The Opportunity

The College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, position of tenured professor and director of the newly formed School of Data, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences with an anticipated start date on May 1, 2027. The successful candidate will serve as the inaugural Director of the School. The director is the unit head, provides leadership for the school, and is essential to the decision-making and administrative functions within the unit, including academic programs, budget, hiring, evaluations, and facilities. This appointment offers an opportunity to strengthen connections across the disciplines in the school and support their distinctive strengths. Nominations of ideal candidates can be communicated to the Committee Chair, Dr. Brett McCollum ([email protected]).

The Dr. Yvette Kanouff School of Data, Mathematical, and Statistical Sciences (Kanouff School) is a new interdisciplinary unit within the College of Sciences formed from the merger of the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Statistics and Data Science. The new school has a growing, innovative population of faculty and students carrying out theoretical and applied research in Mathematics, Statistics, Data Science, Actuarial Science, and Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning. The school’s undergraduate academic programs include degrees in Data Science, Actuarial Science, Mathematics, and Statistics. Graduate programming includes a M.S. degree in Statistics and Data Science with two tracks in Data Science and Statistical Computing and a SAS certificate program, a M.S. degree in Mathematical Science including tracks in Industrial Mathematics and Financial Mathematics, a Ph.D. in Mathematics including a track in Financial Mathematics, and a Ph.D. in Big Data Analytics including a track in Statistics. The Ph.D. in Big Data Analytics is the first Ph.D. program of its kind in the state of Florida and only one of a few across the globe and has been ranked #4 nationally by TechGuide’s Best Data Analytics Ph.D. programs in 2025.

With 70 full-time faculty, The Kanouff School serves over 120 graduate students and 800 program majors, provides prerequisite courses for colleges such as Engineering & Computer Science and Medicine, and offers General Education courses that support the broader undergraduate student community. As a significant service teaching unit, the school annually supports roughly 4,000 undergraduate FTE across more than 600 course sections of various class sizes. It is a collegial academic unit with broad representation that values collaborations and mentorship across subdisciplines. The school faculty collaborate with faculty from across the College of Sciences as well as the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, the National Center of Forensic Science, the Nanoscience and Technology Center, the College of Optics and Photonics, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, and the College of Community Innovation and Education, thus preparing our students for complex problem solving in an interdisciplinary world. For more information, visit https://sciences.ucf.edu/sdmss/.

The UCF College of Sciences (COS) is the largest college at the university and a powerhouse for the regional and national STEM workforce, spanning the natural, computational, physical, and social sciences and housing centers, institutes and initiatives that serve as hubs for research and innovation. Through sharing and applying knowledge, COS is cultivating pathways for students to solve our world’s most pressing and complex problems. With a mission to provide a world-class education in an environment where faculty, staff, and students thrive, research flourishes, and our community prospers; a number of COS academic programs are among those nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report, Princeton Review, and others. For more information, please visit https://sciences.ucf.edu.

UCF, named one of the most innovative public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, is located in Orlando, Florida and is classified as a Very High Research Activity university by the Carnegie Foundation. With more than 70,000 students, UCF is one of the largest universities in the country, offering more than 240 degree programs. UCF is an economic engine, attracting and supporting industries vital to the region's future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. For more information, visit http://www.ucf.edu.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Ph.D. in Data Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Actuarial Science, or a closely related field, from an accredited institution. In addition, to be eligible for appointment as a tenured professor upon hire, the successful applicant must have a distinguished record commensurate with a tenured faculty member at the rank of professor within the Kanouff School with respect to teaching, research, and service. Candidates will have a demonstrated record of administrative leadership in a university or similar setting for at least 2 years.

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference will be given to candidates who have demonstrated experience in:

• handling faculty matters,
• supervising staff,
• managing budgets,
• using strong communication skills,
• having a distinguished record of teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and
• having a strong publication record reflecting experience conducting research within the disciplines of the school.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/ . In addition to the online application, interested candidates should upload the following materials: (1) a current CV, and (2) a 2-to-3-page letter of interest that addresses the qualifications, research and leadership experience, teaching philosophy, and vision for the school.

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

Review of applications will begin on November 16, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled.

Questions regarding the position should be directed to Dr. Brett McCollum, Search Committee Chair, at [email protected].

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. H-1B visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H-1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Job Close Date:

Open until filled.

Note to applicants: Please keep in mind that a job posted as “Open until filled” may close at any time without notice. As such, we encourage you to submit your application and all required documentation as quickly as possible to ensure consideration for the posted position.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program. 
• Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.
• Retirement savings options. 
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions. 
• Education assistance.
• Flexible work environment. 
• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

Department

Work Schedule

Type of Appointment

Expected Salary

The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.  

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. 

For general application or posting questions, please email [email protected].

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please email [email protected].