Assistant Professors in Computer Science

Salary: Grade 8 (£45,585 - £54,395)
Contract: Full-time (35 hours per week)
3 x Opportunities available
Based in the School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences – Department of Computer Science
Use our total rewards calculator:  to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
Detailed Description
We are looking for three assistant professors in Computer Science for the Edinburgh campus of Heriot-Watt University. Two of these positions are tied to a particular expertise:
robotics
game development, in particular C++, shader coding, optimisation, and low-level game engine design
The third position is for any topic area within which the department is active: artificial intelligence, cyber security and safety, data integration, human-computer and human-robot interaction, knowledge representation, logic, machine learning, natural language processing, parallel computation, programming languages, and visualisation and analytics.
The positions can be either teaching focused (T&S) or research-and-teaching-balanced (T&R), depending on the candidate's preference. In a T&S role you are expected to spend 80% of your time on teaching and 20% on scholarship and teaching leadership, while for T&R there is an even split between teaching and research (both 40%, leaving 20% for community and leadership activities). For both T&S and T&R, career paths to full professorship exist at Heriot-Watt.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting to the Head of Computer Science, responsibilities include:
Leading or taking part in research activity in your area of high-quality research.
Writing and submitting grant proposals and securing research funding as a Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator. Be responsible for the management and execution of research projects involving academic and other (industrial, public sector, etc.) collaborators, including the School and the University’s wider research programmes.
Maintaining a demonstrably high-quality and world-leading research activity by disseminating research findings with publications in top-level journals and with presentations and talks at reputable conferences. Maintaining or building an international research reputation through contributions to the international research community (e.g. by serving as reviewer, referee, expert witness, conference chair, programme committee, editorship of a journal).
Supervision and guidance of undergraduate, postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers.
Teaching undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level courses. When appropriate, leading new teaching initiatives to enhance current provision.
Academic leadership positions, such as being course leader on internationally taught courses, being programme leader on undergraduate or postgraduate programmes, or leading outreach and recruitment events where appropriate.
About Heriot-Watt University
Heriot-Watt University has established a reputation for world-class teaching and leading-edge, relevant research, which has made it one of the top UK universities for innovation, business and industry.
Heriot-Watt University has five campuses: three in the UK (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Orkney), one in Dubai and one in Malaysia. The University offers a highly distinctive range of degree programmes in the specialist areas of science, engineering, design, business and languages. Heriot-Watt is also Scotland's most international university, boasting the largest international student cohort.
About the department
You will join the Department of Computer Science in the School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. The department is internationally renowned for its world-class research across a sizable number of areas.
The Department of Computer Science has an extensive portfolio of taught programmes. It established teaching programmes in Dubai since 2005, and in 2021/22 launched a new Computing Science BSc in Malaysia. The Department has 77 permanent academic staff, of which 55 are in Edinburgh, 15 in Dubai and 7 in Malaysia. You will be part of a substantive and growing teaching-focused staff community.
The School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences is committed to supporting family friendly work practices and part-time working options as part of our Athena Swan Bronze award (see 
We especially encourage women and members of under-represented groups to apply for this position. We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options. We are very proud of our inclusive and friendly community. We organise regular events for women in CS, fora for staff and students with disabilities, as well as formal and informal support groups at all levels. Our professorial staff is 46% female, compared to the national average of 16%.
Essential Criteria
E1: A PhD in computer science or closely related field
E2: Enthusiasm and ambition to contribute to a world-class academic community.
E3: Good interpersonal and teamwork skills
E4: Track record of teaching well and enthusiastically
E5*: Track-record of good quality publications within your expertise
Desirable Criteria
D1: Track record in obtaining external fundingD2: The skills to supervise undergraduate and MSc projectsD3**: Track-record of good quality publications within your expertise
* Only if you apply for a T&R role
** Only if you apply for a T&S role
How to Apply
Applications can be submitted up to midnight (UK time) on 1st of April 2024.
Shortlisting anticipated to be completed by 21st of April 2024.
Interviews anticipated to take place W/C 6th of May 2024.
Interested applicants must submit via the Heriot-Watt on-line recruitment system: (1) a cover letter describing their interest and suitability for the post, indicating a preference for either a T&S or T&R position; (2) a full CV; (3) a summary of their research and teaching plans and ambitions; and (4) a list of publications.
Informal enquiries may be made to: Prof. Jurriaan Hage, Head of Computer Science, #####.
At Heriot Watt we are passionate about our values and look to them to connect our people globally and to help us collaborate and celebrate our success through working together. Our research programmes can deliver real world impact which is achieved through the diversity of our international community and the recognition of creative talent that connects our global team.
Our flourishing community will give you the freedom to challenge and to bring your enterprising mind and to help our partners with solutions that can be applied now and in the future. Join us and Heriot Watt will provide you with a platform to thrive and work in a way that also helps you live your life in balance with well-being and inclusiveness at the heart of our global community.
Heriot-Watt University is committed to securing equality of opportunity in employment and to the creation of an environment in which individuals are selected, trained, promoted, appraised and otherwise treated on the sole basis of their relevant merits and abilities.
Equality and diversity are all about maximising potential and creating a culture of inclusion for all.
Heriot-Watt University values diversity across our University community and welcomes applications from all sectors of society, particularly from underrepresented groups. For more information, please see our website  and also our award-winning work in Disability Inclusive Science Careers  .
We welcome and will consider flexible working patterns e.g. part-time working and job share options.
Use our total rewards calculator:  to see the value of benefits provided by Heriot-Watt University.
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