Professor/ Associate Professor: Artificial Intelligence and ICT

CORE PURPOSE OF JOB

The Faculty of Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology as the host faculty in partnership with the Faculty of Science seeks to strengthen and enhance Artificial Intelligence research and innovation at Nelson Mandela University. The incumbent would need to facilitate relevant learning and teaching at undergraduate and post graduate level as well as be involved in the supervision of postgraduate students. The research and innovation should focus on theoretical foundations, as well as applications of AI.

We seek expertise ranging from, but not limited to, machine learning, knowledge representation and reasoning, autonomous agents and multi-agent systems, human-machine interactions and collectives, cognition and human modelling, large language models, data science, robotics, augmented reality, graphics, computer vision and imaging, audio-visual signal processing, natural language processing and affective computing.

The incumbent would be responsible for multi-/inter-/trans-disciplinary projects, engagements, research, and innovation output across faculties.

Academic leadership

• Provide strategic academic leadership in the development of sustainable inter, multi- and transdisciplinary scholarship in artificial intelligence.
• Guide and support curriculum and programme development initiatives that support AI and technological innovation.
• Facilitate learning and teaching at undergraduate and post graduate level.
  • Position the Nelson Mandela University as a place for development of applied AI in our graduate training.

Research and Innovation

• Contribute to the creation of knowledge by virtue of applied research and innovation.
• Produce accredited research, innovative and creative output.
• Support successful supervision of postgraduate students.
• Mentoring of early-career researchers in AI within and across faculties.

Engagement and Transformation

• Identify and initiate strategic, sustainable, high-level institutional transformative partnerships within the African region and beyond, focusing on the application of AI.
• Using AI to advance and contribute to the institutional transformation strategy.
  • Develop sustainable equalising partnerships to promote knowledge sharing with the academic community and relevant external stakeholders in support of the universitys vision.

• In-depth knowledge and experience in transdisciplinary scholarship in the application of AI
• Experience within the higher education or similar sector in cross-disciplinary research in AI
• Capability in infusing the application of AI in the Faculty curricula.
• Knowledge and experience in AI and the application thereof
  • Capacity to conceptualise and implement sustainable impactful cross-disciplinary projects for graduate and postgraduate students in the field of AI.
  • Ability to supervise graduate students and mentor early career scholars.
  • Publications in the field of AI in DHET (or equivalent) accredited journals.
  • Experience in working effectively with diverse people.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Full Professor

• Doctorate in the field related to the core purpose of the job
  • 4 years extensive relevant demonstrable experience in the core functions of the job; preferably in a higher education, science council, or relevant industry environment.
  • Proven accredited research record in the field of AI and/or evidence of accredited creative and innovative outputs recognised nationally and internationally.
  • Successfully supervised a sustained number of Masters and Doctoral postgraduate students.
  • Record of mentoring new academics and early-career researchers.
  • Plays a leadership role Record of successful grants/funding applications

Associate Professor

• Doctorate in the field related to the core purpose of the job
• 3 years extensive relevant demonstrable experience in the core functions of the job; preferably in a higher education, science council or relevant industry environment.
• Proven accredited research, innovation, and creative output record in the field of AI.
• Successfully supervised a sustained number of Honours, and Masters or Doctoral postgraduate students.
• Record of successful grants/funding applications

Recommendation:

• Actively engaged in research as leader of a team or entity.
• Evidence of partnerships and collaboration at national and/or international level
• Evidence of engagement with industry, discipline, or community projects
• NRF rating

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• e.g. contact person and telephone number, e-mail; etc. must be displayed in your CV
• Provide a motivational letter of how you qualify for the position
• The candidate will be required to make a presentation in the interview
• The candidate needs to provide at least 2 referees for a reference check

Nelson Mandela University reserves the right not to make an appointment. In considering candidates for appointment into the advertised posts, preference will be accorded to persons from a designated group in accordance with the approved Nelson Mandela University Employment Equity Plan. No applications will be accepted after the closing date Friday, 03 May 2024.