Position Description

The Department of Statistics in Rice University’s School of Engineering and Computing, located in Houston, TX, seeks applications for two faculty positions at the tenure-track assistant professor level or at the tenured associate professor level with candidates expected to have a research interest in the general areas of statistics and data science, including statistical computation for modern problems. The anticipated start date for these positions is July 1, 2025.   

The successful candidates are expected to have a research interest in the general areas of statistics and data science. The Department seeks to identify outstanding candidates with highly technical skills, strong evidence of creativity and innovation, a strong interest in interdisciplinary collaboration, and a serious commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching, service and diversity.  

The Department of Statistics at Rice University is dedicated to the advancement of the scientific discipline of statistics, the innovative application of statistical science to meet modern scientific, engineering and societal challenges, the expert education of students in statistics and other disciplines, and leadership in the statistical sciences, at the local, national and international levels. 

The Department of Statistics has strengths in Bayesian statistics, machine learning, multivariate analysis, dependent data, data science, applied probability and stochastic processes, and modeling.  The faculty also have significant expertise in many application areas. Of special interest is the biomedical domain as we are located across the street from the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical center in the world. This includes biostatistics, bioinformatics, systems biology, mathematical oncology, human health sciences, neuroscience, and environmental health. Other major application areas are urban analytics, environmental science, materials, finance, economics, astronomy, agronomy, physics and social sciences. More information about the Department of Statistics is available at https://statistics.rice.edu/. 

The selected candidate will be expected to teach and develop undergraduate and graduate courses within their expertise; perform high-quality research in their specialized area and present findings from their research in peer-reviewed publications and conferences; establish a strong research program supported by extramural funding; be involved in service to the university and broader scientific community; and collaborate with faculty in diverse disciplines.  

About Rice University 

Rice University is a private, comprehensive research university located in the heart of Houston’s dynamic Museum District and adjacent to the Texas Medical Center.  It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees across eight schools and has a student body of approximately 4,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students.  Rice consistently ranks among the top 20 national universities and the top 10 in undergraduate teaching (US News & World Report); its endowment ranks among the top 20 of US universities. 

Rice is located in the most ethnically diverse city in the US and aims to create a nurturing environment that celebrates our many cultures. Rice seeks greater representation of women, scholars of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and others who have historically been underrepresented in science and engineering; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought, and to support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community. 

The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing ranks among the top 20 engineering programs and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty, staff, and students in an inclusive environment. 

Qualifications

All candidates must have a Ph.D. degree in statistics or a related field conferred by November 1 of the year that employment will commence. A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is required of all applicants, and professional experience should be consistent with the desired position rank.  

Application Instructions

Review of applications will commence December 1st, and candidates are encouraged to apply early in order to be given full consideration. Applications will continue to be accepted until the position has been filled.   

To apply, please submit the following materials: (1) letter of interest to include which rank you are applying for, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) research statement, (4) teaching statement, and (5) statement of past and planned contributions to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

In addition, candidates will be asked to provide the names and contact information for 3-5 references, who will be solicited for letters of recommendation at the time of application. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

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