School of Social Work

Open-Rank Computational Social Sciences

Multiple Open-Rank Positions to Begin August 2023

The School of Social Work at the University of Georgia, pursuant to its mission and values, invites nominations and applications for two new positions specializing in computational social sciences to begin August 1, 2023.  These tenure-track or tenured faculty positions are an academic 9-month appointment.  The successful candidates will be appointed at the rank commensurate with the candidate’s experience and will maintain an academic appointment in the School of Social Work. You will join an exceptionally talented and passionate group of staff and scholars, and there are opportunities to work in partnership with our Center for Human Trafficking Research & Outreach, Center for Social Justice, Human and Civil Rights, and the Institute for Nonprofit Management. Our faculty have a history of interdisciplinary collaborations with other entities within UGA, such as the College of Pharmacy, College of Public Health, Medical Partnership, College of Engineering, College of Family and Consumer Science, Mary Frances Early College of Education, School of Law, the Owens Institute for Behavioral Research, and others. This position is part of a campus-wide Presidential Interdisciplinary Faculty Hiring Initiative in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI) that aims to recruit a total of 50 faculty members who will educate students and advance research in data science, machine learning, and AI. The School of Social Work will be part of this initiative with two faculty positions in the area of applied social science interventions for community—one in computational social science and the other in human-centered computing (including app-based interventions). Rather than being housed exclusively in a single department, the majority of UGA’s newly recruited faculty will focus on the fusion of data science, AI, and computational social sciences in cross-cutting areas such as health and medicine, biomanufacturing, infectious diseases, integrative precision agriculture, ethics, cybersecurity, resilient communities, and the environment. Specifically, the candidate for these positions should bridge research efforts between Applied Social Science Interventions for Community cluster hires across the University in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, the College of Public Health and the School of Social Work.

The School and Institution

Chartered in 1785, the University of Georgia in Athens is a Carnegie RU/VH university, and the state’s flagship institution of higher education. The School of Social Work provides professional education to over 500 students through its CSWE–accredited B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs, Ph.D. program, as well as the Master of Nonprofit Management and Leadership. The School of Social Work also offers joint M.S.W. degree programs with the School of Law, the College of Public Health, and the Emory University Candler School of Theology. The School of Social Work is nationally and internationally known for excellence in research, teaching, public service, international programs, and a commitment to social and economic justice.

The Individuals

The candidate selected for this faculty position will be an outstanding scholar and teacher. The appointment can be made at the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor, consistent with the rank requirements in the University of Georgia Guidelines for Appointment,

Promotion and Tenure. To be eligible for tenure upon appointment, candidates must be appointed as an associate or full professor, have been tenured at a prior institution, and bring a demonstrably national reputation to the institution. Candidates must be approved for tenure upon appointment before hire. Applicants must also demonstrate exceptional research capacity and potential for external funding consistent with rank requirements. Faculty are expected to engage in teaching, research, field liaison duties and/or academic advising, and service. They may teach across the educational continuum at our Athens, Gwinnett, and online campuses. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in social work or cognate discipline (e.g. psychology, sociology, public health, neuroscience, economics). An M.S.W. degree with two years post master’s practice experience is preferred but not required. The School of Social Work is committed to hiring diverse faculty who work toward alleviating social and economic disparities through scholarship/research, teaching, public service and/or administrative responsibilities. We expect successful candidates to share our commitment to diversity and social justice. We are committed to conducting meaningful research through innovative approaches and collaboration across disciplines and sectors and connecting with the communities we serve in Georgia and around the world. In addition to contributions to the cluster, the candidate will be expected to synergize interdisciplinary collaboration efforts within the School of Social Work. 

Nominations and Applications

Application materials must be submitted through UGAJobs system (https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/297061).  Applicants should upload an application letter that includes a discussion of teaching philosophy and research agenda, and a curriculum vitae. Three letters of reference addressed to the University of Georgia, School of Social Work, Faculty Search Committee will be required at the time of interview. Review of applications will begin immediately and will be accepted until the position is filled. All applications received by

February 15, 2023 will be given full consideration. Questions should be routed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Rachel Fusco, Interim Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs, at rachel.fusco@uga.edu. Please note “Faculty Search” in the subject line. The anticipated start date for the position is August 1, 2023.