Plaksha invites applications for tenure-track positions at the Assistant, Associate and full Professor levels from candidates with a Ph.D. from a world-class institution in disciplines including computer science, mathematics, economics, business, operations research or related fields; interest and experience in interdisciplinary topics such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, data science and their intersection with economics, business, finance, policy and development; and a track record of creating impactvia research, innovation in teaching, industry practice or entrepreneurial ventures.
Plaksha will be launching with four key focus areas to begin with, viz, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence; Robotics and Cyber-Physical Systems; Biological Systems Engineering; and Data Science, Business and Economics. Undergraduate programs in these four major areas will commence in Fall 2021. Plaksha also offers a distinctive postgraduate program, ‘Tech Leaders Fellowship’ which is in its second year. We also expect to launch Ph. D. programs by 2022. An institute-wide Data Science initiative will also be rolled out, which will have cross-cutting applications to thematic research centers anchored around grand challenges.
Data Science, Business and Economics will be a first-of-a-kind interdisciplinary program with a strong core in data science synergistic with the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence area, blended with an introduction to how humans think, behave and make decisions (including microeconomics & behavioral economics), how our society works (including anthropological and cultural underpinnings), how economic and financial markets operate (including digital platforms & markets), and data privacy and ethical considerations. Towards the later semesters, students may choose to concentrate in a ‘track’ among options such as Digital transformation, Data analytics for policy, or Financial engineering.
Key faculty responsibilities include teaching and mentoring students at the Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral level, implementing project-based and experiential learning experiences, and helping to realize the mission of Plaksha through the establishment of research centers and laboratories of global eminence that have a deep and far reaching impact on economy and society. In line with the vision of the university, we specifically seek founding faculty members with the following characteristics:
Faculty who are inspired, creative and passionate about what and how they teach, who truly enjoy teaching and mentoring students, and are highly committed to student learning and success.
A willingness to embrace Plaksha’s vision of reimagining education by adopting new pedagogical methods, including in teacher training, education workflows, course formats, and the role of technology in teaching and learning.
A strong commitment and track record in one or more of the following:
Research framed by grand challenges of India and the world in the 21st century
Research with impact on industry, public policy, practice, sustainable development etc.
Making inventions/ commercializing technology/software or other entrepreneurial experience
Experience in leading companies, or other significant industrial/corporate experience
Innovative pedagogy and/or scholarship of education and/or interdisciplinary education
An interdisciplinary mindset, in the broadest sense, recognizing the need for partnerships between social sciences, humanities, business and STEM disciplines, and willingness to learn from colleagues with different perspectives.
A passion for institution-building with a desire for continuous improvement, entrepreneurial mindset and a can-do attitude.
A willingness to work in a team, by accepting others’ ideas, partnering, leading or following, as needed to accomplish team objectives.
Faculty members at Plaksha will receive several benefits, including but not limited to, competitive joining packages and salaries, seed grants for research, attractive IPR and consultancy policies, mentorship opportunities from members of an eminent global Academic Advisory Board and other members of the Plaksha family, collaboration and partnerships with industry and entrepreneurs, along with the opportunity to contribute to and create research labs and centers.
We are committed to maintaining diversity and welcome applications from all nationalities. Plaksha is committed to supporting dual career couples and has dedicated staff to help with transitioning the faculty’s family to living in Chandigarh, including help with schools, housing, connecting to the larger community etc.
Applicants should send their (1) Cover letter (2) CV (3) Teaching statement expressing their views on interdisciplinary education, (4) Research statement, (5) A page on statement of impact describing their academic, entrepreneurial and industrial experience, and (6) a list of three to five references.
There is no deadline for faculty position applications, rather applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting February 2021. The appointment dates are flexible and will start as early as Spring 2021. For more information and access to the application portal, please visit: www.plaksha.org/faculty. You may also contact us via email at faculty@plaksha.org for any questions.
About Plaksha University
Plaksha University (www.plaksha.org), founded by a group of philanthropists, professionals, technology entrepreneurs and professors of global eminence, is a new university being set up in Chandigarh, Punjab, India in Fall 2021. It is being set up through collective philanthropy of over 60 reputed professionals and entrepreneurs across the world, many of whom were pivotal in creating Ashoka University.
Plaksha will be a multidisciplinary University anchored around technology. Our vision is to create ethical problem solvers and fearless leaders who will solve the toughest challenges of India and the world. We aspire to build a unique and diversified, intellectually vibrant, dynamic community of scholars, researchers, academicians and scientists from all over the world who are keen to break new grounds in fields ranging across engineering, basic sciences and the intersection of technology and business, while incorporating an entrepreneurial mindset for deep and far-reaching impact on the economy and society.
The vision is being guided by an eminent 15-member Academic Advisory Board including Dr. Abhijit Banerjee (Co-Founder, J-PAL; Professor of Economics, MIT), Dr. Anant Ag...arwal (CEO, edX; Professor of EECS, MIT), Dr. Ashish Nanda (Former Director of IIM Ahmedabad; Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School), Dr. Kaushik Basu (Professor of Economics & International Studies, Cornell University); Dr. Shankar Sastry (Former Dean of Engineering, Professor of EECS, UC Berkeley), Dr. Sriram Rajamani, MD of Microsoft Research Labs India.
Plaksha has formal academic partnerships with the University of California, Berkeley, Purdue University and SRI International (erstwhile Stanford Research Institute). The scope of these partnerships includes joint research, curriculum design, as well as faculty and student exchange.
The Plaksha campus is being built with top international architects to be a model for interdisciplinary, experiential learning, research and entrepreneurship. The 50-acre campus nestles in the foothills of the Himalayas, in the Chandigarh tricity, Punjab. It is within 10-minutes of the Chandigarh International Airport which has an expanding portfolio of direct international flights, 2-hour drive from some of India’s most emblematic hill stations, and a 4-hour drive from New Delhi. The city is designed and planned by the famous French architect Le Corbusier and is among India’s most modern cities. Plaksha is in close proximity to other top research institutions such as Indian School of Business (ISB), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), IIT Ropar and an upcoming innovation corridor.
Plaksha will be launching with four key focus areas to begin with, viz, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence; Robotics and Cyber-Physical Systems; Biological Systems Engineering; and Data Science, Business and Economics. Undergraduate programs in these four major areas will commence in Fall 2021. Plaksha also offers a distinctive postgraduate program, ‘Tech Leaders Fellowship’ which is in its second year. Ph.D. programs will be rolled out within 2-3 years. An institute-wide Data Science initiative will also be rolled out, which will have cross-cutting applications to thematic research centers anchored around grand challenges.