Assistant Professor in Cybersecurity

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Working Title:

Assistant Professor in Cybersecurity

Institution:

Metropolitan State University

Classification Title:

State University Faculty

Bargaining Unit / Union:

209: Inter Faculty Organization

City:

St. Paul

FLSA:

Job Exempt

Full Time / Part Time:

Full time

Employment Condition:

Unclassified - Unlimited Academic

Salary Range:

$64,066.00 - $186,015.00

Job Description

Metro State University, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, is seeking to hire an Assistant Professor in Cybersecurity. This is a fulltime probationary (tenure-track) position within the Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity and will start on August 18, 2025.

Responsibilities

Faculty members are expected to:

• Demonstrate the ability to teach Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI) courses effectively to a post-traditional student population and contribute to meaningful assessment of student learning.
• Engage in scholarly activity, creative achievement, and/or research.
• Provide evidence of continuing preparation and study.
• Contribute to student growth and development through advising and assistance.
• Engage in service to the university and community.
• Demonstrate a commitment to serving a diverse student body by delivering a student-centered education and using approaches that support equitable outcomes for all students.
• Provide excellent learning environments through in-person, online, and/or hybrid course modalities.

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of a master’s degree in the specified discipline(s), with enrollment in a doctoral program for fields in which the doctoral degree is the terminal degree. Doctoral program must be successfully completed within 5 years to meet the requirement for tenure.
• Demonstrated interest in faculty position that prioritizes teaching and emphasizes teaching excellence.
• A plan for scholarly activity, creative achievement, and/or research in the specified discipline(s), or related disciplines.
• Effective communication skills (written & verbal) to communicate with a variety of persons and groups.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with students and colleagues who are culturally, economically, and linguistically diverse.
• Specific Technical, Computer, and/or Software skills (as needed).

Preferred Qualification 

• An earned PhD. in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a closely related field. Candidates who will finish their PhD. before August 15, 2025, will be considered.
• Demonstrated ability to teach variety of undergraduate courses in Cybersecurity and AI, such as Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering, Secure Software Design, AI Fundamentals, Machine Learning Fundamentals, AI for Security Assessments, Offensive/Defensive Applications of AI, and Adversarial Learning.
• Ability and willingness to teach one or more graduate level courses such as Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering, Secure Programming/Scripting, Cloud and IoT Security, Industrial Control Systems/SCADA Security, Cellular and Wireless Security, Risk Management of AI, and Securing the AI Lifecycle.
• Ability to develop and start a successful applied research program in cutting edge areas of cybersecurity, cyber operations, and AI.
• Demonstrated effectiveness teaching at a post-secondary level.
• Experience developing course curricula at a post-secondary institution.
• Demonstrated contributions to assessment of student learning at a post-secondary institution.
• Professional development and/or expertise in culturally responsive pedagogy, anti-racist pedagogy, and/or universal design.
• Experience as an academic advisor for students at post-secondary institution.

Other Requirements

Notice: In accordance with the Minnesota State Vehicle Fleet Safety Program, employees driving on university business who use a rental or state vehicle shall be required to conform to Minnesota State’s vehicle use criteria and consent to a motor vehicle records check.

About

Metro State University empowers learners to transform their lives and communities through relevant, student-centered education in an inclusive, anti-racist, and supportive learning environment.

Metro State University provides an excellent, inclusive, and engaging education to eliminate opportunity gaps and empower our students to lead our communities to a prosperous and equitable future. The university offers programs leading to baccalaureate, masters, and applied doctoral degrees. We provide accessible, high quality liberal arts, professional, and graduate education with continued emphasis on marginalized groups, including adult learners. Metro State is a five-time recipient of the Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, most recently in 2023. Federally recognized as a Minority Serving Institution, its employees serve more than 9,000 post-traditional learners, two-thirds of whom identify as belonging to communities of color or American Indian nations, are first in their family to attend college, and/or are eligible for Pell Grants. Since we do not operate residential facilities, Metro State University students all commute to class locations across the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, or take their courses wherever they are through our many distance-learning and hybrid course offerings, allowing Metro State to truly be “where learning meets living.” Metropolitan State is recognized by CollegeNet as a leading higher education promoter of social mobility for students (Ranked # 31 out of 1,206 in 2024). Recognized in 2008 and 2016 by the Carnegie Foundation for Community Engagement, the university is committed to academic excellence and community engagement through curriculum, teaching, scholarship, and services designed to support an urban mission. As a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System, Metro State University actively works to achieve the Equity 2030 goal of the system, with initiatives to close disparities among student groups that focus on academic programs, policies and procedures, and effective student support. In addition, equity and anti-racism strategies are focused on building an inclusive and welcoming campus climate, hiring and retaining a diverse workforce, and developing our capacity to serve students in a culturally responsive manner. The university is finalizing a new strategic plan, with the draft goal of enhancing its legacy of student success by becoming the region’s premier institution for high-quality, accessible, and equitable education, promoting social mobility and community engagement.

