Job No. 156486
- Job Title:
- Open Rank Tenure-Track Faculty Position in Library & Information Science – Focus on Artificial Intelligence
- Employer:
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University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Location:
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Columbia , SC
- Posting Date:
- 22-Sep-2025
- Description:
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About University of South Carolina
From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.
Benefits for FTE Positions
The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers state employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu.
Position Description
Advertised Job Summary
The library and information science profession is rapidly changing, and future information professionals will need expertise in data science, machine learning, and application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies. The School of Information Science (iSchool) is expanding its faculty to address the growing need for information professionals trained to understand and apply AI technologies in various information organizations including libraries, museums, government organizations, and private corporations. Recognizing the transformative potential of AI to society and the significant impact on libraries and information organizations, the iSchool at the University of South Carolina invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant/Associate/Full Professor focused on AI related to library and information science to begin on August 16, 2026.
We seek scholars whose research, teaching, and impact in the field will advance one or more dimensions of AI in libraries and information organizations, including but not limited to:
Design: Conceptualizing, creating, and evaluating AI-based designs, such as innovative tools or curricula used in libraries, government, and other information organizations
Practice: Analyzing the potential and complexities of AI as it relates to libraries, librarianship, and teaching and learning.
Ethical and Societal Implications: Interrogating the ethical, historical, and cultural impacts of AI including considerations of privacy and bias.
The successful candidate will join a team of faculty and will be expected to: (1) establish/continue a strong and ongoing agenda for research; (2) teach in both face-to-face and online environments, primarily at the graduate level, with opportunities to teach in the undergraduate program; (3) develop courses focused on AI, especially AI and libraries; and (4) mentor graduate students.
The School of Information Science
The iSchool at the University of South Carolina currently offers a Bachelor of Science in Information Science, an online Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS), and a PhD in Library and Information Science. Our active faculty are members, scholars, and leaders within the American Library Association (ALA), Association for Information Science & Technology (ASIS&T), and Association of Library and Information Science Educators (ALISE). The MLIS program and school library program are nationally ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report.
The College of Information and Communications
The College of Information and Communications (CIC) is home to two internationally recognized schools, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SJMC) and the School of Information Science, along with the new interdisciplinary unit of Information and Communication Studies. Together these entities advance research, teaching, and outreach across a wide spectrum of communication and information domains. The CIC is distinctive in combining communication, information science, and interdisciplinary study under one umbrella, uniting rapidly evolving fields around the belief that information access and effective communication are cornerstones of self-governance and civic life. The college enrolls approximately 2,200 undergraduates and 500 graduate students and is supported by more than 150 faculty and staff members. Faculty and students benefit from state-of-the-art resources such as the Social Media Insights Lab and the Biometric and User Experience Lab, which support the study of media, data, and their influence on society. The new unit, Information and Communication Studies, further expands the college’s programs through undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates in communication, data and communication, health communication, and information security and cyber leadership.
Required Education and Experience
Ph.D. in library and information studies or related field, plus relevant experience consistent with academic policy by the start date of employment (at least 5 years for Associate Professor rank or at least 9 years for Full Professor rank). ABDs will be considered, with the Ph.D. required at the time of appointment.
Evidence of a focused/established scholarly agenda (for assistant professor candidates, demonstrate the potential of building a scholarly agenda).
A record of research on AI (for assistant professor candidates, demonstrate the potential in this area), that explores design, practice, and ethical/societal implications of AI.
Evidence/potential to develop extramural funding.
Demonstrated commitment to interdisciplinary research.
Preferred Qualifications
Ability to teach online courses at graduate level.
Ability to advise graduate students at the Master’s and Doctoral levels.
- Contact information:
- University of South Carolina-Columbia
- Columbia, SC 29208
- United States
- Employer's Website:
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