at Stony Brook University
Full TimeThe College of Engineering & Applied Science (CEAS) at Stony Brook University seeks a highly accomplished scholar and strategic leader to be Chair of the Department of Technology, AI, and Society (DTAS). Serving a renewable five-year term, the Department Chair will be appointed as a full-time tenured faculty member in DTAS and, while remaining active in research, will provide sustained strategic leadership of the department.
The Department of Technology, AI, and Society (DTAS) at Stony Brook, a flagship institution of the State University of New York (SUNY) is a bold new interdisciplinary academic department at the forefront of critical inquiry into the impacts of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies on society. Established with the strategic investment from SUNY and aligned with the Empire AI initiative, DTAS is part of a transformative effort to position Stony Brook University as national leaders in ethical, equitable, and socially engaged AI research, education and policy development.
DTAS builds upon the expertise of the existing Department of Technology and Society, fostering collaboration and interdisciplinary research among scholars and practitioners across all colleges and schools, as well as the new AI Innovation Institute. By examining how AI’s influence on education, healthcare, climate policy and public infrastructure, DTAS is committed to addressing urgent societal challenges through research, teaching and community engagement.
The department is actively developing innovative undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students to critically analyze and ethically engage with technologies across multiple disciplines.
Department Chair, Technology, AI, and Society:
Reporting to the Dean of CEAS, the Department Chair will provide strategic direction for the growth and reputation of the department. The Chair will lead the department by engaging the DTAS community in conversations about the department’s mission, vision, and values in order to establish a set of meaningful shared goals and a framework for collective success. The Chair oversees administrative, budgetary, and promotional decisions within the department and has the authority to allocate resources and to launch strategic initiatives in the context of the university’s new all-funds, performance-based budget model. It is expected that the new leader will engage with industry, private foundations, and alumni to advance the department’s success and reputation.
CEAS dean Andrew Singer is committed to providing the support that will enable DTAS to substantially advance its mission. The Dean expects to partner closely with the Chair in advancing the department, including substantial engagement in fundraising activities, which will be additionally supported by University expertise and resources.
The Chair will work with colleagues in and beyond the department to enhance its resources, increase its stature, and elevate its reputation. The means to these ends, the measures of success, and the prioritization of activities designed to achieve them are matters the Chair will define in collaboration with the faculty and the Dean. Each of the department’s foci, like those of CEAS more broadly, provides opportunities for strategic and operational impact and accomplishment.
The Department Chair of Technology, AI, and Society will –
Lead the department by developing and advancing a compelling vision for its excellence in research, education, service, and impact
Work with CEAS, the university, and partners, execute and align the department strategic plan to that of the college and campus strategic plans
Sustain and expand the scholarly excellence of the department and endeavor to be a leading program in the country
Foster, advocate, and promote cutting-edge, innovative undergraduate and graduate curricula as well as multidisciplinary research collaborations through effective leadership and management; foster a positive, engaging environment for excellence
Demonstrate a commitment to fostering a respectful and supportive environment by working with faculty and staff to ensure fair access to opportunities, encourage varied perspectives, and strengthen a culture of mutual respect.
Serve as an engaged, institutionally focused member of the dean’s leadership team, contributing to the overall development of CEAS resources, direction, and success
Promote an engaging environment for tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty members, grounded on effective mentoring and academic and professional development
Leverage both existing and new connections with industry to better position the department as a leader in cutting-edge research and industry partnerships; develop and nurture the industrial advisory board
Create and maintain a supportive environment for faculty to pursue large-scale interdisciplinary center funding with major impact
Advance a culture of active alumni engagement with the department that celebrates its graduates as agents of its impact to the world and as the stewards of its long-term excellence
Support the department's development efforts and establish strategic engagement and partnerships with foundations and private institutions that share the department's passion and vision for overall excellence.
Lead and establish the development of robust, innovative undergraduate and graduate programs that reflect the interdisciplinary mission of the department.
Appoint undergraduate and graduate program directors, departmental administrators, and committee chairs and members as appropriate.
Develop, implement and oversee the equitable execution of the department’s educational programs with the faculty, and schedule courses and assign instructors to these courses in consultation with program directors, the faculty, and the dean's office.
Set, communicate and manage the workload expectations for research, teaching and service activities of faculty.
Oversee and supervise department faculty and staff, conducting annual evaluations, promoting a culture of excellence, accountability, and professional development.
Establish departmental mentoring program and mentoring structures for the department’s faculty
Catalyze the bridging of both scholarly and educational programs across departments and other Stony Brook schools/colleges.