Visit the Metro State University website to learn more about the university, our programs, and our students. Learn more about Minnesota State Colleges and Universities at their website.

The Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity (CSC) is one of the fastest-growing departments on campus. The department offers a diverse range of undergraduate programs, including NSA-validated Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Computer Information Technology, and Computer Forensics. At the graduate level, the department offers a Master of Science (MS) in Cyber Operations, MS and Professional Science Master's (PSM) in Computer Science, and a combined BS+MS in Cyber Operations. We also collaborate with the Department of Mathematics and Statistics to support the Data Science major.

As a designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (NCAE-CD) and home to the North Star Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE), our department is recognized for its robust academic offerings and leadership in cyber defense. The IC CAE designation, granted by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), further strengthens our program portfolio, with new offerings in Intelligence and Security Analysis on the horizon.

Faculty members at CSC enjoy a balanced academic workload, typically teaching five courses per academic year (a mix of undergraduate and graduate levels), supervising graduate research, and contributing to scholarship, advising, and university service. The department boasts substantial research funding from sources such as NSF, NSA, ODNI, and the private sector, which has fueled innovative, applied research in cybersecurity, computer science, and digital forensics.

Metro State has recently established the Metro State Applied Innovation Institute (MSAII), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which partners with the Department of Defense and defense contractors on cutting-edge research projects. The department also houses MN Cyber, a statewide research and training institute for cybersecurity, forensics, and IoT, featuring the MN Cyber Academy for industry certifications and Minnesota's first military-grade Cyber Range. This advanced facility supports both training and research in IT and Operational Technology (OT) security, positioning Metro State as a leader in cybersecurity education and research.

The department is housed in the College of Sciences, which also contains programs in mathematics/statistics and the natural sciences.  Opportunities for interdisciplinary studies within the department and college are strong.  The College is located on Metro State’s Dayton’s Bluff campus just east of downtown St. Paul.

For more information, please follow the links below:

Department website:  https://www.metrostate.edu/academics/sciences/computer-sciences-and-cybersecurity

College website: https://www.metrostate.edu/academics/sciences

MN Cyber website:  https://www.metrostate.edu/mncyber

For campus safety information and crime statistics visit: https://www.metrostate.edu/students/support/safety

Salary: Salary is commensurate with education and experience and is determined by the salary placement process as outlined in the Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) Master Agreement.

Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the Inter Faculty Organization (IFO) which can be found at on the Minnesota State Employee and Labor Relations website.

For the most current information on the Inter Faculty Organization, go to www.ifo.org

Application: To apply, go to https://www.metrostate.edu/about/employment

*To comply with privacy and data practices requirements, please refrain from including personal information or photographs in your application materials.

Applications must be received by 12:01 AM on Sunday, January 3, 2025.

Qualified applicants are required to attach the following documents to their online application:

Cover letter of interest addressing your qualifications for the position;

• Current curriculum vita or resume;
• A statement of your teaching philosophy and examples of teaching effectiveness, particularly as it relates to equity and anti-racist pedagogy (limit 2 pages);
• One-page statement highlighting research interests, grant writing, and other scholarly activities;
• Evidence demonstrating excellence in teaching. Artifacts such as, but not limited to, evaluations from students, peers and/or supervisors may be submitted;
• Names of four (4) references with addresses, email addresses and telephone numbers; at least two (2) of the references must be able to address teaching effectiveness; and
• Transcripts - Valid unofficial copies of your transcript showing conferred/awarded date of your highest attained degree, with your name and the academic institution’s name/logo are required. If doctoral study is in progress at the time of application, submit the most recent transcript showing your course of study and progress to date. We are not able to accept copy/paste word documents with a list of courses/grades. If selected for hire, official original transcripts will be required.
• Additional materials may be requested at a later date.

If you have other questions related to this job announcement, please contact Human Resources at 651.793.1275 or email at hrrecruiting@metrostate.edu

For TTY, call Minnesota Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-627-3529.

Metro State University is an Equal Opportunity employer/educator committed to the principles of diversity. We prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or membership in a local commission as defined by law. As an affirmative action employer, we actively seek and encourage applications from women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and individuals with protected veteran status.

The university provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

Benefits Information:

At Minnesota State, we have a GREAT BENEFITS PACKAGE! Our generous benefits include 11 paid Holidays, Vacation Time, Sick Time, six weeks of Paid Parental Leave, low cost medical and dental insurance with low deductibles ($250 - $1500), a Pension Plan, 457(b) and 403(b) retirement plans and other retirement investment options, pre-tax medical and dental expense (with roll-over option) and dependent care accounts, employer paid life insurance, short and long term disability, as well as professional development and a tuition waiver program for employees and their dependents, etc.  We promote the health and well-being of our employees and take work/life balance seriously.

Desired Start Date:

08-18-2025

Position End Date:

Open Date:

12-03-2024

Close Date:

01-03-2025

Posting Contact Name:

Kab Chu Yang Heu

Posting Contact Email:

sn4445zg@minnstate.edu