Assistant​/Associate​/Full Professor in Foundational AI, Tenure-track - R159435

Columbus Campus,Dreese Laboratories (0279)

Sep 18, 2026

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

College of Engineering

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) in the College of Engineering at The Ohio State University invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant/Associate/Full Professor level to advance innovative research and development in the areas focused on novel and theoretical principles that motivate the next generation of AI architectures and methodologies. This position is located on the main Columbus campus of The Ohio State University and starts as early as Fall 2027.

Position Overview

The CSE Department seeks a foundational AI researcher to lead our long-term investment in the mathematical and theoretical frameworks that will define next-generation AI architectures and methodologies. This role focuses on new AI architectures (including neuro-symbolic, physics-informed, cognitively inspired, and efficient, adaptive architectures) and methods (such as continual learning mechanisms and long context management) to move toward more robust and adaptive capabilities, with a preference over theory-grounded work.

The strategic value of this tenure-track position with open rank is to sustain and grow Ohio State’s excellence in AI. The successful candidate will be able to align with the University AI Initiative that is aiming at harnessing the transformative power of AI to solve complex challenges, accelerate discovery, and create meaningful societal impact. Faculty hired under this University AI Initiative will be part of the AI(X) Hub ecosystem.

This position is specifically aligned with the AI(X) Hub Focus Area of Foundations. The successful candidate will play a leading role in achieving broad impact on the AI(X) Hub.

Tenure-track faculty members in the Computer Science and Engineering department are expected to participate in a variety of scholarly activities that contribute to the department’s overall success, including the following specific key responsibilities of this position:

• Lead research on the next generation of AI architectures and methodologies, such as those that are cognitively inspired, incorporate long-term memory, continually adapt, or combine neural and symbolic modules, with a preference over theory-grounded work.
• Establish a high-impact research program that anchors the department’s investment in AI foundations, publishing in top-tier venues like NeurIPS, ICML, COLT, and ICLR.
• Advise and mentor a diverse group of PhD students and post-doctoral researchers, fostering a culture of rigorous theory-grounded inquiry.
• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in AI and machine learning.
• Participate in interdisciplinary grand challenge initiatives and contribute to the Ohio State University’s AI Fluency Initiative .
• Engage with government, defense, industry, and NGO partners on applied research (as appropriate).

Performance Objectives

• Demonstrated excellence in verbal and written communication
• A record of high-quality research in the computing field
• Excellence in teaching, both in the classroom and in student advising
• Excellence in scholarship, associated primarily with research that enhances the state-of-the-art in computing
• Leadership in service, both to the profession and to the university
• Contributions to broadening participation in the field of computing
• An attitude conducive to good citizenship, including a commitment to interact with others in a professional, ethical, and constructive fashion
• Strong potential to achieve tenure and advance through the…