Professor in Computer Science in Newcastle upon Tyne

The School of Computer Science at Northumbria University invites applications for a Professor of Computer Science to join a growing, ambitious, and research-active academic community. This represents an exciting opportunity to provide academic leadership within a newly established School at a time of significant institutional investment and growth. We are seeking applications from established academics who can offer strategic research vision, intellectual leadership, and mentorship, while contributing to teaching, knowledge exchange, and external engagement at scale.

About The School

The School of Computer Science at Northumbria University is a vibrant, growing, and research-intensive environment with a strong commitment to interdisciplinary, civic-minded, and human-centred computing. Our core research strengths span Artificial Intelligence and autonomous systems, Human-Computer Interaction and Digital Civics, Networks and Cybersecurity, Digital Education, and Health Informatics. We hold a substantial portfolio of UKRI funding, including a recently awarded UKRI AI Centre for Doctoral Training focused on citizen-centred approaches to AI. Our cybersecurity research has been recognised through designation as an NCSC/EPSRC Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR).

Based in an award-winning, purpose-built facility at the heart of Northumbria’s City Campus in Newcastle upon Tyne, the School delivers research-informed, high-quality education to over 1,500 students across Computer and Data Science, AI, Cybersecurity and Networks, Games, and Business Computing, from Foundation to Doctoral level. Our facilities include specialist laboratories in Networks, Cybersecurity, and Games, alongside a new High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster supporting advanced research and teaching. We foster a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive academic culture, supporting career development through mentorship, access to research funding, interdisciplinary collaboration, and opportunities to shape both teaching and research agendas within the School.

About You

We are seeking applications from established academic leaders with an international reputation in any relevant area of Computer Science. We welcome strong applicants from across the discipline, with particular interest in candidates whose research aligns with one or more of the following broad themes:

• Artificial intelligence and data-driven systems, including trustworthy and responsible AI, human-AI and human-robot collaboration, and work addressing online harms, platform safety, content moderation, and algorithmic risk
• Networks, cybersecurity, and software systems, including secure, resilient, and scalable infrastructures and software engineering
• Digital society, public services, education, and wellbeing, including digital transformation in government, digital education, digital health and social care, and civic or socially responsible computing
• Computing for space and satellite systems, including data, software, networks, and AI for space-enabled applications

This list is not exhaustive, and we encourage applications from candidates whose work complements or extends the School’s existing strengths. You will hold a doctoral qualification and demonstrate an established record of research excellence, including sustained publication in high-quality venues and success in securing external research funding. You will bring a clear and compelling research vision, with the ability to lead and grow research activity, build collaborations, and contribute to the strategic development of the School and University.

As a Professor, you will be expected to provide academic leadership and mentorship, supporting the development of early- and mid-career colleagues, including those appointed through the School’s parallel recruitment at Lecturer and Assistant Professor levels. You will also contribute to high-quality teaching and supervision, curriculum development, and engagement with external partners across academia, industry, government, and the public sector.

We recognise that academic excellence and leadership can take different forms and welcome applications from candidates with diverse career trajectories, including interdisciplinary, applied, and impact-focused profiles. Successful candidates will join a supportive and collegial School at a time of significant growth, with opportunities to contribute to major research initiatives, shape new programmes, and build lasting collaborations across the University and beyond.

Further Information

If you would like an informal discussion about this role, please contact Professor Shaun Lawson, Head of School, in the first instance. Further information about the requirements of this role is available in the associated person specification. We welcome applications from the UK and across the world. Visit our web pages for details about Relocation Assistance. To apply for this vacancy please click “Apply Now”. Your application should include a covering letter and a CV, with research/education statements, a list of grants and a publications list. Please highlight your best four research outputs since 2021. For your most recent grants please include the grant title, funder reference, funder, amount, and your role. Copies of your top two research outputs (typically a PDF of a Journal/Conference paper or Book Chapter) should be provided.

This opportunity is open to applications from internal candidates who do not hold a current substantive academic role at Northumbria. Current academic colleagues with a substantive role are encouraged to consider options to progress via the Academic Development Review process.

About Us

Join Northumbria University, a research-intensive institution unlocking potential and changing lives locally and globally. Named Times Higher Education's University of the Year in 2022 and Modern University of the Year in 2025, we rank top 25 in the UK for research power. With over 37,000 students from over 140 countries, we offer world-leading research, award-winning partnerships, and an outstanding student experience. We empower our exceptional staff, promoting a positive work-life balance and offering great benefits, including excellent pension schemes, flexible working, generous holiday entitlement and more. Our Northumbria Values — Academic Excellence, Innovation, Inclusivity, Collaboration, and Ambition — guide our work culture: we listen and learn, support one another, respect everyone, trust each other, and are bold. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne and London, we are an on-campus organisation with flexible hours and locations where the role allows. We pride ourselves on diversity and inclusivity, holding numerous awards for gender and race equality, disability confidence, and research excellence. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award and are members of Euraxess to support professional researchers. The University supports flexible working arrangements and is happy to explore candidate requirements as part of the recruitment process.