Tenured Faculty Cyber Security Engineering

Department: Col of Engineering and Computing

Classification: 9-month Instructional Faculty

Job Category: Instructional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Security Clearance Check: Yes

About the Department:

Established in 2019, the Cyber Security Engineering Department (first of its kind) is focused on academics and research for the cyber security engineering of integrated cyber-physical systems. The mission of the department is to develop proactive approaches in engineering design of physical systems with cyber security incorporated from the beginning to the end of the system development life cycle. Cyber security engineering is an important quantitative methodology to be used in all industries to include, but not limited to, transportation, energy, healthcare, infrastructure, finance, government (federal, state, and local), manufacturing, defense and intelligence.  Further information about the department is available at https://cybersecurity.gmu.edu/.  

About the Position:

The College of Engineering and Computing invites applications for a tenured faculty position in Cybersecurity with demonstrated expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI), and deep experience in AI-enabled cybersecurity solutions. We are seeking a dynamic and innovative scholar to join our faculty at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. The successful candidate will be expected to develop and lead an internationally recognized research program at the intersection of Cybersecurity and AI, contribute to teaching excellence at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and participate in service activities within the college, university, and professional community. The successful candidate will also hold the prestigious title of Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Fellow.

The Commonwealth Cyber Initiative (CCI), funded by the Virginia General Assembly, created a Commonwealth-wide ecosystem of innovation in cybersecurity and cyber-physical systems (CPS) security. CCI will ensure Virginia is recognized as a global leader in secure CPS and in the digital economy more broadly for decades to come by supporting world-class research at the intersection of data, autonomy, and security; promoting technology commercialization and entrepreneurship; and preparing future generations of innovators and research leaders. George Mason University serves as the leading strategic planning and operational institution for the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative’s NoVa Node. Details about the initiative are available at CCI NoVa Node.

Responsibilities:

• Conducts cutting-edge research at the intersection of AI and Cybersecurity, including but not limited to machine learning, natural language processing, cybersecurity automation, infrastructure security and ethical and safety considerations in AI and cybersecurity;
• Secures external research funding through grants and industry partnerships;
• Teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in Cybersecurity, AI, and related areas;
• Supervises and mentors graduate students and postdoctoral researchers;
• Contributes to curriculum development and the continuous improvement of academic programs in Cybersecurity and AI;
• Engages in interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty across the university; and
• Participates in college and university service activities.

Required Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a closely related field;
• A demonstrated record of research excellence in AI and Cybersecurity, evidenced by high-quality publications, external funding, and a strong research agenda;
• A demonstrated expertise, scholarship, and grant funding at the intersection of cybersecurity and AI;
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness and a commitment to undergraduate and graduate education; and
• U.S. citizen able to obtain a US government security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in developing and applying sophisticated AI techniques to real-world cybersecurity problems, and in particular to secure critical infrastructure systems;
• Industry experience or collaborations with industry partners;
• Experience with interdisciplinary research and collaboration, specifically at the intersection of AI and Cybersecurity;
• Active participation in professional societies and organizations;
• Significant leadership experience, including fostering interdisciplinary research/education and mentoring more junior colleagues;
• Ability to build collaborations with other departments within the College and across the University; and
• Current US government security clearance.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Tenured Faculty Cyber Security Engineering at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and upload a cover letter, a complete CV with publications, a teaching statement, a research statement.  The review  of applications will begin December 10, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled.

Posting Open Date: October 25, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  December 9, 2024

Open Until Filled:  Yes

A Force for Innovation in the Heart of Northern Virginia’s Technology Corridor

About the College

The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) at George Mason University is a fast-growing force for innovation in research and education. Ranked nationally in the top 100 in both undergraduate and graduate education, the CEC enrolled a record high of 10,933 students in fall 2023. The college has 34 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs including several first-in-the-nation offerings. Of its 320 full-time faculty, 93 are tenured, 77 are tenure-track, 90 are term faculty, and 60 are research faculty. As part of a nationally ranked research university, CEC research teams expended $65 million in sponsored research awards in the past year and had projects with over $119 million in current and anticipated awards. The college stands out for its leading research in areas such as artificial intelligence, data analytics engineering, cybersecurity engineering, biomedical imaging and devices, healthcare, autonomous systems, 5G/Next G communications, systems architectures, computational biomedicine, advanced materials and manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and more. The college encourages and supports multidisciplinary research and provides ample opportunity for faculty to work with other disciplines.

About the University and the Region

George Mason University is the largest and most diverse public research university in Virginia, with an enrollment of more than 40,000 students studying in over 200 degree programs. Mason is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in a range of academic fields. It was classified as an R1 research institution in 2016 by the Carnegie Classifications of Institutes of Higher Education. The university has campuses in Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William County. Its proximity to Washington, D.C. provides unmatched geographical access to federal agencies and national laboratories. Northern Virginia is also home to one of the largest concentrations of high-tech firms in the nation, providing excellent opportunities for interaction with industry. The region is consistently rated as being among the best places to live in the country and has an outstanding local public school system.

About the Future

In conjunction with Amazon’s decision to establish a second headquarters in Northern Virginia, the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a multi-year plan to invest in the growth of degree programs in computing. As a result, Mason has committed to accelerate its plans to grow its capacity in computing and high-tech fields. Among the university’s exciting initiatives are the launch of the Institute for Digital Innovation—a university think tank and incubator to serve the digital economy—and the expansion of Mason Square home to its Arlington facilities. In 2025, Fuse a new 355,000 square foot building, will open to students, faculty, and research teams. This net-zero facility will house the Institute for Digital Innovation, state-of the-art classrooms, labs, and collaborative spaces. It will also include retail space, and leasing opportunities for local businesses. These initiatives reflect hundreds of millions of dollars in new investment by Mason that will rapidly elevate the university’s already leading national position in computing and related areas.