Title: Teaching Faculty (Lecturer/Sr. Lecturer) - Robotics/AI

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: College of Information & Computer Sciences

Department: Computer Science

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Job Summary

The Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) at the University of Massachusetts is looking for exceptional educators in computer science and informatics to join our growing Teaching Faculty.

We are searching to fill two positions. The first position is focused exclusively on robotics. The second position is focused on AI, but applications from truly exceptional candidates with expertise in other areas of computer science and informatics will also be considered.

Essential Functions

About the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences:

Celebrating over 60 years of pioneering contributions to computing, the Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) at UMass Amherst is home to graduate and undergraduate programs ranked among the top 25 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and CS Rankings. Following a decade of tremendous growth, CICS currently has 94 core faculty, including 1 Turing Award winner, 20 ACM Fellows, 12 IEEE Fellows, 40 NSF CAREER Award winners, and 8 AAAI Fellows. CICS research encompasses all major technical specializations across the profession and serves as the focal point for interdisciplinary computing research at UMass Amherst, with affiliated research centers such as the Center for Intelligent Information Retrieval, the Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, the Center for Smart and Connected Society, the Computational Social Science Institute, and the Cybersecurity Institute, and the NIH-funded Massachusetts AI and Technology Center for Connected Care in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease.

The college currently enrolls approximately 300 doctoral students, 600 master's students, and 1,700 undergraduate students in its computer science and informatics programs and continues to build on its history of innovative teaching with new BS and MS concentrations in AI, new certificates in public interest technology, and a growing online master's program. The college's new Computer Science Laboratories building serves as a hub for community, collaboration, and innovation. The CICS community is united by a revolutionary vision for computing research, education, and outreach—Computing for the Common Good—and is committed to inspiring and educating students from all backgrounds and experiences, while conducting research that improves the lives of the people of the Commonwealth and the world.

Job Description:

The Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) at the University of Massachusetts is looking for exceptional educators in computer science and informatics to join our 22 Teaching Faculty. Two positions are available. The first position is focused exclusively on robotics. The second position is focused on AI, but applications from truly exceptional candidates with expertise in other areas of computer science and informatics will also be considered.

Full-time teaching faculty have full faculty voting rights within the college and are eligible for full benefits. We are looking for individuals with a commitment to teaching and pedagogy, who are willing to work collaboratively with our other faculty to develop and continuously refine our curricula. It is expected that the individuals holding these positions will remain long-term with the College.

As part of a public, land-grant institution, CICS is dedicated to “Computing for the Common Good.” Given our continually growing and increasingly diverse student body, we encourage applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and individuals with a commitment to mentoring historically marginalized demographics in computer science.

Initial appointments will be for 2 years at the rank of Lecturer, though highly qualified candidates may receive consideration for these openings at other ranks (Senior Lecturer or Senior Lecturer II). Lecturers may be promoted to Senior Lecturer or Senior Lecturer II after sufficient time in service, meritorious performance, and promise of continuing professional development and achievement. After four years of full-time equivalent service, teaching faculty are also eligible for a continuous appointment.

This is an academic-year appointment with teaching responsibilities for nine months of the year. Full-time teaching faculty typically teach five courses per year at the undergraduate or graduate level and have service obligations. Opportunities for teaching additional summer courses may be available for additional compensation. While there are no required research-related duties, research activities are highly valued.

Minimum Qualifications

Before starting in this position, applicants must hold a PhD in Computer Science or a closely related field. Applicants must also have a strong commitment to, and proven track record of, teaching undergraduate and/or graduate courses in computer science or a closely related field. A prior research record in Computer Science or a closely related field is strongly preferred. For the robotics position, prior experience with ROS is required, preferably both in simulation and on real robots.

Additional Details

Starting Date: Spring 2027 or Fall 2027.

UMass Amherst and CICS are very supportive of dual-career families. We have a Partner Employment Program and will work with candidates to find opportunities for partners within CICS, across the University, and in the nearby community. Although UMass does not guarantee job placement, efforts are made to help secure a position for spouses or partners. For more information on our Partner Employment Program or other faculty benefits, please see https://www.umass.edu/faculty-development/prospective-faculty.

Inquiries and requests for more information can be sent to: chair@cs.umass.edu.

This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday - Friday, 40 hours a week.

Salary Information

The expected salary range for this position is between $107,000 and $120,000.

The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend and offer of employment.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Application Instructions:

We will begin interviewing in early fall 2026 and will continue to accept applications through spring 2027 or until all positions are filled. To ensure consideration for a fall interview, we encourage you to apply no later than October 1, 2026. To ensure consideration for a spring interview, we encourage you to apply no later than December 31, 2026.

Candidates are required to attach a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, a teaching statement, and contact information for three (3) professional references. Please also include a statement in your cover letter that explains why you are interested in a faculty position specifically with UMass Amherst. You are encouraged to provide relevant course feedback scores and comments, as well as other available written evaluations of teaching for review by the search committee.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.