Professor of Statistics (RISE-AI)

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Job Category:

Faculty

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Professor

Job Summary:

The highly ranked Department of Statistics is seeking excellent candidates for a tenured faculty position in the area of statistics. In this position, the incumbent is expected to engage in research related to scientific problems with substantial importance in science and/or society.

The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to a fair environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

Successful applicants will teach undergraduate and graduate statistics courses, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, publish results in academic journals in statistics, data science, and closely related fields and present them at national and international meetings, and participate in professional and university service and outreach.

Successful applicants will participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with other departments, schools and colleges.

This position is part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student and educational opportunities, RISE addresses complex societal challenges of importance to the state, nation and world. Building on UW-Madison's strengths, RISE expands the University's successful track record of connecting with communities and industry on collaborative solutions.

Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration.

Further information regarding RISE can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/

The University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks among the top universities in the country in research expenditures and provides excellent support for faculty seeking external funding. Internal research support is available from funds provided by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation.

The Department of Statistics is experiencing rapid expansion as part of the university's substantial investment in data science. This growth is centered within the newly formed School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS), which officially opened its state-of-the-art new building in August 2025 ( https://cdis.wisc.edu/building/ ). The department is also home to the Data Science major, which is the university's fastest-growing program (learn more about CDIS here: https://cdis.wisc.edu/ ).

Our field and our department are growing rapidly, fueling our excitement for the future of our discipline . The Department has 36 regular faculty members, over 100 PhD students, over 100 MS students, and around 1800 undergraduate majors in statistics and data science. Some faculty members have joint appointments in other departments. The Department is well known for its strong interplay between statistical theory, methodology , and practice.

Madison is the state's capitol city and is well known for offering a small town feel in a medium sized city. It is a great place to raise a family and offers an ideal combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural events, outstanding schools and outdoor recreation.

In the College of Letters & Science, we provide a liberal arts education that is both broad and deep through excellent, empathic teaching. We hire faculty who are interested in pursuing difficult questions , making new discoveries, and making an impact in their field. We reward excellent teaching and classroom innovation, and we are committed to shared governance. Learn more about the L&S mission on our webpage: https://ls.wisc.edu/about/mission .

Key Job Responsibilities:

Successful applicants will teach undergraduate and graduate statistics courses, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, publish results in academic journals in statistics, data science, and closely related fields and present them at national and international meetings; and participate in professional and university service and outreach.

Department:

College of Letters and Science, Department of Statistics

Compensation:

Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable

Required Qualifications:

Demonstrated excellence or demonstrated potential for excellence in statistical research, very broadly defined. Interest and ability to teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Ability to interact with an interdisciplinary and collaborative intellectual community. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience with fostering teaching, learning, departmental, and a research environment where all can thrive.

Education:

PhD in Statistics or similar by appointment start date

How to Apply:

Apply online at "Jobs at UW" ( http://jobs.wisc.edu ) under Job Requisition JR10005191 . Applications must be received through UW- Madison's online application system. Applications submitted outside of this system will not be considered. Click the "Apply Now" button to start the application process . The application should include the following 4 documents:

1) a letter of application, which should address the applicant's suitability for the RISE-AI initiative and research experience related to scientific problems with substantial importance in science and/or society ,

2) a detailed resume/CV and a copy of university transcripts,

3) a teaching and mentoring statement,

4) a research statement that includes a summary of dissertation and publications.

A pplicants who move forward in the process will receive an email requesting the names and contact information for three references; each reference will receive an electronic link through which they can upload a signed letter of reference . At least one of the letters should address the applicant's effectiveness as a teacher .

For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59pm on December 8,2025. Applications will be accepted until position is filled. Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications.

Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant’s dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant’s ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of the application materials must be created by the applicant and may include supporting letters . It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others .

Contact Information:

Matthias Katzfuss

Phone: 608-263-8531

Email: mkatzfuss@wisc.edu

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and in