Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs in Illinois
Assistant Or Associate Professor jobs in Illinois concentrate heavily in higher education, research, and the life sciences, with the state's dense network of universities and medical schools creating sustained demand at both the assistant and associate levels. Chicago, Urbana-Champaign, and Evanston anchor the largest share of openings, where institutions like the University of Illinois System, Northwestern University, and the University of Chicago maintain ongoing faculty searches. The most in-demand specialties include STEM disciplines, business, and health sciences, reflecting Illinois's research university strengths and its proximity to major corporate and hospital partners. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Assistant or Associate Professor – IDS (Enterprise AI & Systems)
Hiring Department: Information and Decision Sciences
Location: Chicago, IL USA
Requisition ID: 1042271
Posting Close Date: December 6, 2026
Salary: The budgeted salary range for this position is $185,000 - $250,000 annually. Salary is commensurate with experience and rank.
About the University of Illinois Chicago
UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.
This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.
About the Department
The Department of Information and Decision Sciences in the College of Business Administration at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) focuses on analytics and artificial intelligence, information systems, and operations management. The department faculty oversee a PhD program, several master’s programs, and an undergraduate major, as well as teach courses in the full-time MBA and other college-wide programs. Tenure-track faculty in the department routinely publish in top-tier journals, as well as collaborate with industry and other colleges in the university. Located in downtown Chicago, UIC benefits from a vibrant ecosystem of universities, large firms, and startups, along with the city’s established strengths in logistics, finance, and technology and growing investment in AI and quantum computing.
Position Summary
The IDS department invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track or tenured faculty position at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank in Enterprise AI & Systems starting in August 2027. We seek candidates whose research and teaching address the development, deployment, and management of artificial intelligence, including (but not limited to) agentic AI and multi-agent systems, AI-augmented software development, the orchestration, reliability, and evaluation of AI systems, and the economic, operational, and societal implications of enterprise AI.
Duties & Responsibilities
- Conduct high-quality research with the goal of publishing in top-tier outlets in artificial intelligence, information systems, machine learning, interface of operations research and statistics, or related fields.
- Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in development, deployment, and management of AI and its supporting technology ecosystem; application development; agentic systems and markets, and related areas.
- Interact effectively with students, industry partners, and the broader business community.
Minimum Qualifications
- A Ph.D. (completed or near completion by the start date) in fields related to information and decision sciences such as computer science, information systems, operations research, statistics, or closely aligned areas.
- Demonstrated potential for high-quality research and publications in top-tier outlets.
- Evidence of, or potential for, effective teaching and strong communication skills.
- Associate Professor candidates must have a record of research, teaching, and service consistent with a senior-level faculty appointment at a research university.
Preferred Qualifications
- Research and teaching expertise in the AI, machine learning, applications, and modern software systems.
- Experience engaging with industry partners or applied AI deployments in business settings.
Application Instructions
PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW CAREFULLY
To apply, please complete an online application by 5 pm on December 6, 2026, and attach the supporting documents below. For fullest consideration, please apply by October 20, 2026.
- CV
- Cover Letter
- Research statement
- Teaching statement
- Job market paper
- Contact information for three references
Once you have submitted your application you will not be able to make any changes. To revise your application, you must withdraw and reapply. Please ensure the application is fully completed, and all supporting documents have been uploaded before the posting close date, as you will not be able to reapply after the posting close date.
Evaluation of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Offers of employment by the University of Illinois may be subject to approval by the University’s Board of Trustees and are made contingent upon the candidate’s successful completion of any criminal background checks and other pre-employment assessments that may be required for the position being offered. Additional information regarding such pre-employment checks and assessments may be provided as applicable during the hiring process.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.
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Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Assistant Or Associate Professor Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Healthcare & Medical Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in assistant or associate professor jobs across Illinois.
- Terminal degree such as a PhD or MFA required in the relevant discipline
- Active record of peer-reviewed research, publications, or creative scholarship
- Demonstrated teaching experience at the undergraduate or graduate level
- Illinois Board of Higher Education institutional accreditation compliance awareness preferred
- Experience advising graduate students or mentoring early-career researchers
- Strong record of external grant applications or funded research projects
Assistant Or Associate Professor Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a assistant or associate professor in Illinois?
You typically need a terminal degree in your field, most often a PhD, MFA, or equivalent, which is the baseline credential Illinois colleges and universities require before considering applicants. Illinois has no state-issued teaching license for faculty at the college level, so hiring is governed by each institution's own standards and accreditation requirements under the Higher Learning Commission. New faculty usually build their candidacy through postdoctoral work, strong publication records, and documented teaching experience before applying to open searches.
Which companies hire assistant or associate professors in Illinois?
Employers hiring assistant or associate professors in Illinois right now include SIU Medicine, University of Illinois, and University of Illinois Springfield, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's concentration of research universities, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges across the Chicago metro and Downstate regions means faculty openings appear year-round across a wide range of disciplines.
Which Illinois cities have the most assistant or associate professor jobs?
Springfield, Urbana, and Quincy account for the most assistant or associate professor openings in Illinois. Chicago drives the largest share because it is home to multiple major research universities, medical schools, and community college campuses, while Urbana-Champaign's concentration around the flagship University of Illinois campus sustains a consistently high volume of faculty searches, and Evanston's activity reflects Northwestern University's ongoing hiring across graduate and professional programs.
Are there remote assistant or associate professor jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they are less common than in purely desk-based fields because most faculty roles require on-campus teaching, lab supervision, and student interaction. About 0% of assistant or associate professor openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, which represents a meaningful minority rather than the norm. Online-focused programs and continuing education divisions at Illinois institutions tend to post the most fully remote faculty positions.
How can I get hired as a assistant or associate professor in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a postdoctoral fellowship or visiting instructor appointment, both of which Illinois research universities and liberal arts colleges use regularly to bring in early-career academics. Institutions across the University of Illinois System and Chicago-area private colleges often hire visiting assistant professors or instructors of record for candidates still completing dissertations. Teaching a course as an adjunct at a community college in the Illinois Community College System builds a classroom record and local professional connections that strengthen applications for tenure-track openings.
Where can I find and apply to assistant or associate professor jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to assistant or associate professor jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings tied to the state. Search the listings, identify the roles that fit your discipline and experience level, and apply directly to each one. No sign-up is needed to see the positions.
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