Associate/Full Professor in Social Work, AI & Data Science Cluster

Job Description

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Position Title:
Associate/Full Professor in Social Work, AI & Data Science Cluster
Job Category:
Faculty
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Associate Professor
Job Duties:
The Social Work Department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) invites applicants to apply to an associate or full professor, tenure-line faculty position as part of an Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Cluster Hire Initiative. UWM Academic Affairs, with generous support from the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI), is making a strategic investment in this position, providing competitive salary supplements and start-up resources.
The new faculty will have a record of securing external funding along with experience in academic settings that is commensurate with a rank of Advanced Assistant Professor (with ability to join UWM as tenured associate) or higher. Applicants are expected to have expertise both in a critical social work-related area of research (e.g., applied gerontology, health disparities, poverty policy, child welfare, community practice, criminal justice, etc.) and in AI and Data Science. The incoming faculty will collaborate with NMDSI to drive innovative research, strengthen community engagement, and develop AI and Data Science talent to support Milwaukee's growth as a technology and innovation hub. Candidates with relevant expertise will also have the opportunity to affiliate as Fellows with UWM's Connected Systems, which houses the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab

Faculty in this cluster hire will be housed in UWM's College of Community Engagement & Professions: Helen Bader School of Social Welfare and the School of Information Studies.
The faculty hired for this cluster in the Department of Social Work will:
Produce scholarship in an important area of social work research.
Advance interdisciplinary AI and Data Science research at UWM.
Collaborate with NMDSI to address real-world challenges.
Innovate and expand AI and Data Science educational programs.
Key Job Responsibilities:
Department:
The Helen Bader School of Social Welfare is comprised of the Department of Social Work and the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology. The Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology offers a BS and an MS, as well as jointly offering a PhD in Social Welfare with the Department of Social Work. The Department is known for its commitment to collaborative partnerships with community and governmental organizations in southeast Wisconsin and beyond through research and student engagement.
Why Join UWM?

UWM is recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as both a Research 1 and Community Engaged university. Our mission as an urban research university aligns with this dual designation and is key to our shared, aspirational purposes reflected in our 2030 Strategic Plan to advance student success, the employee experience, research
impact
and innovation, as well as fiscal sustainability and economic growth. As one of the few Carnegie R1 Research Universities with a Community Engagement designation, UWM offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on public health through research
, teaching,
and
collaboration.

Compensation:
The target hiring range is
$110,000 - $160,000
on a 9-month, academic basis. Final salary offer will be contingent on rank and skills and abilities demonstrated throughout the selection process
Required Qualifications:
PhD
/Doctorate
. in social work

or a related field.

Ability to meet rank of a tenured associate or full professor
in the
Department of Social Work at
UWM
which inclu
des a
strong record of research and scholarship, teaching, and service accomplishments comparable to those of a tenured associate or full professor
.

Proven
success in
securing external research funding
,
preferably federal funding in areas of applied AI.

Demonstrated
commitment to
fostering inclusive environments and supporting the success of students,
including
historically underrepresented
students
(
e.g.
first-generation students, Pell-eligible students)
.

Preferred Qualifications:
Proven
track record
of interdisciplinary research collaboration

related to
AI
and Data Science
.

Demonstrated experience in developing and sustaining partnerships with local organizations.

Strong record of community-engaged research that addresses systemic challenges, employs
empowered and
emancipatory approaches, and generates
equitable
and inclusive outcomes.

Demonstrated contributions to advancing underrepresented areas in AI, with tangible impacts on societal benefits, ethical AI development, and reducing biases and inequities in technology access.

Expertise
in analyzing and addressing systemic challenges affecting urban and underrepresented populations using AI
.

How to Apply:
Interested candidates
are required to

submit
the following:

Curriculum vitae.

Letter of interest
describing research interests, past accomplishments, qualifications,
funding record,
and vision for collaborative work
with
Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute
.

Referee List (names and contact information
of
at least three references). Letters of recommendation will be requested by the search committee after the
initial
review
.

Note: Applicants must complete all required fields and attach
all
required documents prior to
submitting
the online application to ensure full consideration.
Additional
documents
submitted
aside from these required materials will not be considered.

In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to
ascertain
from the candidates' application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications.

This is a continuous recruitment with
an initial
review date of October 19, 2026
.
To ensure consideration, applications must be
submitted
by October 18, 2026. Application materials received after October 18,
2026
may not receive consideration.

Be part of UWM's mission to transform lives and communities through research, collaboration, and community engagement.

Questions about this position should be directed to
Joshua Xiong
at
jxxiong
@uwm.edu.
Reasonable Accommodations
Pursuant to
university policy
, UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact
uwm-jobs@uwm.edu
or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.
Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin's Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin's Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of "final candidates" and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.
CBC and Reference Check Policy
Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment.
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see
http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/
, or call UWM's Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy.
Employment Authorization
In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.