Faculty Position and Chair, Center Data Science, NYU Courant Institute School

New York

Oct 20, 2026

The Center for Data Science (CDS) at New York University invites applications and nominations for the position of Department Chair. This appointment comes at a transformative juncture: CDS has recently been elevated to a full-fledged academic department within the newly established Courant Institute School of Mathematics, Computing, and Data Science.

As the focal point for NYU’s mission to advance the mathematical, statistical, and computational foundations of the field, the Center is entering a period of unprecedented expansion. Following its promotion to departmental status, CDS will be instrumental in reshaping Courant’s vision through this period of unprecedented change. The incoming Chair will serve as a foundational leader, holding a strategic mandate to drive growth, oversee faculty recruitment, and solidify the Center’s position at the global vanguard of data science and artificial intelligence.

The successful candidate will both carry out her/his forward-thinking research vision, and lead CDS’s vibrant research community dedicated to bridging deep methodological rigor with high-impact applications. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the legacy of a premier academic department at one of the world’s leading research universities, fostering a culture of excellence that integrates the core disciplines of mathematics, statistics, and computer science to solve the complex challenges of the 21st century.

In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for the rank of Professor is $200K - $300K. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. This position will provide additional compensation for serving as Chair of the Department.

PhD in a related field with a proven record of world-class research

Qualifications and Criteria

Strategic Leadership &Administration

• Experience in Research Center Leadership: A proven track record of establishing, managing, or directing large-scale research initiatives or centers within either an academic or industrial setting (e.g., NSF AI Institutes, major industrial research labs, or equivalent).
• Departmental Growth & Scaling:
  Demonstrated success in guiding the expansion of an academic department or research unit, with specific experience in scaling operations, faculty recruitment, and resource management to support organizational growth.

Academic Vision & Institutional Alignment

• Commitment to Core Identity: A demonstrated alignment with the department’s unique academic profile, specifically the convergence of rigorous foundations in mathematics, statistics, and computer science with broad, interdisciplinary application and collaboration.
• Vision for Interdisciplinary Excellence:
  An ability to articulate and execute a strategic vision that reinforces the department's position at the intersection of deep methodological research and cross-domain impact.

Operational Expertise & Funding

• Knowledge of the U.S. Academic Landscape:
  Deep familiarity with the United States higher education system, including university governance structures, tenure and promotion processes, and administrative protocols.
• Research Funding Acumen:
  Extensive experience with U.S. funding ecosystems, including a track record of securing and managing grants from federal agencies (such as the NSF, NIH, DARPA) and industry partners.

NYU is an Equal Opportunity…