Head of the Department of Computer Science
The College of Science at Purdue University invites nominations and applications for the position of Head of the Department of Computer Science. The department seeks a dynamic research leader and innovative educator with creative vision and an outstanding record of achievement, ready to take a strong and growing department to the very top ranks.
One of Purdue’s signature areas of investment, Computer Science has simultaneously doubled its undergraduate population over the past 6 years while becoming twice as competitive for entry, making it the most selective undergraduate program on campus. Entering its next significant phase of expansion, opportunities abound for the right leader to make an outsized impact on the University and the profession by substantially growing the Department's visibility and stature.
With 55 full-time faculty, 250 PhD students, 120 Master’s students and over 1800 outstanding undergraduates, the Department is integral to a number of key strategic priorities declared by Purdue’s Board of Trustees. Among these is a new campus-wide focus on data science, coinciding with a newly launched undergraduate major connecting Computer Science, Statistics, and Mathematics at Purdue. The Department also leads and plays a major role in several significant University centers and institutes spanning cybersecurity, information theory, defense, policy, and other topics.
The Department’s research expenditures exceed $15 million annually, and its teaching and research activities cover a broad range of topics including bioinformatics and computational biology, computational science and engineering, databases and data mining, distributed systems, graphics and visualization, information security and assurance, machine learning and information retrieval, networking and operating systems, programming languages and compilers, software engineering, and theory of computing and algorithms. For more information, see http://www.cs.purdue.edu/.
Computer Science is part of the College of Science, which comprises the computing, physical, and life sciences at Purdue. It is the second-largest college at Purdue, with nearly 350 faculty and over 6000 students. Under new leadership and with multiple commitments of significant investment, the College is paving the way for Computer Science to lead across Purdue and connect not only with the sciences, but across top-ranked programs in Agriculture, Business, Engineering, Health, and a variety of other areas. Purdue itself is one of the nation’s leading land-grant universities, with an enrollment of over 41,000 students primarily focused on STEM subjects. For more information, see https://www.purdue.edu/purduemoves/initiatives/stem/index.php.
Position Qualifications
The successful candidate will have an exemplary record of scholarly achievement along with outstanding leadership potential. It is expected that candidates for this position will have an earned doctorate in computer science or related field and a level of stature in the field sufficient at a minimum to merit appointment with tenure at the rank of Professor in one of the nation’s leading Computer Science programs.
The Head will work with faculty colleagues to build and achieve a compelling vision for the future of the Department, and to continue and accelerate the advancement of its nationally-ranked program through a commitment to excel in all aspects of the Department’s mission. Highly desirable qualities include an understanding of the current needs and future direction of computer science as an academic discipline, a commitment to diversity and collaboration, and skills in academic leadership, student relations, mentoring, and alumni relations development.
Confidential nominations and inquires can be sent to head-search@cs.purdue.edu. Candidates should submit a letter of application articulating a vision for the future of computer science, a statement of research and teaching, and a complete curriculum vitae with names and email addresses of at least five references. Applications and nominations will be held in strict confidence; review of the same will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Application materials can be uploaded at:
https://hiring.science.purdue.edu
A background check will be required for employment in this position. Purdue University’s Department of Computer Science is committed to advancing diversity in all areas of faculty effort, including scholarship, instruction, and engagement. Candidates should address at least one of these areas in their cover letter, indicating their past experiences, current interests or activities, and/or future goals to promote a climate that values diversity and inclusion.
Purdue University is an EOE/AA employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.