Assistant/Associate Professor, Information Organization/Information Retrieval, SLIS - 521814
The University of Alabama

Apply nowJob no: 521814
Work type: Regular Full-time (Benefits eligible)
Location: Tuscaloosa
Categories: Tenure/Tenure-Track Faculty

Department/Organization
207401 - School of Library and Info Studies

Rank
Assistant/Associate Professor

Position Summary
Primary duties will include teaching information organization and retrieval courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, engaging in a research program that results in published articles in outstanding scholarly publications, and performing service as assigned by the School, College, and University.

Detailed Position Information
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.

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

Salary & Benefits:
* Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience
* Health and Life Insurance
* Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama.

Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications include:
* 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
Preferred Qualifications include:
* 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

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
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 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 jtfburgess@ua.edu. 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.

About the Division/College/School
The College of Communication and Information Sciences is home to state-of-the-art media and research facilities like the Digital Media Center and the Institute for Communication and Information Research. The College's students and programs have won several regional and national awards in multiple areas ranging from forensics and debate to being named PRWeek's Most Outstanding Education Program. The College offers bachelor's degrees in advertising, communication studies, creative media, news media and public relations; master's degrees in advertising and public relations, book arts, communication studies, journalism and media studies, and library and information studies; and a multidisciplinary doctoral degree in communication and information sciences. With an award-winning faculty and staff and commitment to innovative scholarship and teaching, the College of Communication and Information Sciences is dedicated to realizing the potential of communication and information to make everyone's world a better place.

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
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.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf

Advertised: 25 Jan 2024 Central Standard Time
Applications close: 31 Mar 2024 Central Daylight Time