Associate Professor in Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing (Social Media Analytics) in Bristol

This position is based in Australia. The opportunity is to join the School of Computer Science and Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at UNSW as an Associate Professor in a Teaching and Research role. As an Associate Professor, you will be a senior academic leader at one of Australia’s premier computer science schools, contributing to and shaping the strategic direction of research and education in Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing.

You will drive high-impact research with national and international visibility across areas such as large language models, social media analytics, and the application of AI and NLP to understanding and improving online information ecosystems, including social media platforms and digital communication environments. You will play a key role in advancing the School’s research profile, industry engagement, and educational excellence.

With established strengths in machine learning, large language models, data science, cybersecurity, and distributed systems, UNSW offers an exceptional environment for ambitious academics who are ready to lead innovative programs, mentor emerging researchers, and contribute to institutional strategy, governance, and interdisciplinary collaboration. You will help advance the future of intelligent, trustworthy, and responsible AI systems.

This is an opportunity to join a global leader in Computer Science, with cutting-edge facilities, world-class faculty, and an innovative research environment. With strong industry partnerships and a commitment to sustainability, UNSW provides unparalleled opportunities for leadership, collaboration, and impact.

About You

You are an established academic with a strong and sustained track record of high-impact research in Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing, and a growing national or international reputation in your field. You bring expertise in areas such as large language models, social media analytics, model alignment, and interpretability, with an interest in applying these to real-world challenges in online information ecosystems and demonstrate the ability to translate research into real-world impact.

With a proven ability to secure competitive research funding, lead research initiatives, and supervise higher degree research students to successful completion, you are also an engaging and effective educator, with experience delivering high-quality teaching and contributing to curriculum development. As a senior academic, you will demonstrate clear leadership within your discipline, including contributing to strategic initiatives, academic governance, or program development. You are collaborative, forward-thinking, and motivated to build strong partnerships across academia and industry.

Skills & Experience

• A PhD in a related discipline, and/or relevant work experience.
• Proven commitment to proactively keeping up to date with discipline knowledge and developments.
• Demonstrated experience in teaching and learning design using a range of pedagogical approaches, development and delivery of courses and programs, at undergraduate and/or postgraduate level.
• Experience of implementing educational technologies and online delivery methods.
• Evidence of teaching effectiveness and passion for educational excellence and fostering this in others.
• Demonstrated experience with industry or work-integrated learning.
• Evidence of professional development of teaching practice in self and others with the ability to advance and lead an inclusive culture of excellence in learning and teaching.
• Demonstrated success in initiating curriculum development and improvement.
• Evidence of highly developed interpersonal and organisational skills.
• Evidence of ability to support and inspire students from diverse backgrounds and support student equity diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Significant track record in research leadership with outcomes of high quality and high international impact with clear evidence of the desire and ability to continually achieve research excellence and deliver research leadership.
• Excellent record of recruiting and supervising high calibre students.
• Demonstrated leadership in building engagement and partnerships with the profession and industry.
• An understanding of and commitment to UNSW’s aims, objectives and values in action, together with relevant policies and guidelines.
• Knowledge of health and safety responsibilities and commitment to attending relevant health and safety training.

UNSW is committed to evolving a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can participate fairly, in a safe and respectful environment. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse gender, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff.