Open Rank Professor AI and Health

About the Opportunity

About the Opportunity

Northeastern University invites applications for two tenure-track positions beginning in academic year 2025-2026 in public health technology. One position will be in the field of network science and public health, broadly defined. The second position will be in the broad category of AI, data science, or health informatics in public health. Candidates at any rank (Assistant, Associate or Full) may be considered for either position. Northeastern is a leader in network science and  AI and home to the Network Science Institute  and the Institute for Experiential AI . Both positions will be located at Northeastern University’s campus in Charlotte, NC and successful candidates will be expected to work in the Charlotte, NC-area.

Successful candidates will be appointed primarily in the Department of Public Health and Health Sciences in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences, with possible secondary appointments in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences or the College of Science, depending on research and/or teaching focus. Faculty members will have the opportunity to collaborate in cross-disciplinary teams across the University and will complement existing strengths, and they will have the opportunity to join and collaborate with University initiatives such as the Network Science Institute.

For the network science position, relevant fields of study include the core areas of network science and its applications in public health. The core areas of network science include mathematical modeling of network structure and dynamics, dynamical processes and critical phenomena in networks (percolation, synchronization, epidemics, spreading, diffusion, routing), as well as all forms of data-driven science. We anticipate a candidate’s research plans and ambitions will benefit from broad  engagement with complementary areas of network science and its applications at Northeastern.

For the AI, data science, or health informatics in public health position, candidates with informatics backgrounds who develop novel technologies for use in research as well as candidates who are behavioral scientists who use technology in their research but rely upon collaborators to develop the technologies are both encouraged to apply. Northeastern is home to outstanding potential collaborators for both informatics and behavioral scientist candidates. The successful candidate will collect new data as a prominent aspect of their program of research though candidates who are also engaged in projects involving existing/secondary data are encouraged to apply. Behavioral targets/outcomes are open, however areas of expertise among current departmental faculty include biostatistics/data science, community and rural health, environmental health, epidemiology, global health, health promotion and education, health policy, personal health informatics and health technology, and mental health.

Methods/approaches used by successful candidates to implement or evaluate health interventions may include but are not limited to state-of-the-art AI and machine learning techniques, wearable or phone-based sensors, ecological momentary assessment and intervention, e- and m-Health technologies, or virtual/augmented reality.

Cross-disciplinary research programs and appointments are strongly encouraged at Northeastern, and may be possible for these positions.

Our tenure and promotion process values collaborative research and teamwork. Hires will be mentored for success, with mentoring teams and group guidance. In addition, a strong and effective faculty development strategy is part of the Northeastern institutional mission. The ADVANCE Office of Faculty Development office works in conjunction with the Office of Research Development (ORD), the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion (OIDI), the Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Research (CATLR), and University Decision Support (UDS) to provide programs and trainings to further develop and support a thriving faculty.

At Northeastern University, we embrace a culture of respect, where each person is valued for their contribution and is treated fairly. We oppose all forms of racism. We support a culture that does not tolerate any form of discrimination and where each person may belong. We strive to have a diverse membership, one where each person is trained and mentored to promote their success. See our website for more information about the College and its Leadership Team.

Responsibilities

The potential hires are expected to develop vigorous research programs crosscutting the field of network science, broadly defined, or the field of AI and public health technology. Faculty members at Northeastern are expected to develop independent research programs that attract external funding; teach courses at the graduate and undergraduate level; oversee students and postdocs in their area of research; and participate in service to the department, university, and discipline. Qualified candidates must have excellence in, or a demonstrated commitment to, working with diverse student populations and/or in a culturally diverse work and educational environment.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a PhD in Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Biology, Public Health, Psychology, Social Sciences, or related fields by the appointment start date. We encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds, including academia and industry.

All applicants should have a strong record of scholarly accomplishment that demonstrates the ability to build a strong research program. Academic rank at the Associate Professor or Full Professor levels will be commensurate with experience and qualifications reflecting a record of demonstrated teaching and scholarly excellence. Candidates seeking appointment at the Associate or Full Professor level should have substantial research productivity and an established history of grant support and academic service. Research excellence is the top-most priority. Depending on the research profile and expertise, a joint or affiliate appointment in another department(s) within the University is possible. Candidates for Associate Professor rank should have a minimum of 5 years of academic or related industry experience.

