Open Rank Faculty Position in AI Innovation

About the role

The McCormick School of Engineering in partnership with the Northwestern Innovation Institute (NII) is seeking an open rank, tenure-track/tenured, full-time faculty member to be part of any McCormick department for academic year 2027-2028. We are seeking a scholar studying how AI reshapes innovation, knowledge production, scientific discovery, organizational decision-making, or networks.

Responsibilities

• Conducting advanced research in chosen areas of expertise and interest
• Supervising doctoral candidates
• Teaching basic and advanced courses in their department at the Undergraduate, Master's and/or Doctoral Degree level
• Contributing to the research and teaching of other faculty members

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in relevant fields in hand or expected by employment start date
• Selection criteria include research record, adaptability, teaching ability, and recommendations

Application materials

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Statement of research accomplishments and interests
• Statement of teaching experience and philosophy
• Representative manuscripts (published, submitted or in preparation) if available
• Applicants in the process of completing a doctoral degree should include an approved dissertation proposal or a research paper that represents progress in the dissertation
• Contact information for three references (to be provided on the application site)

Pay

Assistant Professor: $132,000 – $145,000; Associate Professor: $145,000 – $155,000; Full Professor: $175,000 – $225,000. This base pay range is for a nine-month academic appointment, does not include summer salary, and is subject to negotiation. The pay offered will be determined based on factors including experience and qualifications of the selected candidate, years since terminal degree, training, field or discipline, departmental budget availability, internal comparators, and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance
• Paid medical/sick and parental leave
• Tuition benefits for the employee and dependents
• Pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care
• Generous retirement savings options
• Wellness programs

Schedule

Nine-month academic appointment. Interviews will begin in the Fall quarter.

Application process

• Applications accepted only via online submission
• Prepare all documents in advance as Adobe PDF files
• Ensure all information is entered correctly and accurately (especially names and email addresses) — there will be no opportunity for online revision after submission
• Prepare a list of names and email addresses for external academic references; references will be contacted directly by the online system to upload their letters
• All required fields are marked with an asterisk and must be filled before clicking "Submit"
• Incomplete applications cannot be saved
• Application review will begin on September 1, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled
• Sponsorship for an H-1B visa may be available for qualified candidates, subject to institutional policies and applicable immigration regulations

Visit https://www.niinstitute.org to find out more information and to apply. Please direct questions to the Recruiting Committee at nii-hiring@kellogg.northwestern.edu.