Simmons School of Education & Human Development: Full Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor

Rank/Title: Full Professor/Associate Professor/Assistant Professor in Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning

Position Number: 53260 (Full) Position Number: 53590 (Associate) Position Number: 53653 (Assistant)

The Simmons School of Education & Human Development invites applications for three hires positions in Technology- Enhanced Immersive Learning cluster at the rank of Full Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor. Focus areas include learning sciences, artificial intelligence/machine learning and technology-enhanced learning, assessment and behavior change, prevention and treatment of psychological disorders, and cognitive and affective processes. These positions are available as soon as the Fall of 2022.

These appointments provide a unique opportunity to join and to shape a vibrant research and education community situated in an increasingly diverse and globally connected university. These positions are designed to enhance SMU’s Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning Cluster with internationally recognized strengths in video game development, game-based and immersive learning, the use of immersive technologies for assessment, behavior change and social emotional learning, literacy, special education, bilingual/ESL education, urban education, STEM, data science and artificial intelligence/machine learning. SMU’s well-funded faculty benefit from a host of resources dedicated to facilitating interdisciplinary work across the University including at SMU Guildhall, Dedman College Interdisciplinary Institute, AT&T Center for Virtualization, Family Research Center, and the Center for VR Learning Innovation.

SMU hosts powerful high-performance computing facilities with computational ability of 630 teraflops, 11,088 CPU cores, 116.5 TB of total memory with no usage fee for research and education purposes. SMU is also home to one of the fastest and most powerful academic supercomputers in the nation (ManeFrame II). Maneframe II is currently being upgraded to include an NVIDIA DGX SuperPod with a theoretical performance of 100 PFLOPS for AI calculations that is available for use by all faculty and graduate students. SMU will be one of only two universities in the U.S. to have a DGX SuperPod.

SMU is also currently making appointments the Earth Hazards and National Security, and expects to launch a Data Sciences cluster in the coming year. These cluster hires represent SMU’s ambitious focus on increasing the university’s research impact by developing larger-scale collaborative research projects responding to some of humankind’s most daunting challenges.

POSITIONS NO. 53260 (FULL), 53590 (ASSOCIATE), 53653 (ASSISTANT) PROFESSOR IN TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED IMMERSIVE LEARNING.

We seek candidates at all levels with experience investigating or applying technology in education and the design of research that has substantial social impact, including: (1) immersive learning, instruction, and assessment using augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, motion capture and game-based learning technologies or (2) artificial intelligence and machine learning in educational scenarios to improve learning and/or increase the scalability of instructional practices. These positions will have primary appointments at the Simmons School of Education & Human Development. Applicants for positions 53653, 53590, and 53260 must submit their CV, statement of teaching and research interests, three letters of recommendation via Interfolio:

• Full Professor, Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning (https://apply.interfolio.com/97693)
• Associate Professor, Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning (https://apply.interfolio.com/97694)
• Assistant Professor, Technology-Enhanced Immersive Learning (https://apply.interfolio.com/97695)

Appointments may be at the rank of full or associate professor with tenure or tenure-track assistant professor. Candidates for full or associate professor should be nationally-recognized scholars with a strong record of empirical studies and external funding. Candidates at the assistant professor level should have outstanding potential and a defined research agenda related to the study of learning improvement through immersive technology. Complementing these three cluster positions in the School of Education & Human Development is an additional appointment in Psychological Sciences in the Department of Psychology in the Dedman School of Humanities and Sciences at SMU. Position Number: 06284; (https://apply.interfolio.com/97696).

Qualifications of successful applicants will include: (a) an earned doctorate in field aligned with technology-enhanced immersive learning and teaching; (b) ongoing record of scholarly work commensurate with the appropriate rank; (c) demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusiveness; (d) demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary research; (e) excellence in teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses; (f) evidence of ongoing service to professional organizations; (g) demonstrated mentorship of doctoral students and junior faculty; (h) experience developing and/or sustaining collaborative partnerships and interdisciplinary initiatives; and (i) a track record of obtaining external funding for research.

SMU researchers are part of an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of internationally recognized scholars across the humanities, social sciences, mathematical sciences, engineering, and business with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusiveness. SMU is committed to inclusive teaching and opportunities for mentoring diverse students at graduate and undergraduate levels, and offers excellent benefits including full same-sex domestic partner benefits. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds. Explore SMU at http://www.smu.edu.

Faculty positions will receive primary academic appointments at SMU’s Simmons School of Education and Human Development. Through excellence in research, teaching, and community outreach, the SMU Simmons School of Education and Human Development is a catalyst for discovery and innovation that transforms social conditions and advances human potential. It is among the top 15 ranked private graduate schools of education in the United States and among the top 3 of public and private schools of education in Texas. Find out more at https://www.smu.edu/Simmons.

Application Instructions

Review of applications will begin on January 31, 2022, and the position will remain open until filled. Reference the appropriate position number – 53260 (FULL), 53590 (ASSOCIATE), 53653 (ASSISTANT) – on all documents submitted for application: (1) cover letter outlining research, teaching, and administrative experience and highlighting the candidate’s demonstrable commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) copies of two representative scholarly publications; and (4) the names, affiliations, and contact information for three references. References will only be contacted if the candidate advances to the on-campus interview stage. All materials should be submitted electronically through Interfolio. For questions about the search submission process or positions, contact Dr. Eric G. Bing ([email protected]) or Dr. Tony Cuevas ([email protected]), Search Committee Co-Chairs. The committee will notify applicants of its employment decisions after the position is filled. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience.

The City of Dallas is one of the nation’s most cosmopolitan commercial and cultural centers, and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is the fourth largest in the US. A great many publicly traded corporations are headquartered in DFW, with nine Fortune 500 companies based within Dallas. The DFW airport was the fourth-busiest airport in the world in 2020, and travel to nearly anywhere in the world is extremely convenient, often by direct flight. Dallas’ quality of life is exceptional, with a relatively low cost of living and a variety of housing options from high-rise, urban apartments to country-style single-family homes. A full range of professional sports teams, popular to highbrow music venues, a lively and innovative restaurant scene, and more make Dallas an extremely livable city.

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, [email protected]