Develop, plan and administer the department’s budget in consultation with the dean’s office.
Design faculty recruitment efforts with department and center/institute colleagues and contribute to their success.
Seek and facilitate external giving and resource development for the department
Standardize and establish transparency around course releases and other productivity- based incentives
Strategic Opportunities:
Take advantage of the university’s new all-funds, performance-based budget model to expand the current curricular offerings and develop new forward-looking curricula and degree programs collaborating with other units as appropriate
Expand research in the areas of national importance leveraging existing strengths in CEAS or other campus departments/centers.
Establish and support the advancement of a culture of research productivity, with strategically conceived department-level resources for proposal development and award management, while also engaging across CEAS and Stony Brook on interdisciplinary proposals and larger-scale program grants
Establish norms across the faculty for responsibilities with regard to research, teaching, and service
Standardize and establish transparency around course releases and other productivity-based arrangements
Lead the recruitment, development, and retention of a high-performing, high-morale, ambitious, and innovative faculty and staff who thrive in an environment of inclusion and shared excellence
The successful candidate will bring vision, agility, and emotional intelligence to lead the Department of Technology, AI, and Society into its next phase of development. They will demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, administrative aptitude, and the ability to foster collaboration and build consensus across diverse stakeholders. They will be an entrepreneurial and inspirational leader, capable of navigating shared governance environment and cultivating a sense of purpose among faculty, staff, and students.
Required Qualifications:
Ph.D. (or foreign equivalent) in Engineering, Computer Science, Physics or a closely-related field. Ten (10) years of teaching and research. A scholarly record demonstrating impact and distinction at a level consistent with appointment as tenured full professor in the College of Engineering and Applied Science. A proven track record of scholarship and the ability to support a vibrant research program along with an outstanding record of professional achievement. Excellent leadership and management skills suitable to lead a world-class research and education program. Demonstrated academic leadership experience and a commitment to collaborative, synergistic leadership that cultivates a respectful and supportive environment for faculty, staff, students across all levels.
Preferred Qualifications:
A record of successful administrative experience managing personnel, budgets, and department or center/institute or school/college academic operations. Experience with advancement and/or fundraising.
For full consideration candidates should submit their completed applications by July 28, 2025. Those that apply after the priority date will be considered on a rolling basis.
All application materials must be submitted online. Please use the Apply Now button to begin your application. For technical support, visit Interfolio's Support Site (https://support.interfolio.com/) or reach out to their Scholar Service Team at help@interfollio.com or (877) 997-8807.
The below documents are required and must be submitted through Interfolio.
1) Letter of interest outlining the vision for leading the Department of Technology, AI, and Society, highlight relevant leadership experience and soft skills, and briefly describe commitment to research, education, and fostering an inclusive and collaborative academic environment.
2) Curriculum Vitae that emphasizes required qualifications listed above.
3) Names of five arm’s-length references.
Finalists will be required to deliver a presentation outlining their strategic vision for the department, their leadership approach, and how they plan to address key challenges. The presentation should demonstrate alignment with institutional priorities such as academic excellence, diversity, and collaboration, and will include a Question and Answer session to engage faculty and staff.
All materials and inquiries will be held in strict confidence until the final stages of the search, at which time the express permission of the finalists will be obtained before making their candidacy public.
For questions regarding this position, please contact the search chair, via: DTAS_Search_Chair@stonybrook.edu.
Stony Brook University’s new Department of Technology, AI, and Society (DTAS) will be a leading destination for scholars and students across diverse disciplines and interests to study the relationship between artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, and society, with a mission to ensure their responsible and equitable use. The department is founded on two pillars: a deep understanding of technology and AI, and methodological expertise rooted in STEM fields as well as other disciplines, such as the health sciences, social sciences, public policy, arts, and humanities. Its goal is to understand these technologies in their broader societal and human contexts, including their history, economics, and sociology. A special emphasis will be placed on the ethical dimensions and societal impacts of emerging technologies.
The undergraduate and graduate programs emphasize human agency over and responsibility for technology, grounded in society’s needs. Students and researchers are encouraged to explore how technologies should be studied and how they may contribute to the good of communities. The program will attract students with interests and expertise in a wide range of fields to work collaboratively with fellow students and faculty from other fields across the university. They will become fully conversant with the technologies they study while benefiting from the intrinsically interdisciplinary nature of the degree programs.
