AY2025-2026 Position #52986 Computer Science or Electrical & Computer Engineering - Inaugural Walden and Paula Rhines Endowed Quantum Informatics Associate/Full Professor

Description

The Lyle School of Engineering at SMU, led by the newly appointed visionary Mary and Richard Templeton Dean Nader Jalili, invites accomplished candidates for the inaugural Walden & Paula Rhines Endowed Quantum Informatics position in the Computer Science or Electrical & Computer Engineering Departments.

 

The Lyle School of Engineering has embarked on an ambitious journey, successfully hiring 14 outstanding faculty members, including two department chairs, three center/institute executive directors, and several endowed professors during the 2023-24 academic year. Our culture of faculty growth thrives on innovation, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment. We are committed to externally funded, industry-supported research, which advances our academic goals and provides students with invaluable industry insights. Our mission is to lead in the digital transformation of engineering education, equipping students with cutting-edge knowledge and skills to emerge as confident, capable leaders. Through excellence and innovation, we aim to significantly impact the engineering landscape and beyond.

 

Quantum Engineering, is poised for unprecedented growth that will help reshape the technology landscape in the coming years. With federal agencies adopting quantum information systems and escalating cybersecurity demands, our new faculty hires will be able to shape the future by harnessing quantum computing techniques to tackle complex and large-scale optimization problems, further revolutionizing the field. Ideal candidates are envisioned to establish and sustain globally renowned, externally funded research programs that synergize with the school’s ongoing research endeavors. These efforts will play a pivotal role in fostering the establishment of centers and institutes of excellence through collaborative engagement. Departmental tenure appointment, including joint appointments, will be thoughtfully matched to the background and interests of the final candidate within Lyle's Computer Science or Electrical & Computer Engineering Departments. Potential joint appointments within Lyle or across the broader SMU schools and colleges are within the realm of consideration.

 

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

For nearly a century, Lyle has been nurturing exceptional engineers who are catalysts for global change. Our commitment to shaping bold leaders who innovate, pioneer, and tackle society’s toughest challenges is unwavering. Embedded in our mindset is a culture of ingenuity that resonates through our research and curriculum. With an impressive 9:1 graduate student-to-faculty ratio, coupled with robust scholarship offerings, we are dedicated to fostering meaningful mentorship and breaking engineering stereotypes. Lyle has proudly earned the American Society for Engineering Education’s Bronze Award for championing diversity and inclusivity. Our focus extends beyond campus, addressing critical global issues through groundbreaking research. Our five departments—Civil and Environmental Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Operation Research and Engineering Management, and Mechanical Engineering—drive impactful innovations beyond academia’s boundaries.

 

Lyle School’s acclaimed centers and institutes include the Darwin Deason Institute for Cyber Security, Hart Center for Engineering Leadership, Caruth Institute for Engineering Education, Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity, Hart Institute for Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and the newly established Center for Digital and Human-Augmented Manufacturing.

 

A New Era Beckons: In a resounding testament to our aspirations, SMU’s pursuit of R1 status is bolstered by a recent landmark $20 million gift (https://www.smu.edu/ignited/news/gifts/templeton-lyle-gift-feb-2023) and $15 million investment on Initiative for Digital Innovation in Engineering and Computer Science (https://www.smu.edu/ignited/news/gifts/odonnell-gift-august-2023). These transformative endowments are pivotal in invigorating our research ecosystem, fostering interdisciplinary alliances to position Lyle as an authoritative force in artificial intelligence, human augmentation, digital transformation and innovation. Empowered by the Provost and Dean, the new faculty will be able to redefine engineering education for our swiftly evolving digital landscape, benefiting Dallas and the broader DFW area.

 

Our world-class research facilities are complemented by robust resources in high-performance scientific computing (see