Research Assistant Professor

Department : College of Engineering and Computing

Classification : 12-month Research Faculty

Job Category : Research Faculty

Job Type : Full-Time

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

Location : Fairfax

Telework Friendly : No

Salary : Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted : Yes

Criminal Background Check : Yes

About the Department :

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.

George Mason University serves as the leading strategic planning and operational institution for the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative’s Northern Virginia (NoVa) regional node.

CCI will ensure Virginia is recognized a global leader in secure CPS and 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.

About the Position :

The incumbent will conduct research at George Mason University and as part of the Northern Virginia Node of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative, and will conduct research in cybersecurity and related areas and support the educational endeavors of the Department of Cybersecurity Engineering at George Mason University.

The incumbent will be an active participant in the research endeavors funded and associated with the NoVa Node of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative and will collaborate with George Mason faculty as well as faculty from across the Commonwealth, especially those associated with the CCI Coastal Node and Old Dominion University.

George Mason University and Old Dominion University have developed a strategic partnership and the incumbent will have access to faculty and facilities at both George Mason University and Old Dominion University to enable their success.

Research areas of specific interest to the CCI Nova Node include, but are not limited to, national defense, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum information processing and security, wireless communications, secure infrastructure e.

g. transportation, smart buildings, Next G, power grid, security of manufacturing and supply chain, and impact of human behavior on cybersecurity among others.

We are especially interested in faculty who conduct research in an interdisciplinary environment and who will collaborate with other CCI faculty, especially those in the NoVa and Coastal Nodes.

Responsibilities :

• Contribute to Mason’s active cybersecurity research program, and laboratory and field portfolio of projects. Foster new and existing research collaborations with academic, industrial, and governmental institutions in Virginia and the greater Washington DC metropolitan area;
• Work collaboratively with faculty from across Virginia institutions to develop joint proposals and support research initiatives that advance Virginia’s reputation as a global leader in cybersecurity; and
• Mentor students in cybersecurity and related disciplines and support the Department of Cybersecurity Engineering’s educational initiatives.

Required Qualifications :

• Terminal degree (Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, Systems Engineering, or a related field);
• Have an outstanding cybersecurity research record, as well as commitment to fostering interdisciplinary research / education; and
• Experience conducting cybersecurity research.

Preferred Qualifications :

• Experience preparing proposals for sponsored research; and
• US Citizen able to obtain a US government security clearance.

Instructions to Applicants :

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Research Assistant Professor at ; complete and submit the online application;

and provide a cover letter, CV, research statement, diversity statement, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

Posting Open Date : January 11, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by : March 8, 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.