Tenured/Tenure-Track Position in the History of Computing, Data Science, or Artificial Intelligence in The Department of the History and Sociology of Science

Location: Philadelphia, PA • Open date: Aug 24, 2026

About the role

The Department of the History and Sociology of Science at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) invites applications for a tenured/tenure‑track position in the history of technology and science, with a focus on the history of computing, data and information science, or artificial intelligence. The department is a collaborative, interdisciplinary unit committed to critical studies of science and knowledge production from premodernity to the recent past, with a wide geographical range. Faculty engage in interdisciplinary research with the Schools of Engineering, Medicine, and Nursing, supported by Penn’s contiguous urban campus in Philadelphia.

Responsibilities

• Teach a 2‑2 course load across undergraduate and graduate curriculum.
• Advise Ph.D. students and undergraduate majors.
• Contribute to the vibrant intellectual life of the department and faculty administrative operations.
• Maintain a consistent record of publishing peer‑reviewed research.
• Actively contribute to campus data and/or AI initiatives (e.g., Penn Data Driven Discovery, Penn AI, SAS Horizons), offering critical perspectives on data, AI, and/or computing.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in the history of science or a related field, to be completed by June 2027 (tenure‑track) or in hand by July 1, 2027 for appointment.
• Expertise and training in historical and/or ethnographic methods.
• An active research agenda with evidence of international reputation appropriate to rank.
• Leadership experience commensurate with rank.

Qualifications

• Publications appropriate to rank.
• Demonstrated commitment to teaching and advising undergraduate and Ph.D. students, with evidence of mentoring and supporting students from a wide range of backgrounds.

Skills

• Research and teaching expertise in the history of computing, data and information science, or artificial intelligence.
• Ability to engage with AI from a global perspective, data and