Professor and Director of Data Science and Scalable Computing

Reporting to ECIT Director, the Centre Director will be responsible for leading and delivering the ambitious research and innovation
plans for the Centre of Data Science and Scalable Computing, consistent with the overall objectives of the ECIT GRI plan and QUB’s
Vision 2020. This will include creating major new research initiatives, creation and promotion of a world-class research culture,
promotion of strong international collaborative research links and securing major research funding from national and international
research bodies and industry to sustain and support the growth of the Centre. An important role will be the successful promotion of
research translation and the active development of impact to support economic growth.

MAJOR DUTIES:

1. Developing a clear vision and research strategy for the Centre, with a strong and demonstrated commitment to its aims and
objectives and its contribution to the GRI.
2. Leading, implementing and overseeing this research strategy within the Centre including the creation of effective implementation plans.
3. Communicating this vision and strategy to staff, researchers and engineering staff within the different research themes of the Centre.
4. Creating and leading major new research initiatives.
5. Developing strategic and collaborative research relationships with other major academic institutions, research laboratories and
industry nationally and internationally and effective implementation plans for the benefit of ECIT and the Centre.
6. Working with other researchers in the Centre and elsewhere to obtain funding from Research Councils, other government
bodies and industry, nationally and internationally, to grow the activities of the Centre and ECIT including supporting and
mentoring younger members of staff in such activities.
7. Create strategic and implementation plans to actively grow ECIT’s Post graduate research activities, including the creation of a
new Doctoral Training Centre in Data Analytics and Scalable Computing.
8. To create an effective strategy (and its implementation) that will lead to the further development of ECIT’s current research,
innovation and enterprise environment; this will facilitate the delivery of impact including (a) the creation of new high technology
spin-out companies and (b) the attraction and support of spin-in companies to the benefit of society and the economy.
9. Work closely with QUB staff, with industry and government agencies in all other aspects relating to technology transfer and
research impact, including support of inward investment, and development of materials for high quality submission to external
research quality appraisal exercises.
10. To play an active part in leading new initiatives to promote and facilitate collaborative research with industry; this includes the
creation of a new industry membership model for the Centre (to include SMEs) and to actively participate in relevant Industrial Advisory Boards.
11. Organising and chairing regular Centre strategy and operational meetings.
12. Mentoring and supporting staff within the Centre in terms of personal research objectives; undertaking staff appraisals and
reviewing performance on a regular basis.
13. Overseeing the day-to-day operations of their Centre including the management, establishment and further development of
state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and the other resources needed to ensure it is delivering against its objectives including
liaison with relevant QUB support teams including: HR, finance, estates etc.
14. Developing meaningful and productive relationships with Research Councils, grant awarding bodies and industry, nationally and internationally.
15. To contribute to and support cross-disciplinary research inside and outside ECIT, as appropriate.
16. Play a leading role in promoting and developing the international reputation of the Centre, for example through outreach
presentation at leading international conferences, through involvement in national and international research committee activity,
through conference organisation and through establishing formal linkages to major research laboratories (academic and
industrial) world-wide.
17. Membership of ECIT’s Senior Management Group the EEECS School Senior Management Group and the ECIT International
Advisory Board with related and ensuing responsibilities.
18. Any other duties that may be reasonably requested.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

1. A PhD in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Electronic Engineering.
2. Significant academic research leadership in data science and/or scalable computing as evidenced by verifiable involvement in
the generation of milestone papers in leading journals, noteworthy demonstrators or internationally leading capability or major funding initiatives.
3. Strong indicators of academic research impact as evidenced by strong citation indices in Scopus or Google Scholar, or other
evidence if wide use of research outputs and software or hardware artefacts in academic and industry research.
4. Prestigious individual fellowships (e.g. RAEng, RS, EPSRC), or other individual awards in recognition of excellence in research.
5. Prestigious measures of esteem such as membership in editorial boards, panels, or significant conference service.
6. Ability to form, manage and sustain large research groups, including a strong track record of successful post-graduate student
and post-doctoral staff supervision.
7. Significant teaching experience including undergraduate or postgraduate teaching, project supervision, assessment and
feedback experience.
8. Strong record of collaboration with and links to industry, or other activities aiming at achieving broader societal and economic impact.
9. Strong track record of academic leadership, as evidenced by undertaking major initiatives that significantly improved research,
education, or administrative processes.
10. Significant experience with University management and administrative processes commensurate with career stage.
11. Candidates are required to provide a research statement (no more than 500 words) to highlight the relevance of your research
to the post, and a teaching statement (no more than 250 words) to indicate your teaching experience and teaching interests in
Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or cross-cutting areas.

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

1. Evidence of substantive research in foundations and infrastructures for large-scale data analytics, involving challenging application areas.
2. Senior Membership or Fellowship in major professional societies such as ACM, IEEE, IET, BCS.
3. Experience in interdisciplinary research.
4. Evidence of active international research collaborations and participation in major international research networks.
5. Evidence of successful knowledge transfer with measurable societal and economic impact, or evidence of recognised
contribution to industry roadmaps.
6. Undertaking of major initiatives in Computer Science education, including but not limited to the establishment of new programs,
new methods of delivery, or new methods of assessment and feedback.
7. Potential to establish new undergraduate or postgraduate modules or programs broadly focused on large-scale data analytics.
8. Teaching and professional service awards.