From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor’s degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service — helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

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The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing (MCEC) at the University of South Carolina in Columbia S.C is continuing to expand its tenured and tenure-track ranks. As part of this growth, the Department of Integrated Information Technology (IIT) invites applications for a dynamic tenure-track faculty member to begin Fall 2027 as a full-time Assistant Professor 9-month faculty member.

Situated in Columbia S.C USC’s Engineering and Technology Innovation Center, the Department of Integrated Information Technology (IIT) (https://cec.sc.edu/iit) offers an ABET accredited undergraduate BS in Integrated Information Technology, a Master of Science in Information Technology (MSIT), a Master of Health Information Technology (MHIT), and a PhD in Informatics. The teaching load is attractive and appropriate for developing a robust research program, including the pursuit of research grants. Online as well as traditional classroom teaching, commitment to undergraduate research, and university and professional service will be expected.

IIT seeks candidates with expertise at the intersection of applied information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) — the systems that operate, instrument, and inform industrial and energy facilities. The searches are motivated in part by the university’s proposed Nuclear Innovation Center, a major investment within the College’s emerging Engineering District in Columbia, established in partnership with industry, government agencies, educational institutions, and other stakeholders (https://tinyurl.com/m5jj82u2). The searches are further motivated by the College’s new undergraduate program in industrial engineering (https://tinyurl.com/ycera6w8), which opens opportunities for collaboration between the IIT Department and the industrial engineering program.

Areas of interest, all with an applied emphasis, include:

AI for OT operations. Condition monitoring, diagnostics, and prognostics pipelines; predictive maintenance at plant scale; anomaly detection in operational data; machine learning and large language models applied to operational technology environments.

AI/ML and human-computer interaction. Operator and engineer decision support; human-AI teaming and appropriate reliance on automated recommendations; interface design for control room and field environments; extended reality and simulation-based training for technical workforces; explainability and transparency of machine learning in safety-critical settings.

Instrumentation, sensing, and edge systems. SCADA, DCS, and instrumentation and control systems; industrial IoT sensing and real-time data acquisition; edge computing and distributed processing at the plant boundary; hardware-in-the-loop and cyber-physical testbeds; qualification of digital instrumentation and control for safety-critical use.

Industrial networks and communication systems. Industrial communication protocols and architectures (OPC UA, Modbus, PROFINET, IEC 61850); IT/OT convergence, segmentation, and plant network architecture; deterministic and time-sensitive networking; private 5G and industrial wireless; network observability and performance engineering in operational environments.

Industrial data platforms and digital twin infrastructure. Historians and industrial data pipelines; data engineering and platform architecture supporting digital twins; information modeling and interoperability across heterogeneous plant systems; cloud-to-edge data management; data quality, lineage, and governance for operational data.

Work addressing nuclear-related operational technology is especially welcome across all of these areas, including IT/OT applications in reactor instrumentation and control and in plant operations and maintenance, as well as IT/OT workforce development for nuclear energy facilities.

Outstanding applications from other IT areas are welcome to apply.

Successful candidates will develop an externally funded, nationally visible research program; teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the department’s information technology curriculum, including core coursework as well as new courses in the candidate’s specialty; advise undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students; and contribute to departmental, college, and professional service.

The candidate will have the opportunity to engage and collaborate with centers and laboratories within MCEC and across campus, including the Artificial Intelligence Institute (http://ai.sc.edu) — a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and translational AI research institute spanning the university; the McNAIR Center (https://sc.edu/about/centers_institutes/mcnair/) — an industrial-scale center for advanced manufacturing, processing, and assembly of aerospace, communications, and automation components; the Cyberinfrastructure Lab (https://research.cec.sc.edu/cyberinfra) — an applied research lab for high-performance communications and cybersecurity; the Center for Industry Solutions (https://research.cec.sc.edu/c4is) — an industry-facing center delivering company-sponsored projects in smart manufacturing, digital engineering, and supply chain; and others.

The University of South Carolina is South Carolina’s flagship university — a globally recognized, high-impact research university committed to a superior student experience and dedicated to innovation in learning, research, and community engagement. Founded in 1801, the university offers more than 300-degree programs and is a top-tier Carnegie Foundation research institution. With 60 nationally ranked academic programs including top-ranked programs in international business, the nation’s best honors college and distinguished programs in engineering, law, medicine, public health and the arts, the university is helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and around the world. In fall 2026, the university reached record enrollment, serving more students than at any point in its 225-year history. The Columbia campus enrolled approximately 41,650 students, including more than 33,000 undergraduates, with an incoming class of roughly 7,800 first-year students drawn from all 46 South Carolina counties, 45 states and 41 countries. Across the USC system, enrollment peaked at a record 60,300 students.

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.”

All applicants should hold an earned doctorate in information technology, information systems, computer science, industrial or systems engineering, or a closely related field by the start date of employment, with demonstrated potential for excellence in teaching and research with high scholarly impact. Applicants must be prepared to teach existing undergraduate and graduate courses in the department’s information technology curriculum and to develop new courses in their area of expertise.

Successful candidates will develop an externally funded, nationally visible research program; teach undergraduate and graduate courses in the department’s information technology curriculum, including core coursework as well as new courses in the candidate’s specialty; advise undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students; and contribute to departmental, college, and professional service.

The anticipated start date is August 16, 2027. Interested applicants should apply online at
https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/214783 with the following information: (1) a letter of interest, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) a concise description of research plans, (4) a teaching plan, and (5) names and contact information of three references. Questions may be directed to Dr. John Gerdes, Search Committee Chair, GERDES@mailbox.sc.edu.

Positions are advertised for a minimum of forty-five (45) days on our job website. After forty-five (45) days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This position is open until filled. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.