DTAS is housed in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Stony Brook University, a leading, R1, AAU-designated STEM institution. Through joint faculty appointments across the University, active programs and events, and partnerships with surrounding communities, industries, and policymakers, DTAS will serve as a hub for collaboration and interdisciplinarity. It will bring together students and scholars from the humanities, the social sciences, the arts, communication, medicine, science, and engineering. DTAS will also interact with and benefit from other resources on campus, including the University’s AI Innovation Institute, the University Libraries AI Café, the Collaboratory for Earth, and the University’s partnerships with New York State’s Empire AI, the New York Climate Exchange, the Alda Center for Communicating Science, and other regional centers and initiatives.
Stony Brook University:
Stony Brook University, one of four research intensive campuses within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, is widely regarded as its flagship. The University embraces its mission to provide comprehensive undergraduate, graduate and professional education of the highest quality, and its rankings bear that out. It’s included among the top 1% of universities in the world by the 2018 QS World University Rankings and among the top 40 public universities by U.S. News & World Report’s 2020 Best Colleges rankings. It is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities, composed of the top 62 research institutions in North America. As Long Island’s largest single site employer, Stony Brook has nearly 15,000 full- and part time employees, including more than 2,700 faculty. It enrolled roughly 26,800 students in fall 2019 — 17,900 undergraduate students and 8,900 graduate students — and offers more than 200 majors, minors and combined-degree programs. The Department of Athletics supports 18 Division I varsity intercollegiate athletic programs that compete at the highest level within the NCAA. Located approximately 60 miles east of Manhattan on Long Island’s beautiful North Shore, Stony Brook is situated on 1,454 wooded acres, encompassing 13 schools and colleges; a Research and Development Park; world-class athletics facilities, including an 8,300-seat stadium and a 4,000-seat arena; and Stony Brook Medicine, Long Island’s premier academic medical center. Also part of the University is a teaching and research campus in Southampton, New York, which offers graduate arts programs and is the site of the Marine Sciences Center. In addition, Stony Brook has a role in running, and performs joint research with, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), the only Department of Energy Laboratory in the Northeast. Home to the Emerson String Quartet, the PollockKrasner House in East Hampton, NY, and the Humanities Institute, with endeavors that extend to the Turkana Basin Institute in Kenya and the Ranomafana National Park in Madagascar, Stony Brook sustains an international reputation that cuts across the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
Please see the Research and Metrics website for additional data on Stony Brook research. And to learn more about the community and the benefits of working at Stony Brook University, explore here.
Special Notes:
The Chair will serve a renewable five-year term subject to an appropriately rigorous periodic review. The Chair will have an underlying faculty position as a tenured full professor. The expected start date is Spring 2026. The academic year faculty salary is commensurate with experience; the department chair also receives an administrative supplement and can negotiate other elements of their total compensation package including research support.
Stony Brook University is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace and educational environment that is safe, accessible, and free of all forms of discrimination, sexual misconduct or research misconduct, among other infractions. In support of this commitment, certain candidates for employment will be required to disclose such employment-related misconduct findings and pending investigations or proceedings, and final candidates for certain faculty and staff positions will authorize their current and previous employer(s) from the last seven (7) years to disclose such information to the University. Employment is contingent on your full and complete disclosure on these matters. In the event that you fail to disclose any such matter or in the event of an unsatisfactory outcome of the disclosure and review process, an offer of employment may be revoked at SBU's sole discretion. If SBU becomes aware of a failure to disclose or misrepresentation of any such matter after your employment commences, you may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.
The selected candidate must successfully clear a background investigation.
In accordance with the Title II Crime Awareness and Security Act, a copy of Stony Brook’s crime statistics is available upon request by calling (631) 632- 6350. It can also be viewed online at the University Police website at http://www.stonybrook.edu/police.
Stony Brook University is committed to excellence in diversity and creating an inclusive learning, and working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.
If you need a disability-related accommodation, please get in touch with the Office of Equity and Access at (631)632-6280.
Stony Brook University is committed to creating and maintaining a workplace and educational environment that is safe, accessible, and free of all forms of discrimination, sexual misconduct, or research misconduct, among other infractions. In support of this commitment, certain candidates for employment will be required to disclose such employment-related misconduct findings and pending investigations or proceedings, and final candidates for certain faculty and staff positions will authorize their current and previous employer(s) from the last seven (7) years to disclose such information to the University. Employment is contingent on your full and complete disclosure on these matters. In the event that you fail to disclose any such matter or in the event of an unsatisfactory outcome of the disclosure and review process, an offer of employment may be revoked at SBU's sole discretion. If SBU becomes aware of a failure to disclose or misrepresentation of any such matter after your employment commences, you may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination.
