Professor or Associate Professor: Data Science

Faculty of Engineering

Industrial Engineering and/or Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Voigt Chair in Data Science

Professor or Associate Professor

(Ref. ING00/129/0418)

 

Permanent Appointment

Stellenbosch University is establishing what is currently known as “The Stellenbosch School for Data Science and Computational Thinking.”  This is a cross-faculty initiative that aims to coordinate and facilitate research and teaching across a wide spectrum of activities in data sciences, including the collection, categorisation, representation, analysis, use and interpretation of data.

The generation of, access to and use of data have exploded over the last decade.  Faster, and less expensive computers, as well as the internet, have made the gathering, sharing and exploitation of data pervasive in almost all disciplines and sectors, from finance and commerce to health, bio-sciences, engineering and many others.  The collection, handling, storing and analysis (mining) of big data pose new challenges to data scientists and engineers. The Faculty of Engineering is taking the lead in introducing data sciences to a wider cohort of undergraduate and postgraduate students, and in providing leading research for use by industry.

   

Duties

• Coordinating and advancing the knowledge fields of data science, data-analysis and big data in the context of the Engineering Faculty through leading research;
• Research in the broad field of data science;
• Supervising postgraduate students on master’s and doctoral levels;
• Teaching undergraduate and postgraduate modules in data science;
• Coordinating the Faculty’s activities in data science in the context of the entire University.

 

Job Requirements

• A relevant doctoral degree;
• A proven international publication record;
• A proven research profile demonstrating significant international recognition;
• A proven record of postgraduate student supervision on master’s and doctoral levels;
• A proven record of quality undergraduate and postgraduate teaching;
• Proven cooperation with the industry;
• A proven record of fundraising to sustain and advance a research group;
• Good communication and teaching skills;
• Experience in the management of staff and finances;
• Excellent interpersonal and leadership qualities.

 

Recommendation

• Industry experience;
• An NRF rating;
• An international network in the field.

 

The University will consider all applications in terms of its Employment Equity Plan, which acknowledges the need to diversify the demographic composition of the staff corps, especially with regard to the appointment of suitable candidates from the designated groups.

The University reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Your application, comprising a comprehensive curriculum vitae (including the names and e-mail  address of at least three referees), must reach the University before or on the closing date of the advertised post.

The University reserves the right to investigate qualifications and conduct background checks on all candidates.

Should no feedback be received from the University within six weeks of the closing date, kindly accept that your application did not succeed.

 

Enquiries

Enquiries regarding job content: Prof. Wikus van Niekerk on 021 808 4204, or on wikus@sun.ac.za

Enquiries regarding remuneration/benefits as well as technical assistance with the electronic application process: Human Resources Client Service Centre on 021 808 2753