Department of Statistics
Assistant Professor
Statistics, Reinforcement Learning, and Artificial Intelligence
The faculty of the Department of Statistics at the University of South Carolina, Columbia campus, invites applications for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin August 16, 2026.
The position requires a doctoral degree in Statistics, Biostatistics, or Computer Science or other related field with a strong background in Statistics by the starting date of the position. Preferred applicants will have a research focus in Reinforcement Learning in Statistics, Causal Inference, Probabilistic Graphical Models, Precision Decision-Making, or Artificial Intelligence and have a strong record of or potential for publishing research in top-tier outlets, high potential to secure external research funding, the ability to develop effective research collaborations within and outside the department, and eagerness to teach a variety of statistics courses with excellence at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
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.
The Department of Statistics in the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences currently consists of fourteen tenured/tenure-track faculty and nine full-time instructors. Current research areas of the faculty include survival and reliability analysis, Bayesian statistics, latent variable methods, item response theory and psychometrics, semiparametric and nonparametric inference, group and pooled testing, highly-structured or high-dimensional data, statistical learning, machine learning, functional and object data, scalable and post-selection inference, and statistical genetics. The department has about 35 full-time graduate students and offers PhD, MS, and BS degrees.
For more information about the Department of Statistics, please visit out website at www.stat.sc.edu.
The University of South Carolina is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution. Women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.
How to Apply:
All applicants must apply online at USCJobs at https://uscjobs.sc.edu. Applications must include: (1) a cover letter that describes their research and teaching interests, (2) a curriculum vitae, and (3) the names and email addresses of 3 references. Reference letters should be sent directly to FacultySearch@stat.sc.edu. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Review of applications will begin on November 17, 2025. Inquiries about this position may be directed to Professor Karl Gregory, gregorkb@stat.sc.edu