Assistant Professor in Data Science

The challenges humanity is facing aren’t the stuff of dystopia, science fiction or textbooks. They’re happening today - and they’ve never been more complex and interconnected.  

Yet our higher education system is still structured in silos, leaving graduates ill-equipped to tackle the complexity that surrounds them. The next generation is now demanding to learn in a different way. That’s where the London Interdisciplinary School (LIS) comes in.  

LIS is a startup university that equips students with an interdisciplinary toolkit to tackle the complex, real-world problems of the 21st century. With a world-class faculty, three exceptional founding cohorts and close partnerships with global organisations, such as McKinsey, innocent drinks, PwC and the Cabinet Office, LIS is building a new type of education for those who want to shape the world, not just fit in.  

We are the first new UK education institution for 50 years to have full degree-awarding power from inception, and offer undergraduate, masters, as well as professional development programmes that take a ground-breaking interdisciplinary approach to education.   

We are now in the third year of operations since the launch of our BASc in 2021. The first cohort of masters’ students graduated in December 2023. The successful applicant for this post would therefore be joining us at an exciting time of development, growth, and consolidation. 

We are looking for an Assistant Professor in Data Science to join the quantitative methods team at the LIS. 

There are many interpretations of “data science”. An early interpretation of that term in universities, was to refer to machine learning, AI, and big data. But we use the term to mean the practice of using code as the foundation for data analysis, and inference from data — computational and inferential thinking. We use this approach to teach introductory, intermediate and advanced modules to undergraduates and masters students. 

We aim to lead the UK in teaching data analysis through data science, and we want to hire someone who will help us build the courses, materials and media of such depth, clarity and originality that we will become a national hub for the practice and development of data science teaching. 

You should be:  

• experienced in teaching computational and inferential thinking to undergraduates and / or masters students – but we’re also open to considering new talent who can convince us through the extended interview process that they are the right person; 
• excited to work on new ways of explaining data analysis and statistics through computation; 
• fluent in at least one of Python or R; 
• able to show substantial experience in data analysis using one of these languages; 
• interested to engage in the latest techniques for teaching data science using AI but not at the expense of developing foundational understanding; 
• an excellent collaborator and able to work across diverse teams; 
• willing to help other teachers to use these methods and tools. 

You should have:  

• a PhD in a relevant area, although proven expertise in teaching or, e.g., in industry or government, would also be of interest; 
• experience of managing associated administration and multiple deadlines; 
• an interest to work in an interdisciplinary context;  
• expertise, experience, or interest in working with data in visual, linguistic, and auditory formats 
• aware of different styles of teaching data science, including our current model which is based on the Berkeley course; 
• worked with standard tools for code and collaboration, such as version control, code review and automated testing 
• desire to work across the university with student outreach, recruitment and pastoral support.  

The role is available to start on 1st May 2024 with a soft onboarding process during the summer to ensure readiness for start of the term.  

Please submit your CV and a cover letter via the ‘Apply’ button above as part of your application. 

Initially successful candidates will be asked to submit a video presentation. The next stage will consist of a Panel Interview and a mock teaching session.  

Closing date: 28th March 2024 Midnight.  

We are only able to consider candidates with the eligibility to work in the UK. LIS is committed to diversity, equality and inclusion in the hiring of its staff, and in all aspects of staff training, remuneration, development and performance management. 

• Permanent contract 0.5 to 1 FTE (TBD).
• All LIS Faculty have a portion of their contract dedicated to Research.
• 30 days annual leave pro rata.
• Monthly fitness contribution and, on successful completion of your probationary period, company-sponsored health plan.
• £1,000 annual learning budget to spend on personal development.
• The opportunity to join a mission-led, fast-growing organisation that is changing higher education.