Description:

The University of Houston invites applications for a Professor of Practice in Artificial Intelligence (AI). The appointment will begin July 1, 2026 (flexible, as long as before Sep 1, 2026), in the Department of Computer Science. This position is based at the UH Katy Campus in Katy, Texas.

The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in the newly developed MS in Artificial Intelligence (AI) program. We seek a practitioner/scholar who can deliver a rigorous, industry-aligned education that equips students with both foundational knowledge and practical skills to excel in the rapidly evolving field of AI.

Responsibilities:
-Teach a Subset of Graduate-Level AI Courses: Teach a curated selection of core and elective courses within the MS in AI program. Potential course assignments include, but are not limited to:
Mathematical Foundations for AI: Covering core mathematical concepts including linear algebra, probability, statistics, calculus, information theory, and optimization for AI and machine learning.
Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Covering core AI concepts, search algorithms, logic and reasoning, game AI, robotics, knowledge representation, and expert systems.
-Data Engineering for AI: Covering data pipelines, large-scale management (Spark/MapReduce), and cloud data storage.
-Responsible AI: Addressing ethics, bias, safety, and AI governance.
-Machine Learning and Deep Learning: Covering neural networks (CNNs, RNNs, transformers), LLMs, and foundation models.
-AI Systems Engineering and Deployment: Covering AI infrastructure, cloud/edge computing, distributed training, and AI/ML-Ops.
-Industry Alignment: Bridge the gap between academic theory and industrial engineering and application. The program emphasizes competencies essential for production deployment at scale, such as reliability, security, cost-aware engineering, and observability.
-Curriculum Development: Collaborate with the department to refine and update course materials to reflect trending topics like Generative AI, RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), and Agentic AI.
-Mentorship: Mentor students in capstone projects and guide them in translating domain problems into practical AI solutions.

Qualifications
Education: A graduate degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or a closely related discipline, PhD preferred. Substantial industry experience may be considered in lieu of an advanced degree. 

Industry Experience: A broad professional background is valued, though a distinct advantage will be given to candidates with practical experience designing, developing, and deploying AI solutions in real-world sectors (e.g., technology, healthcare, energy, finance).

Technical Expertise: Demonstrated proficiency with modern AI tools and frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP, or similar), and AI/ML-Ops workflows is a distinct advantage.

Teaching Excellence: Demonstrated ability to teach effectively. Teaching experience of in-person, online, or in blended learning environments is a distinct advantage. Experience in mentoring students from different backgrounds is a distinct advantage.

Location: University of Houston Katy Campus (Katy, Texas)

The Department of Computer Science is home to a dynamic and interdisciplinary group of 30+ full-time faculty members and over 2000+ students across its BS, MS, and PhD programs. The department currently has a strong emphasis on research in fundamental and applied computer science including AI, machine learning, computer vision, graphics and visualization, systems, distributed algorithms, and scientific and biomedical computing. Research in the department is and has been funded by numerous agencies, including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the U.S. Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Justice, Energy, and Transportation.

Situated in Houston, the fourth largest city in the United States, University of Houston is a Carnegie Tier One public research university. Its footprint spans the greater Houston area, featuring University of Houston System campuses in Katy, Downtown, Sugar Land, and Clear Lake. The university has embarked on an exciting period of research growth, a rising reputation, and committed leadership.

The city of Houston has world-class theaters, museums, restaurants, and thrilling sports teams. It offers affordable housing and enjoys a low cost of living. The university is close to the Texas Medical Center, the largest in the world, a large industrial base, and NASA. 

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Prospective applicants are welcome to direct inquiries to Dr. Guoning Chen, Professor and Associate Chair, at gchen22@central.uh.edu. 

Required Attachments by Candidate: 
Curriculum Vitae, Cover Letter/Letter of Application, Writing Samples, Teaching Philosophy or Statement 

Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of the final candidates.

All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check. Individuals conducting research in critical infrastructure areas (i.e., communication infrastructure systems, cybersecurity systems, electric grid, hazardous waste treatment systems, and/or water treatment facilities) are subject to regular review to ensure the security and integrity of the research is maintained.

The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.