center for Latin American Studies, the Center for European Studies, the Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, and the Health Science Center. More information about the Department is available at https://soccrim.clas.ufl.edu/, including biographical information about our faculty, students, and staff; and a description of the various projects and research interests in which our members are involved.

UF is the state’s oldest, largest, and most comprehensive land grant university with an enrollment of over 50,000 students and was ranked Number 1 public university in the United States by Wall Street Journal in its “2024 Best Colleges in the U.S.” report with exceptional research and teaching. UF is located in Gainesville, a city of approximately 150,000 residents in North-Central Florida, 50 miles from the Gulf of Mexico, and 67 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, and within a 2-hour drive to large metropolitan areas (Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville). The beautiful climate and extensive nearby parks and recreational areas afford year-round outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and nature photography. UF’s large college sports programs, museums, and performing arts center support a range of activities and cultural events for residents to enjoy. Alachua County schools are highly rated and offer a variety of programs including magnet schools and an international baccalaureate program. Learn more about what Gainesville has to offer at Visit Gainesville.

Advertised Salary:

The salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience and includes a full benefits package.

Employment Benefits include:

Health Insurance: UF participates in state- and university-sponsored benefits programs for individuals, families, and domestic partners, and offers voluntary insurance that includes vision, dental, long-term disability and more.

Retirement Options: Attractive options include Florida Retirement System Pension Plan, State University System Optional Retirement Program, Florida Retirement System Investment Plan, and Voluntary Retirement Savings Plan.

Leave: UF staff enjoy a generous paid leave plan as well as access to a sick-leave pool, maternity/paternity leave, and leave payouts.

Minimum Requirements:

Ph.D. in Criminology or Criminal Justice, Sociology or a relevant social science field by date of hire.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Evidence of rigorous scholarship and the potential to obtain external funding
• Evidence of excellence in teaching and the ability to mentor graduate students
• Ability to contribute to a diverse and inclusive environment through scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service

Special Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applications must be submitted online. Click on Apply Now at the top of this posting.

A complete application includes (1) a letter of application summarizing the applicant's qualifications, interests, experience, and suitability for the position. (2) a complete curriculum vitae. (3) a statement on teaching and research goals. (4) the names and email addresses of three references. An email will be sent to your references, requesting them to upload their confidential letter to the submission packet.

Applications will be reviewed beginning November 25, 2024, and the position will remain open until filled. Applications received after this date may be considered at the discretion of the committee and/or hiring authority.

All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a review of criminal records, reference checks, and verification of education.

The selected candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. A transcript will not be considered “official” if a designation of “Issued to Student” is visible. Degrees earned from an educational institution outside of the United States require evaluation by a professional credentialing service provider approved by the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/.

The Department of Sociology and Criminology & Law is committed to promoting an environment that welcomes all abilities, classes, ethnicities/races, gender identities and expressions. We particularly welcome applicants who can contribute to such an environment through their scholarship, teaching, mentoring, and professional service. The university and greater Gainesville communities enjoy a diversity of cultural events, restaurants, year-round outdoor recreational activities, and social opportunities.

Health Assessment Required:

No