Job Description
The Lyle School of Engineering at SMU, led by the newly appointed visionary Mary and Richard Templeton Dean Nader Jalili, invites accomplished candidates for the inaugural Walden & Paula Rhines Endowed Quantum Informatics position in the Computer Science or Electrical & Computer Engineering Departments.
The Lyle School of Engineering has embarked on an ambitious journey, successfully hiring 14 outstanding faculty members, including two department chairs, three center/institute executive directors, and several endowed professors during the 2023-24 academic year. Our culture of faculty growth thrives on innovation, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment. We are committed to externally funded, industry-supported research, which advances our academic goals and provides students with invaluable industry insights. Our mission is to lead in the digital transformation of engineering education, equipping students with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to emerge as confident, capable leaders. Through excellence and innovation, we aim to significantly impact the engineering landscape and beyond.
Quantum Engineering, is poised for unprecedented growth that will help reshape the technology landscape in the coming years. With federal agencies adopting quantum information systems and escalating cybersecurity demands, our new faculty hires will be able to shape the future by harnessing quantum computing techniques to tackle complex and large-scale optimization problems, further revolutionizing the field. Ideal candidates are envisioned to establish and sustain globally renowned, externally funded research programs that synergize with the school’s ongoing research endeavors. These efforts will play a pivotal role in fostering the establishment of centers and institutes of excellence through collaborative engagement. Departmental tenure appointment, including joint appointments, will be thoughtfully matched to the background and interests of the final candidate within Lyle's Computer Science or Electrical & Computer Engineering Departments. Potential joint appointments within Lyle or across the broader SMU schools and colleges are within the realm of consideration.
About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering
For nearly a century, Lyle has been nurturing exceptional engineers who are catalysts for global change. Our commitment to shaping bold leaders who innovate, pioneer, and tackle society’s toughest challenges is unwavering. Embedded in our mindset is a culture of ingenuity that resonates through our research and curriculum. With an impressive 9:1 graduate student-to-faculty ratio, coupled with robust scholarship offerings, we are dedicated to fostering meaningful mentorship and breaking engineering stereotypes. Lyle has proudly earned the American Society for Engineering Education’s Bronze Award for championing diversity and inclusivity. Our focus extends beyond campus, addressing critical global issues through groundbreaking research. Our five departments—Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Operation Research and Engineering Management, and Mechanical Engineering—drive impactful innovations beyond academia’s boundaries.
Lyle School’s acclaimed centers and institutes include the Darwin Deason Institute for Cyber Security, Hart Center for Engineering Leadership, Caruth Institute for Engineering Education, Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity, Hart Institute for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the newly established Center for Digital and Human-Augmented Manufacturing.
A New Era Beckons: In a resounding testament to our aspirations, SMU’s pursuit of R1 status is bolstered by a recent landmark $20 million gift (https://www.smu.edu/ignited/news/gifts/templeton-lyle-gift-feb-2023) and $15 million investment on Initiative for Digital Innovation in Engineering and Computer Science (https://www.smu.edu/ignited/news/gifts/odonnell-gift-august-2023). These transformative endowments are pivotal in invigorating our research ecosystem, fostering interdisciplinary alliances to position Lyle as an authoritative force in artificial intelligence, human augmentation, digital transformation and innovation. Empowered by the Provost and Dean, the new faculty will be able to redefine engineering education for our swiftly evolving digital landscape, benefiting Dallas and the broader DFW area.
Our world-class research facilities are complemented by robust resources in high-performance scientific computing (see https://www.smu.edu/Provost/Data-Science-Institute/HPC).
SMU Values: We seek colleagues who eagerly embrace SMU’s central values of intellectual diversity, academic freedom, and the cultivation of cultural intelligence to teach, lead, and collaborate effectively with our students, colleagues, and stakeholders regardless of their backgrounds.
About SMU
SMU's more than 12,000 high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.
SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.
SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.
Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.
SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.
All applications should be submitted through Interfolio.
Qualifications for this position is an accomplished academic suitable for an endowed associate or full professorship with an earned Ph.D. in the appropriate or a closely related discipline, with a profound understanding of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The expertise will inspire and guide the next generation of trailblazers, bridging the gap between theory and real-world impact.
Candidates are required to submit with their application a cover letter that includes research and teaching statements, a statement of leadership background and philosophy, Curriculum Vitae, and contact information for three professional references. Successful candidates will also present a vision for continued growth and development of the department. To ensure full consideration for the position, the application must be received by December 2, 2024. The committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled and will notify applicants of its employment decisions after the position is filled. Hiring is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a background check. The start date for this position is negotiable, but the desired start date is January 1, 2025.
SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Assistant Vice President for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, [email protected].
