Elcan Jefferson Scholars Foundation
Distinguished Professorship in Artificial Intelligence
The College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia seeks an eminent scholar whose research and teaching center the development, use and implications of Artificial Intelligence, or whose work meaningfully engages AI technologies such as large language models. Disciplinary affiliation is open, and the successful candidate will be appointed in the relevant department of Arts & Sciences. We are particularly interested in scholars working in the following areas:
AI and Climate – the development and application of AI to the study of Earth's climate, including climate modeling and prediction; water scarcity and/or extreme weather forecasting; and impacts on ecosystems, agriculture, and food security.
AI and Computational Humanities – critical engagement with large language models and computational methods to address humanistic concerns such as aesthetics, identity, ethics, and justice; explore the impacts of AI on art, history, literature, and culture, including machine translation in archival and literary studies; and contribute to UVA's institutional strengths in the digital humanities (DH).
AI, Mind and Language – the role and nature of human language in generative AI, from training data to conversational interfaces; the relationship of AI to the mind, including how AI informs our understanding of creativity, intelligence, and language and how it can be used to study human cognition; the instrumentalization of human language and the impacts of AI on linguistic communities, including linguistic diversity and low-resource languages in a global context; computational cognitive science; and issues of AI access, disability, and inclusion.
AI and Ethics - the role of AI in ethical decision-making, including general AI models of moral inquiry and reasoning and applied questions about the use of AI in highly sensitive ethical contexts such as medicine and warfare; and the broader ethical impacts of AI on human society, including algorithmic bias, the future of work, and the impact of AI on youth.
Faculty selected for each Professorship must meet the University’s minimum criteria for an eminent scholar professorship. In addition, the University will attempt to identify candidates who meet the following criteria desired by the Jefferson Scholars Foundation and its benefactors:
UVA is a leading R1 public university, guided by a founding vision of discovery, innovation, and development of the full potential of talented students from all walks of life. The position is housed in the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, which remains the historical and intellectual foundation of UVA. It is the largest of UVA's 23 schools and offers more than 50 undergraduate degrees and concentrations and 29 graduate degree programs.
How to Apply
Greenwood Asher & Associates is assisting The University of Virginia in this search. Applications and nominations are now being accepted. Confidential inquiries, nominations and application materials should be directed to Greenwood Asher and Associates. For a full application package, please submit a CV as well as cover letter of interest that includes a summary of your research plans, your administrative experience, your teaching interests and experience.
Submission of application materials as PDF attachments is strongly encouraged. The search will be conducted with a commitment of confidentiality for candidates until finalists are selected. Initial screening of applications will begin February 3, 2025, and will continue until an appointment is made.
Please direct inquiries, nominations and application materials to:
Search Manager
Jeremy Duff
jeremyduff@greenwoodsearch.com
Consultant
Lauren McCaghren
laurenmccaghren@greenwoodsearch.com
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