Teaching/Research Postdoctoral Fellow - Data Visualization

Working Title: Teaching/Research Postdoctoral Fellow - Data Visualization

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Instructional / Teaching Faculty

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Integrated Science and Engineering

Department: 100061 - Computer Science

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 01/19/2025

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Department of Computer Science at James Madison University (JMU) invites applications for a Teaching/Research Postdoctoral Fellowship in the area of Data Visualization. This position is a fixed term appointment at the rank of instructor. The successful candidate will join the Computer Science Department beginning August 2025, is a one-year appointment and may be eligible to renew for a second year. The Postdoctoral Fellow will work with the Computer Science Department Academic Unit Head and will be expected to teach at least 1 course per semester.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Teaching will consist of a 1-1 load, i.e., 1 course in the fall semester and one course in the spring semester. The courses will likely include one course required for undergraduate majors in Computer Science or Information Technology and one data visualization course. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be expected to provide innovative ideas and perspectives, foster a stimulating teaching and research environment and advance knowledge within their fields.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will receive mentorship and guidance from faculty on these courses. The JMU Center for Faculty Innovation also provides a wealth of professional development opportunities throughout the year. The Postdoctoral Fellow will also participate in department activities and support interdisciplinary collaborations within the college.

In addition to teaching, the Postdoctoral Fellow will assist in activities related to grant writing, publications and contribute to JMU’s efforts to build interdisciplinary pedagogical communities of practice. Activities will be determined in conversation with the Postdoctoral Fellow, but may include organizing workshops and dissemination events at JMU, participating in one or more events at partnering institutions, training and mentoring undergraduate students, developing data visualization platforms, working on data analysis and archiving activities, and broadening participation.

Qualifications:

We welcome candidates with broad Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) training and diverse skill sets to apply. The candidate must have a PhD in hand by August 2025. Candidates should either hold a PhD in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a closely related field OR hold a PhD in any field in combination with strong computer programming and data visualization experience.

Candidates should demonstrate strong interests in the intersection of undergraduate teaching, data visualization pedagogy course-based undergraduate research. Grant writing and publication experience desired along with a commitment to engaged learning, innovative pedagogies, continuous improvement, and inclusive practices in the context of undergraduate education and mentoring. The successful candidate should also demonstrate excellent communication skills both written and verbal, experience working in a team-based, interdisciplinary environment, and research project management skills. Candidates should possess ability to work independently and collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, as well as the ability to develop research projects for publication.

Preferred scholarly qualifications include a track-record of external funding and productive research collaborations. Preferred experience and expertise in analytical and visual programming languages, code maintenance and sharing, development of complex data visualizations, and demonstrated skill in one or more of the following areas: machine learning, statistical analysis, natural language processing and text analysis; experience designing and implementing prospective and retrospective quantitative and qualitative studies.

Additional Posting Information:

To apply, please include:
-A cover letter that speaks to your training, experience and interests in data visualization, data visualization pedagogy, data visualization capacity building and broadening participation
-A statement of inclusive excellence demonstrating one’s commitment and activities to support an equitable workplace and scholarly environment
-A CV
-A teaching statement
-A research statement (uploaded under “Other Document #1”)
-A writing sample (uploaded under “Other Document #2”)
-Contact information for three references

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.