Michigan State University

Position Title/Short Description

Full Text of JOE Listing:

The College of Social Science at Michigan State University invites applications for a tenure system position at the Associate Prof/Professor level to serve as Director of Social Science Data Analytics (SSDA).

We seek a dynamic, talented Director who is using new technologies and large-scale data in creative and diverse ways to foster knowledge about the social world and who is able to contribute, in meaningful ways, to promoting an environment in which individuals of differing perspectives, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry. The successful applicant could specialize in Economics, Geography, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, or another social science discipline.

The Director will play a key leadership role in overseeing SSDA, identifying and chartering strategic advancements for the College in data analytics, and enhancing the methodological training of its students. The College looks forward to continuing its support for the SSDA program, which includes the SSDA hub office space for multiple postdoctoral and graduate assistantships and funding programs and events that further collaboration, diversification, and training.

A successful candidate is expected to have a publication record in utilizing data analytic methods to answer basic or applied social questions, a track record of external funding with plans for future funding, and experience in developing or managing an academic program or collaboration effort. We seek candidates with experience in applying either Bayesian methodologies, statistical learning, geospatial prediction, text analytics, causal inference, network analysis, data visualization, or related techniques.The ideal Director candidate would have an ability to serve in a leadership role, overseeing and managing SSDA. This Director would have a vision for SSDA’s role, advocating for the value of social science in data analytics, bringing together SSDA-affiliated faculty members from within the College, as well as from other colleges. The Director will help to strengthen the College’s integration and utilization of MSU´s data analytic initiatives, such as the Department of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering and the Institute for Cyber-Enabled Research within the College of Natural Sciences, and the Center for Business and Social Analytics. We also seek experience creating an inclusive research, teaching, and mentoring environment in order to reach those without substantial prior training and to integrate data analytic training among our graduate and undergraduate programs for all students, including our College’s minor in Social Science Data Analytics. Such efforts will seek to grow our data analytic community and enhance its diversity.