Additional Information:

Interested candidates should apply here with a curriculum vita that includes a list of publications, statements addressing the prompts below, and names and contact information for at least three professional references from whom letters of reference can be solicited as needed. Applications will be reviewed beginning on November 15, 2024. Questions about either search should be directed to Prof. Stephen Intille at s.intille@northeastern.edu

Successful faculty at Northeastern will be dynamic and innovative scholars with a record of research and teaching excellence and a commitment to contributing to improved equity, diversity, and inclusion. Thus, strong candidates for this faculty position will have the expertise, knowledge, and skills to build their research, pedagogy, and curriculum in ways that reflect and enhance this commitment. Please indicate how your expertise, knowledge, and skills have prepared you to contribute to this work with written statements addressing the following prompts:

Research statement:

Please describe the focus of your research, including the questions you have identified, the funding you have received to support the work (if applicable), the results you have discovered, and the products of these efforts. Highlight any cross-disciplinary research efforts you have undertaken. Please also describe any research you have undertaken with students, with the external community, and/or with individuals from marginalized groups. Finally, please outline the research directions you foresee pursuing, any cross-disciplinary and collaborative aspects, and the strategies you will take to address each direction.

Teaching statement:

Please summarize your past instructional and mentorship experience, your pedagogical philosophy, your plans/goals for teaching (including existing and proposed courses), and your strategies for teaching and mentoring a diverse cohort of undergraduate and graduate students.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging Statement:

Please provide a statement of your contributions to diversity that describes your past experience, activities, and future plans to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, justice and belonging in your teaching, research, and service. Your statement should demonstrate an understanding of the barriers facing marginalized communities in your field and be in alignment with Northeastern’s mission to reflect the diversity of the societies in which it maintains campuses and meet the educational needs and interests of its diverse population. Some faculty candidates may not have substantial past activities. If that is the case, we recommend focusing on future plans in your statement.

About Northeastern

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact.    

Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment.

Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions-oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind. Our locations—in Boston; Charlotte, North Carolina; London; Portland, Maine; Miami, San Francisco; Seattle; Silicon Valley; Toronto; Vancouver; and the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant—are nodes in our growing global university system. Through this network, we expand opportunities for flexible, student-centered learning and collaborative, solutions-focused research. The positions described here will primarily be on the Charlotte campus, but collaborations across any of our 14 campus locations are strongly encouraged. Opportunities to collaborate extend beyond the University.

Charlotte, NC is experiencing unprecedented growth, with rich opportunities for partnership emerging and the local life sciences ecosystem reaching an inflection point thanks to significant recent investments. Known for its mild four-season climate, established banking and finance industry, and easy access to domestic and international travel destinations through Charlotte Douglas International Airport, Charlotte has become a major player in health care in the past decade. The largest health system and driver of rapid local growth in the sector has been the merger of local health system Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Heath, which united to create Advocate Health, the third-largest health care provider in the nation, headquartered in Charlotte with sites of care spread across six states. Health care and life sciences contribute more than $20 billion to the local economy, with an 72% increase in employment since 2010 and a concentration of more than 111 health care organizations in the area. More than 22,000 individuals are now employed in life sciences in the region, with biopharmaceuticals and biotech as the two fastest growing clusters. In 2025, a major investment by Advocate Health will continue to accelerate Charlotte’s life sciences sector growth through a $1.5 billion investment in the “Pearl” Innovation District, a mixed-use development featuring office, lab, retail, residential and academic spaces including the new campus of Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Northeastern’s Bouvé College of Health Sciences has over 250 faculty members, with approximately 2,000 undergraduate and 2,400 graduate students. It is the leading national model for education and research in the health, psychosocial and biomedical sciences and supports the University’s mission of educating students for a life of fulfillment and accomplishment and creating and translating knowledge to meet global and societal needs. The College comprises four schools with eight departments: 1) School of Clinical and Rehabilitation Sciences (Departments of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Medical Sciences, and Physical Therapy, Movement and Rehabilitation Sciences); 2) School of Community Health and Behavioral Sciences (Department of Applied Psychology and Department of Public Health and Health Sciences); 3) School of Nursing; 4) School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Pharmacy and Health System Sciences).

Secondary appointments are possible in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences or the College of Science

The Khoury College of Computer Sciences was the first college in the United States dedicated to the field of computer science when it was founded in 1982. The interdisciplinary research at the College, forged in modern spaces and innovative institutes, solves today’s big challenges. From our Boston flagship to our regional campuses, Khoury College is rapidly growing.

The College of Science comprises six departments: Biology, Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Marine and Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology.

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.  

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff.  Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other  characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.