Professor of the Practice

In July 2026, UNC Chapel Hill launched the Division of Data Science and Society within the School of Data and Information Sciences (SDIS), a division devoted to data science teaching, research, scholarship, service, and creativity. DSS's vision is to be a leader in shaping the field of data science through an interdisciplinary and rigorous grounding in theory and methods with a human centric approach to the entire data life cycle.

The mission of DSS is to empower a diverse community of faculty conducting research in the fundamentals and/or the applications of data science. The Division is training undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to be the next generation of data science leaders with the knowledge and skills to thrive in this data-driven world. The Division will serve the state, the nation, and the world through premier data science educational programs and innovative research directed to advancing the public good with human centric and ethical applications.

The core elements of SDIS include porous borders: leveraging our low walled collaborative Carolina culture to solve major societal problems. Interdisciplinary research clusters that cross Division and School boundaries are a vital element of our Scholarly community. The School of Data and Information Sciences is focused on students and education - the emphasis is not just on data science majors but on all students becoming data literate. The school's culture has an open and transparent structure, governance, and business model.

The Division of Data Science and Society (DSS) at UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Data and Information Sciences (SDIS) is excited to announce a full-time Professor of the Practice position in data science. This position provides academic leadership for the culminating capstone experience in the school's graduate data science programs - the online Master of Applied Data Science (MADS) and the residential Master of Science in Data Science (MS) - and serves as the faculty lead for MADS. The successful candidate will orchestrate the delivery of the graduate capstone course, serve as instructor of record for the MADS capstone, and teach additional DATA courses in the MADS program as program needs require. Primary responsibilities include:

*Orchestrate the delivery of the graduate capstone course by vetting projects in conjunction with the school's Office of Cross-Sector Partnership, overseeing and grading student work, and communicating with the external clients of capstone projects.

*Teach a wide range of the DATA courses offered in the MADS program, including the culminating capstone experience, in coordination with other teaching faculty.

*Serve on the Admissions Committee for MADS, reviewing candidates who meet program qualifications and making admission decisions.

*Collaborate with school staff on curricular improvements to ensure the online program management vendor delivers services that meet university academic standards.

*Oversee continuous quality improvement of the curriculum by reviewing instructor and student feedback and implementing changes.

*Take an active role in planning and carrying out the optional on-campus immersion held during the summer.

*Participate in virtual student recruitment sessions four times a year.

Professors of the practice at SDIS bring deep professional and pedagogical expertise into the classroom and play a central role in connecting students with real-world practice. Working closely with teaching faculty, program staff, the Office of Cross-Sector Partnership, and the school's external partners, the Professor of the Practice will ensure that data science master's students complete a rigorous, client-facing capstone experience that translates classroom learning into professional practice. We invite you to join the DSS faculty and be part of this mission.

The applicants must have a Ph.D. in data science, statistics, computer science, or a related field, or a master's degree in a related field accompanied by substantial professional experience in the practice of data science.

Preferred applicants will have a strong record of teaching and mentoring at the graduate level, evidence of excellence in developing and delivering data science courses, and an aptitude for working collaboratively across disciplines. Teaching experience in formal online settings is a plus. Experience managing client-facing, project-based courses and communicating with external partners is preferred. Additionally, candidates must be able to engage with students, researchers, professionals, and stakeholders from diverse disciplines. A record of professional practice in data science is strongly preferred.

This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority in accordance with the Clery Act. This position will be required to report Clery crimes to the Clery Compliance Manager and complete annual training about reporting responsibilities.