Assistant Professor, Data Science

Founded in 1910 and located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Mount Royal University grew into a vibrant college in the 1930s and became a mid-sized university in 2009. Today, Mount Royal offers 14 bachelor degrees and 38 majors, along with a wide range of diploma and certificate options. It boasts a diverse community with nearly 16,000 credit students, more than 5,500 non-credit students and about 1,700 employees.

As a student-focused undergraduate university built on teaching excellence, Mount Royal is known for its top-calibre programs, high-quality teaching and learning experience, robust delivery of liberal education, scholarly teaching, experiential learning and undergraduate research. Grounded in community, Mount Royal is a place where faculty, staff and alumni can know each other by name — and where everyone is welcome. Learn more about Mount Royal’s strategic academic direction at mru.ca/AcademicPlan . 

Mount Royal is located in the traditional territories of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) and the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Siksika, the Piikani, the Kainai, the Tsuut’ina, and the Iyarhe Nakoda. The City of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation.

Mount Royal is committed to removing barriers and fostering the inclusion of voices that have been historically underrepresented or discouraged in our society. In support of our belief that diversity in our faculty and staff enriches the work, learning and research experiences for the entire campus community, we strongly encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply and self-identify.

The Department of Mathematics and Computing, Faculty of Science and Technology at Mount Royal University invites applications for up to two tenure track positions which will commence July 1, 2024, subject to final budgetary approval, at the Rank of Assistant Professor.  

Mount Royal’s Faculty of Science and Technology offers Bachelor’s Degrees in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Data Science, Environmental Science, Geology, and General Science which allow students to prepare for a variety of exciting careers in science and technology by not only teaching them the basics of science but also how to be flexible and innovative problem-solvers. 

Faculty members in the Faculty of Science and Technology also support the delivery of the liberal education component of all Mount Royal University undergraduate degree programs by teaching courses in General Education (GNED), Cluster-One: Numeracy and Scientific Literacy. In foundation level GNED courses students explore pre-disciplinary themes and subjects and are exposed to a range of academic disciplines while developing key undergraduate intellectual capacities.

The Department of Mathematics and Computing offers a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems (BCIS), a Bachelor of Science Computer Science (BSc CS), a Bachelor of Science Data Science (BSc DS), as well as minors in Computer Information Systems, Data Science, Mathematics, and Mathematics for Elementary Education.

The Department of Mathematics and Computing invites applications for up to two tenure track positions, at the rank of Assistant Professor, to support the recently launched BSc Data Science degree.

The successful candidates will demonstrate a primary commitment to undergraduate teaching and an ongoing research program. The focus for both positions will be on teaching courses in the BSc Data Science program and developing senior-level courses in support of that program.

For the first position, preference will be given to candidates who will teach and develop MATH-prefixed courses (mathematics and/or statistics courses) within the Data Science program (core and concentration courses). This could include candidates with expertise in statistics, probability, stochastic processes, optimization, or graph theory. The successful candidate for this position will have a PhD in Mathematics, Statistics, or a closely related field.

For the second position, preference will be given to candidates who will teach and develop COMP and DATA-prefixed courses within the Data Science program. This could include candidates with expertise in data wrangling, data visualization, machine learning, big data analytics, or large-scale database management. Preferred candidates for this position will hold a PhD in a computing-related discipline; or a PhD in a related field demonstrating appropriate expertise in Data Science; or a Master’s degree, normally in a computing-related discipline, and significant work experience that would enable the candidate to make an appropriate academic contribution.  Relevant industry experience is considered a significant asset for this position. 

In both cases, the successful candidate will develop/maintain an active research program. The ability to involve undergraduate students in research and the ability to attract external funding are considered assets.

New faculty are hired into one of two work patterns. The teaching/ scholarship/ service pattern (TSS) focuses on teaching with the requirement that the faculty member be involved in a research program as well as service to the Mount Royal community. The teaching/ service pattern (TS) focuses on teaching and service only. The successful candidate for this role will be hired into the teaching/ scholarship/ service pattern (TSS). There is an option to change work patterns after tenure.

For further information, contact Dr. Brady Killough, Chair, Department of Mathematics and Computing at [email protected] .

Talented and committed employees are the driving force behind student success. We strive to be an employer of choice among Canadian post-secondary institutions. 

At Mount Royal University, we recognize that people are a combination of many intersecting identities; we work to cultivate an environment that welcomes the whole person, and harnesses the strength that is available in our diversity, creating a rich and inclusive workplace.

Investing in the learning and development of our employees benefits the individual and the University. A variety of services, resources and programs encourage a healthy, productive workplace. Mount Royal University offers a competitive total compensation package including health and dental benefits, pension, health and personal spending accounts, paid vacation, winter holiday closure, personal days and a free membership in our fully equipped recreation centre. 

Our campus offers the convenience of a medical clinic, dentist and pharmacy, as well as a variety of wellness services such as physiotherapists and massage therapists. Campus Recreation offers many activities, including personal training, fitness classes, climbing, aquatics, sports and certifications for students, employees and the public. 

Closing Date: February 15, 2024

Please notify us if you require an accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process.

A complete dossier should be submitted online including

• cover letter;

• curriculum vitae;

• teaching dossier that includes a statement of teaching philosophy, evidence of teaching effectiveness, and a list of 3 or more courses within the BSc Data Science curriculum (core and concentrations) that you would be interested in teaching;

• an inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) statement that highlights ways you strive to advance these ideals in your classroom, or in your work more broadly;

• a research statement that includes a brief outline of your research/scholarship interests and plans for future work at a student-focused undergraduate university (i.e. Mount Royal University);

• and the names and contact information for three referees.

Please provide all documents in a single PDF document titled LastName,Initial-ReqNo.pdf (e.g. Killough,B-999999.pdf).