Visiting Assistant Professor in Cyber Strategy and Policy, College of Arts and Sciences

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors 

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to 53,235 students, more than 11,000 faculty and staff and 350,000+ living alumni, UC combines a Top 35 public research university with a physical setting The New York Times calls “the most ambitious campus design program in the country.”

With the launch of Next Lives Here, the Cincinnati Innovation District, a $100 million JobsOhio investment, three straight years of record enrollment, worldwide leadership in cooperative education, a dynamic academic health center and entry into the Big 12 Conference, UC’s momentum has never been stronger. UC’s annual budget stands at $1.85 billion, and its endowment totals nearly $1.8 billion.

Job Overview

The School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) at the University of Cincinnati invites applications for a full-time Visiting Assistant Professor with a primary workload focus in support of our cyber strategy and policy sub-field. The sub-field is supported through SPIA’s Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy, which is a research arm of the Ohio Cyber Range Institute housed at the University of Cincinnati as a cyber education, workforce and economic development platform for the state of Ohio.

SPIA offers an MA, MPA (with cyber track) and PhD in Political Science as well as three undergraduate BAs (Political Science, International Affairs, and Law and Society). SPIA is planning a new BA in Cyber Strategy and Digital Affairs. SPIA also houses three research centers—the Portman Center for Policy Solutions, the Center for Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (CTRHT) and the Center for Cyber Strategy and Policy (CCSP). The Portman Center encourages civility, bipartisanship, and finding common ground to achieve policy solutions. CTRHT uses research, learning, and action to provide space for healing the harms caused by racial injustice. CCSP seeks to engage scholars, students, and practitioners in interdisciplinary work related to digital strategy and policy. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to affiliate with these centers if they wish.

As one part of its overall programming, SPIA seeks to strengthen its focus on emerging technology and cyber strategy and policy and advance its research connection with the University’s Digital Futures project exploring the intersection of social science and emerging technology. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to affiliate with Digital Futures programming as well.

Essential Functions

The successful candidates will be expected to teach, research, and provide service.

• Teach the core introductory undergraduate course on national and international cyber strategy and policy (twice a year), and two other cyber-related courses at undergraduate and graduate-level covering topics, such as but not limited to Cyber Conflict and Cyber Red Team. The course load for this visiting assistant professor is two courses per 2 semesters.

• Research activities include support of CCSP and OCRI grant activities in 2025-2026 and support the conducting, presenting, and publishing of scholarship and on emerging technology and national or international cyber security strategy and policy.

• Service activities may include, but not be limited to, support of SPIA events and student advising.

Minimum Requirements

Prior to the effective date of the appointment, candidates must minimally be all but dissertation (ABD) status (i.e., must have completed all requirements for graduation short of completion of final dissertation defense) in Political Science or a related field.

Application Process

Interested and qualified applicants must complete our online application. In addition to the basic online application, please provide:

• Cover letter indicating fit with the job description and SPIA programs outlined above

• Full and current CV

• Three names of references (letters of reference will be required of short-listed finalists)

• A one-page statement addressing the candidate’s intended contributions to the University’s team culture goals through teaching, research, and service is also required.

Please use the ‘additional documents’ feature to include all these required items. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Questions should be directed to Dr. Richard Harknett, Director and Search Committee Chair at: richard.harknett@uc.edu

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers a wide array of complementary and affordable benefit options, to meet the financial, educational, health, and wellness needs of you and your family. Eligibility varies by position and FTE.

• Competitive salary range dependent on the candidate's experience.
• Comprehensive insurance plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.
• Flexible spending accounts and an award-winning employee wellness program, plus an employee assistance program.
• Financial security via our life and long-term disability insurance, accident and illness insurance, and retirement savings plans.
• Generous paid time off work options including vacation, sick leave, annual holidays, and winter season days in addition to paid parental leave.
• Tuition remission is available for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Enjoy discounts for on and off-campus activities and services.

As a UC employee, and an employee of an Ohio public institution, if hired you will not contribute to the federal Social Security system, other than contributions to Medicare. Instead, UC employees have the option to contribute to a state retirement plan (OPERS, STRS) or an alternative retirement plan (ARP).

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our careers page at https://www.uc.edu/careers.html.

For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact Human Resources at jobs@uc.edu. 

The University of Cincinnati is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

REQ: 98517 

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