Position Title: Research Professor

Employee Classification: LC Faculty NT 9m

College/Division: Research, Creativity and ED

Department: 470039-RESEARCH CORES PROGRAM

Internal or External Search: External - Open to all applicants

Location: Las Cruces

Offsite Location (if applicable):

Target Hourly/Salary Rate:  Commensurate with qualifications.

Appointment Full-time Equivalency:  1.0

Exempt or Non-Exempt:  Exempt

Summary:  The OVPR at New Mexico State University seeks an innovative and visionary leader to serve as a Research Professor-Director of Research Computing. This position will be instrumental in advancing NMSU's mission through research, education, and capacity building in multiple areas of computing, especially High-Performance Computing. Coordinates data science initiatives and lead efforts to enhance our research computing capabilities. Includes a commitment from the NM INBRE program to fund the summer salary for the first two years, underscoring its importance and urgency. The target 9 month salary is $170,000.
The position will drive infrastructure capacity building, strategic leadership, and innovation in HPC and advanced research technologies. Secure funding and resources to expand research computing capabilities, oversee HPC clusters and networking, and lead artificial intelligence and cybersecurity initiatives to support the university's cutting-edge research needs. Cordinates data science projects, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and promoting computational resource usage across departments.
Secures extramural research funding to sustain and grow research computing infrastructure and capabilities. Experience in writing grant proposals and building partnerships to support initiatives in networking, data storage, and AI technologies is required. Extensive experience with HPC systems, a strong cloud and research computing infrastructure background, and practical leadership skills to advance computational research projects and policy governance at NMSU.
Applicants must utilize the NMSU job page https://jobs.nmsu.edu refer to req. 501609. NMSU is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

Classification Summary:
The Research Professor will be responsible for leading the development, management, and strategic vision for research computing infrastructure at NMSU. This includes securing resources and funding, enhancing the university’s high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities, and promoting interdisciplinary research across fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Biomedical Data Science. The Research Professor will foster collaboration with academic, industry, and government partners, ensuring that NMSU remains a leader in advanced computing technologies.

Classification Standard Duties:
The successful applicant must demonstrate the ability to contribute to the mission of the research enterprise at New Mexico State University. This position involves collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, securing external funding, publishing in peer-reviewed journals, and mentoring graduate students.

Required Education, Experience, Certification/License, Equivalency
Ph.D. Computer Science, Information Technology, Computational Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a closely related field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge: Advanced knowledge of high-performance computing (HPC) systems, architecture, and infrastructure management, including hardware, networking, and software solutions.
Expertise in research computing methodologies and technologies, including cloud computing, distributed computing, AI, and machine learning systems. Deep understanding of cybersecurity best practices and protocols for protecting sensitive research data and computational resources. Knowledge of grant funding processes and experience in securing external funding from federal agencies, private foundations, or industry partners. Familiarity with biomedical data science initiatives, particularly in relation to large-scale data management and analytics. Understanding of interdisciplinary research and how advanced computing can facilitate collaboration across fields such as engineering, biology, medicine, and economics. Strong knowledge of compliance with regulatory requirements (e.g., HIPAA, GDPR) and institutional policies related to data privacy and security in research environments. Skills: Leadership and strategic planning skills for managing large-scale research computing initiatives and developing long-term strategies. Grant writing and proposal development skills for securing funding to support research infrastructure and initiatives. Project management skills for leading complex technical projects, from initial concept to implementation and ongoing support. Collaboration and interpersonal communication skills, enabling productive partnerships with internal stakeholders (faculty, researchers, IT teams) and external partners (industry, government agencies, other research institutions). Training and mentorship skills for developing and delivering educational programs to researchers, faculty, and students on the use of research computing resources. Analytical skills for evaluating computational needs, resource allocation, and system performance to optimize research computing services. Abilities:
Ability to lead interdisciplinary teams and promote collaboration between academic units, industry partners, and research institutions. Ability to secure and manage external funding to build and sustain advanced research computing resources. Ability to integrate emerging technologies, such as AI and machine learning, into a variety of research domains and facilitate their adoption across disciplines. Ability to develop and implement policies related to data security, resource allocation, and regulatory compliance. Ability to communicate complex technical information effectively to a diverse audience, including non-technical stakeholders, university leadership, and funding agencies. Ability to balance multiple priorities and manage the needs of faculty, students, and staff within a fast-paced research environment. Ability to adapt to technological changes and stay current with advancements in computational technologies, especially those relevant to research computing.

Job Duties and Responsibilities
Infrastructure Capacity Building: Secure resources and funding for research computing.
Write grant proposals for funding HPC hardware and networking. Develop and maintain research computing infrastructure. Oversee operations and management of NMSU's computational infrastructure. Centralized Support for Research Computing: Implement and manage HPC resources. Improve faculty participation in centrally supported computational resources. Enhance support for grant applications needing advanced computing capabilities.
Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute the strategic vision for NMSU Research Computing. Collaborate with internal and external partners to identify computational needs.
Foster interdisciplinary collaboration and identify innovation opportunities. Leadership in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Facilitate AI technology integration in research projects. Lead funding initiatives for AI research infrastructure.Collaborate with industry partners to advance AI research. Coordination of Biomedical Data Science Initiatives: Coordinate biomedical data science initiatives with NM INBRE support. Develop partnerships and secure funding for biomedical projects. Economic and Workforce Development: Position NMSU as a leader in research computing. Contribute to local economic growth and workforce development. User Support and Training: Provide technical support and training programs for researchers. Promote best practices in research computing. Policy and Governance: Develop and enforce policies for resource allocation and data security. Ensure compliance with regulations and standards. Responsibilities: Strategic development and management of research computing infrastructure. Securing funding and resources for enhancing research computing capabilities. Leading initiatives in AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity.
Coordinating interdisciplinary research and fostering collaboration. Ensuring compliance with data management and security policies.

Preferred Qualifications

Special Requirements of the Position

Department Contact:  Stephanie Schumacher, 575-646-1590, sschum@nmsu.edu

Contingent Upon Funding: Not Applicable

Bargaining Unit Eligibility: This is NOT a bargaining unit position with American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME).

Standard Work Schedule: Standard (M-F, 8-5)

If Not a Standard Work Schedule: 

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Environment: Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.

Physical Effort: No or very limited physical effort required.

Lifting Requirements: Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 10 pounds or some standing or walking.

Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.