Assistant Professor (tenure track) - Societal Impacts of AI, Technology and Society - College of Engineering and Applied Sciences

The Department of Technology and Society (DTS) at Stony Brook University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position with an emphasis on the societal impacts of AI. This position offers a unique opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of technology, policy, and society, addressing some of the most pressing challenges in the fields of sustainability, climate change, and public engagement with emerging technologies. The successful candidate will join a dynamic department dedicated to advancing AI development and deployment in ways that prioritize societal well-being and address critical global challenges.

Key Areas of Interest:

We welcome applicants whose research addresses the role of AI in climate change mitigation, sustainable energy systems, public policy, and environmental justice, or those whose work explores the broader societal implications of AI technologies. Potential research areas include:

• AI and climate policy: How AI can support progressive policies for achieving carbon neutrality and advancing sustainable energy systems.
• Public engagement with AI: Addressing challenges like the NIMBY problem and understanding the gap between climate change awareness and personal action.
• Energy and Environmental Policy: Examining the societal implications of AI-driven energy systems, climate policy, waste and traffic management, and green building.
• Ethics and fairness: Ensuring AI-driven climate solutions are equitable, particularly for marginalized communities, and align with principles of environmental justice.
• Data privacy and trust: Examining the role of AI in data ethics as it applies to climate date, energy systems, and public trust in technology-driven solutions.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will lead innovative research addressing these areas of interest. They will develop and teach interdisciplinary courses that integrate AI, technology, policy, and society, contributing to the department's mission of preparing students to tackle emerging global challenges. The role includes pursuing external funding for impactful research, mentoring students at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and fostering collaborations with faculty across disciplines such as computer science, political science, sociology, and environmental sciences.

The department values diversity and seeks candidates who can contribute to a welcoming climate for all students. We strongly encourage applications from women and underrepresented groups.

Required Qualifications:
PhD (or foreign equivalent) in a relevant field (AI ethics, public policy, environmental science, sociology, political science, or computer science). Strong research agenda focused on the societal impacts of AI, particularly in the context of climate change, sustainability, or public policy. Demonstrated potential for excellence in both research and teaching. Clear commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.

Preferred Qualifications:
Background in Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML), broadly defined. Established or emerging research record with publications on the ethical and societal impacts of AI, informed by a solid understanding of the underlying technologies. Demonstrated potential for securing funding through NSF or other research grants to support responsible AI research programs. Experience or a strong interest in interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly with a focus on addressing AI's ethical, societal, and policy challenges.

Applications received by February 15, 2025 will receive full consideration. Candidates who apply after February 15, 2025 will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Interested applicants should submit the following documents:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Teaching statement
• Research statement
• Three letters of recommendation or evaluation

All application materials must be submitted online. Please use the Apply Now button to begin your application. For technical support, visit Interfolio's Support Site (https://support.interfolio.com/) or reach out to their Scholar Service Team at help@interfollio.com or (877) 997-8807.

Applicant inquiries can be emailed to: rita.reagan-redko@stonybrook.edu.

The selected candidate must successfully clear a background investigation.

In accordance with the Title II Crime Awareness and Security Act, a copy of our crime statistics is available upon request by calling (631) 632- 6350. It can also be viewed online at the University Police website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/police.

About the Department:
DTS has a long-standing commitment to critically assess and guide the societal impacts of technology and is expanding to address the transformative potential of AI, including its opportunities and ethical considerations. This position is central to building a robust research agenda on AI ethics, fairness, and policy-areas essential to advancing AI for the public good. Stony Brook is making significant investments in AI with the creation of the AI Innovation Institute (AI3) and a new initiative in AI and Society, and is partnering with NY State and SUNY on initiatives like Empire AI, SUNY STRIVE for AI, and SUNY-IBM AI Research Alliance. More information about the department is available at https://www.stonybrook.edu/est/

SBU campus description:
Stony Brook University, one of four research intensive campuses within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, is widely regarded as its flagship. The University embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and its rankings bear that out. It's included among the top 1% of universities in the world by the 2018 QS World University Rankings and among the top 40 public universities by U.S. News & World Report's 2020 Best Colleges rankings. It is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, composed of the top 62 research institutions in North America. As Long Island's largest single site employer, Stony Brook has nearly 15,000 full- and part time employees, including more than 2,700 faculty. It enrolled roughly 26,800 students in fall 2019 - 17,900 undergraduate students and 8,900 graduate students - and offers more than 200 majors, minors and combined-degree programs. The Department of Athletics supports 18 Division I varsity intercollegiate athletic programs that compete at the highest level within the NCAA. Located approximately 60 miles east of Manhattan on Long Island's beautiful North Shore, Stony Brook is situated on 1,454 wooded acres, encompassing 13 schools and colleges; a Research and Development Park; world-class athletics facilities, including an 8,300-seat stadium and a 4,000-seat arena; and Stony Brook Medicine, Long Island's premier academic medical center. Also part of the University is a teaching and research campus in Southampton, New York, which offers graduate arts programs and is the site of the Marine Sciences Center. In addition, Stony Brook has a role in running, and performs joint research with, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), the only Department of Energy Laboratory in the Northeast. Home to the Emerson String Quartet, the PollockKrasner House in East Hampton, NY, and the Humanities Institute, with endeavors that extend to the Turkana Basin Institute in Kenya and the Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar, Stony Brook sustains an international reputation that cuts across the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.