Assistant Professor- Computer Science

Overview

The Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) invites applications for multiple tenure-track faculty positions at the Assistant Professor level, starting in Spring or Fall 2026. Well-qualified candidates in all areas of computer science will be considered, with particular interest in subareas of artificial intelligence, including but not limited to LLMs, NLP, computer vision, pattern recognition, multi-agent systems, explainable AI, trustworthy AI/LLMs, cybersecurity/privacy using AI, and AI-based software engineering.

VCU is a Carnegie R1 “Very High Research Activity” university, ranking among the top 100 U.S. universities—and among the top 50 public universities—in federal R&D expenditures, with more than $500 million in sponsored research funding. Located in the heart of downtown Richmond, Virginia, VCU fosters innovation through strong community and industry partnerships, creating exceptional opportunities for faculty and students.

As the commonwealth s capital
, Richmond, Virginia, offers a vibrant mix of history, culture and real-world opportunities
. In fact, Travel + Leisure named Richmond the best place to live in Virginia in 2023, and Southern Living named Richmond one of the 20 best cities to live in the South in 2024. Richmond s location in the middle of the state allows for day or weekend trips to the beach, the Blue Ridge Mountains or Virginia s many wineries.

It s within a two-hour drive of Washington, D.C., and a multitude of excellent institutions of higher education. The Richmond metropolitan area is also home to several Fortune 500 companies
, a broad base of financial institutions
, hospitals and media firms, high-tech manufacturing companies, and state and local government agencies
. Entrepreneurs and artists put down roots in Richmond, and Thrillist named it one of the best U.S. cities for creatives in 2022.

Established in 1996 through a public–private partnership, VCU s College of Engineering was founded to drive innovation for the 21st-century economy. Today, VCU Engineering fosters dynamic collaborations with industry, community, and academic partners, leading to breakthroughs in areas such as pharmaceutical engineering; smart cities, sustainability, and clean energy; materials development; health care, regenerative medicine, rehabilitation, and medical device development; data science, cybersecurity, and cyber-physical systems.

Its multidisciplinary and entrepreneurial approach to education integrates meaningful research experiences into every level of study—undergraduate, master s, and doctoral—preparing students to lead in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Under new leadership, the College of Engineering at VCU is experiencing rapid growth and transformation, expanding its interdisciplinary research and educational programs while pursuing excellence in areas of global importance. A key initiative is the VCU AI+ Cluster Hire in Artificial Intelligence for Public Good, underscoring the College s commitment to innovative, socially impactful scholarship. These tenure track positions are part of this initiative.

The Department of Computer Science is central to this momentum. With 23 faculty members – including national award recipients, NSF CAREER awardees, and fellows of leading professional societies – and a new chair, the department is expanding with a strong focus on innovation, collaboration, and societal impact. It is the largest department in the College, enrolling approximately 800 undergraduates and nearly 200 graduate students across BS, BA, MS, and PhD programs in Computer Science.

Students benefit from flexible pathways with concentrations in cybersecurity, data science, and software engineering, preparing them for careers in both academia and industry.

Faculty research spans all major areas of computer science, with recognized strengths in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, software engineering, and wireless networking. The department is home to the AI Convergence Lab and leads the Virginia Cybersecurity Center, both hubs for cutting-edge, interdisciplinary research…