Job description
The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC) at the University of South Carolina (USC) is continuing to expand its tenured and tenure-track ranks. As part of this growth, the Department of Integrated Information Technology (IIT) invites applications for two dynamic tenure-track faculty members to begin Fall 2027.
The Department of Integrated Information Technology (https://cec.sc.edu/iit) offers an ABET accredited undergraduate BS in Integrated Information Technology, a Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT), a Master of Health Information Technology (MHIT), and a PhD in Informatics. Faculty teach in both online and traditional classroom formats, with a teaching load that is attractive and appropriate for developing a robust research program, including the pursuit of research grants. University and professional service is also expected.
IIT seeks candidates with expertise at the intersection of applied information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) – the systems that operate, instrument, and inform industrial and energy facilities. The searches are motivated in part by the university’s proposed Nuclear Innovation Center, a major investment within the College’s emerging Engineering District in Columbia, established in partnership with industry, government agencies, educational institutions, and other stakeholders (https://tinyurl.com/m5jj82u2). The searches are further motivated by the College’s new undergraduate program in industrial engineering (https://tinyurl.com/ycera6w8), which opens opportunities for collaboration between the IIT Department and the industrial engineering program.
Areas of Interest
Areas of interest, all with an applied emphasis, include:
AI for OT operations. Condition monitoring and diagnostics pipelines; predictive maintenance at plant scale; anomaly detection in operational data; machine learning and large language models applied to information technology and operational technology environments.
Instrumentation, sensing, and edge systems. SCADA, DCS, and instrumentation and control systems; industrial IoT sensing and real-time data acquisition; edge computing and distributed processing at the plant boundary; hardware-in-the-loop and cyber-physical testbeds; qualification of digital instrumentation and control for safety-critical use.
Industrial networks and communication systems. Industrial communication protocols and architectures (OPC UA, Modbus, PROFINET, IEC 61850); IT/OT convergence, segmentation, and plant network architecture; deterministic and time-sensitive networking; private 5G and industrial wireless; network observability and performance engineering in operational environments.
AI/ML and human-computer interaction. Operator and engineer decision support; human-AI teaming and appropriate reliance on automated recommendations; interface design for control room and field environments; extended reality and simulation-based training for technical workforces; explainability and transparency of machine learning in safety-critical settings; learning analytics and competency assessment.
Industrial data platforms and digital twin infrastructure. Historians and industrial data pipelines; data engineering and platform architecture supporting digital twins; information modeling and interoperability across heterogeneous plant systems; cloud-to-edge data management; data quality, lineage, and governance for operational data.
Outstanding applications from other IT areas are welcome to apply.
Responsibilities
Successful candidates will develop an externally funded, nationally visible research program; teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the department’s information technology curriculum, including core coursework as well as new courses in the candidate’s specialty; advise undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students; and contribute to departmental, college, university, and professional service.
The candidate will have the opportunity to engage and collaborate with centers and laboratories within MCEC and across campus, including the Artificial Intelligence Institute (http://ai.sc.edu) – a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and translational AI research institute spanning the university; the McNAIR Center (https://sc.edu/about/centers_institutes/mcnair/) – an industrial-scale center for advanced manufacturing, processing, and assembly of aerospace, communications, and automation components; the Cyberinfrastructure Lab (https://research.cec.sc.edu/cyberinfra) – an applied research lab for high-performance communications and cybersecurity; the Center for Industry Solutions (https://research.cec.sc.edu/c4is) – an industry-facing center delivering company-sponsored projects in smart manufacturing, digital engineering, and supply chain; and others.
Qualifications
All applicants must hold an earned doctorate in information technology, information systems, computer science, systems engineering, or a closely related field by the start date of employment, with demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching and research with high scholarly impact. Applicants must be prepared to teach existing undergraduate and graduate courses in the department’s information technology curriculum and to develop new courses in their area of expertise.
How to apply
Review of applications will continue until positions are filled. The expected start date is August 2027. Interested applicants will apply via https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/214783 with: (1) a letter of interest, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) a concise description of research plans, (4) a teaching plan, and (5) names and contact information of three references. Questions may be directed to Dr. John Gerdes, Search Committee Chair, [email protected].
About USC
The University of South Carolina is South Carolina’s flagship university – a globally recognized, high-impact research university committed to a superior student experience and dedicated to innovation in learning, research, and community engagement. Founded in 1801, the university offers more than 300-degree programs and is a top-tier Carnegie Foundation research institution. With 60 nationally ranked academic programs including top-ranked programs in international business, the nation’s best honors college and distinguished programs in engineering, law, medicine, public health and the arts, the university is helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and around the world. In fall 2026, the university reached record enrollment, serving more students than at any point in its 225-year history. The Columbia campus enrolled approximately 41,650 students, including more than 33,000 undergraduates, with an incoming class of roughly 7,800 first-year students drawn from all 46 South Carolina counties, 45 states and 41 countries. Across the USC system, enrollment peaked at a record 60,300 students.
The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.
