Institution

University of Alabama

Job Title

Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Information Organization/Information Retrieval

Department/College

School of Library & Information Studies

Dates

Opening Date: 01/26/2024
Closing Date:  03/31/2024

Job Description

The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) seeks a student-focused faculty member for a full-time position to begin as early as August 16, 2024 at the rank of tenure-track assistant or tenured associate. This position provides an exciting opportunity for an outstanding scholar with an interest in information discoverability, information retrieval, organization of information, database design, and social aspects of information access.

Job Duties

Position Summary & Responsibilities:
  • Develop or maintain an established research agenda in library science and information science broadly defined commensurate with rank to include information organization and information retrieval. Areas of interest include (but are not limited to): information retrieval, organization of information, database design, information discoverability, metadata, linked data, and social aspects of information access.
  • Mentor and advise master's students as part of our ALA accredited Masters of Library and Information Studies (MLIS) degree program
  • Mentor undergraduate students in the forthcoming BS in Informatics program and contribute to said undergraduate curriculum in areas such as organizing systems and database design
  • Attract, advise, and mentor doctoral students as part of the college-wide interdisciplinary PhD program
  • Teach two courses per semester graduate and/or undergraduate in the fall and spring. Instructional modes typically include synchronous, online distance education and face-to-face.
  • Develop and maintain collaborative relationships across campus, within the larger LIS profession, and in other academic disciplines
  • Participate in professional service and engagement to SLIS, the College of Communication and Information Sciences, the University of Alabama, and organizations at the state, national, and international levels
  • All SLIS faculty contribute to a curriculum which fosters diversity of thought, experiences and backgrounds.
  • Mentor junior faculty as appropriate

Experience/Qualifications/Knowledge/Skills

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Earned doctorate in Library and Information Science or related field
  • Research record and professional stature commensurate with the rank of an established assistant professor or associate professor
  • Evidence of teaching excellence
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Evidence of successful grant funding• Experience overseeing graduate student research
  • Evidence of professional experience in the area of information retrieval/information organization
  • Active research and teaching experience in the areas of information retrieval/information organization
  • Evidence of successful course development for online delivery
  • Evidence of undergraduate and graduate teaching
  • Evidence of professional service engagement at the national level
  • Experience teaching students from a variety of experiences and backgrounds, and a commitment to working with nontraditional students
  • Experience mentoring and advising undergraduate and/or graduate students

Supplemental Information

Salary & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience• Health and Life Insurance• Teachers’ Retirement System of Alabama

About the School of Library & Information Studies
The School of Library and Information Studies (SLIS) is one of four academic units in the College of Communication & Information Sciences. SLIS offers an ALA-accredited master's program, an MFA degree program in the book arts, and doctoral courses that contribute to a multidisciplinary doctorate in communication and information sciences. SLIS has a forthcoming, proposed minor and B.S. major in Informatics.
About The University of Alabama.
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus.
A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. The University of Alabama has R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is among the top doctoral research universities in the United States.
As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
About Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is so much more than a college town. It's a vibrant community that’s filled with legendary history. Located along the Black Warrior River, the city features a walkable downtown that’s complete with live music, locally owned shops, outdoor spaces to explore and local restaurants to meet every palate. With a geography ranging from suburban to rural, the area offers a variety of housing options along with excellent public and private schools and a wealth of recreational and entertainment options.
With a metro area population of 235,000, the Druid City lies about an hour southwest of Birmingham, in west-central Alabama. It’s within a few hours’ drive of Gulf Coast beaches and major cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Atlanta, making it a great base for growing better acquainted with the South’s finest offerings.

How to Apply

Applicants must apply online at https://careers.ua.edu/jobs/search/college-of-communication-information-sciences and submit the following required materials:

  • A cover letter of application that addresses the applicant’s teaching philosophy, instructional excellence, outlines specific courses within the MLIS curriculum that the applicant could teach, and describes their research interests and trajectory
  • Two Sample Publications
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Contact information (names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers) for at least three professional references.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Confidential inquiries about the position may be sent to Dr. John Burgess, Search Committee Chair, at [email protected].
Special Instructions to Applicants: Prior to hiring, the final candidate must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and submit “official” university transcript(s) of all graduate level coursework.
The University of Alabama is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is strongly committed to diversity, valuing candidates who bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences to our community. Women and individuals from historically underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.


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