Lecturer - Data Analytics & Computational Social Science (DACSS)

Apply now Job no:520262
Work type:Faculty Full Time
Location:UMass Amherst
Department: Dean - Social & Behavioral Sci
Union: MSP
Categories:Faculty, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Description  

The Data Analytics and Computational Social Science (DACSS) Program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applicants for a position as a Lecturer in Computational Social Science. This is a full-time, one-year position, with the expectation of reappointment contingent upon funding and the candidate’s performance. This is an academic year appointment, and the preferred start date is September 1, 2024.

The successful candidate will be expected to offer three unique in-person, online, or multimodal courses each year (6 total sections),  including one of the four DACSS core courses covering topics in data science, quantitative analysis, research design, and data visualization; and at least one technical elective covering topics such as text, networks, machine learning, surveys, experiments, simulations, and advanced quantitative analysis. All courses will be taught with guidance from a tenured or tenure track UMass faculty mentor; extensive course preparation is not required.

After the completion of their first year of teaching, the lecturer may apply for support to design and teach a new course and an opportunity to earn additional compensation for teaching summer or intersession courses. 

Requirements

• PhD in anthropology, communications, economics, political science, psychology, sociology, computer science, data science, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated teaching and/or research interests in computational social science.
• Applicants with a background in digital humanities will also be considered.

Application Instructions

Please submit a cover letter that addresses the candidate’s research and teaching background in computational social science, a curriculum vitae, an article-length writing sample, and a teaching statement reflecting on a time when the applicant struggled with teaching (in or out of the classroom) in the past.

Review of applicants will continue until a suitable candidate pool has been identified.

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences is committed to building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive work environment where cultural diversity is celebrated and valued. We believe diversity benefits and enriches the development of all of our students, staff, and faculty in our college. To learn more, please visit https://www.umass.edu/sbs/diversity-equity-and-inclusion .

The University is committed to active recruitment of a diverse faculty and student body. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities and encourages applications from these and other protected group members. Because broad diversity is essential to an inclusive climate and critical to the University’s goals of achieving excellence in all areas, we will holistically assess the many qualifications of each applicant and favorably consider an individual’s record working with students and colleagues with broadly diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds in educational, research or other work activities. We will also favorably consider experience overcoming or helping others overcome barriers to an academic career and degree.