Description
University College Cork is an internationally renowned university where excellence in teaching and research is aligned with an inclusive and respectful environment, where all staff and students can flourish and thrive. Founded in 1845, UCC is a comprehensive research-intensive institution comprising four academic Colleges, delivering a rich tradition of collaborative teaching, research and scholarship that has true global impact. UCC has over 26,000 students from over 130 countries and over 3,000 diverse staff from all over the world. UCC is ranked in the top 1.5% of global universities (https://www.ucc.ie/en/discover/rankings/), ranked 1st in the world for sustainability and the top Irish university for research impact and industry collaboration. UCC has a firm commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion as demonstrated by a recent silver Athena Swan award. UCC is located on a beautiful, green urban campus within walking distance of the city centre of Cork. Cork is the vibrant second city of the Republic of Ireland, with one of the world's largest natural harbours and a beautiful Atlantic coastline, offering extensive recreational opportunities in close proximity of the city.
In its most recent strategic plan, UCC has designated one of its 10 strategic research areas, its Futures, on AI and Data Analytics (https://www.ucc.ie/en/futures/aidataanalytics/). Machine Learning plays a core role in the Future on AI and Data Analytics.
UCC now wishes to appoint a Professor/Chair of Machine Learning to strengthen its Futures in AI and Data Analytics. The new Professor/Chair in Machine Learning will report to the Head of School of Computer Science and Information Technology and liaise closely with the Director of the Futures in AI and Data Analytics in respect to research.
The Professor/Chair for Machine Learning has the opportunity to become involved in ongoing national AI/ML activities through the Insight Centre (to become the DANU Centre in 2027), the new national AI Centre, as well as other national centres such as CeADAR, and leverage our existing networks within major EU AI programmes. The School of Computer Science and IT (CSIT) and the Insight Centre for Data Analytics have heavily invested in infrastructure to support research in machine learning foundations and applications. CSIT has also been building strategic partnerships with independent commercial and international (EU funded) HPC providers, including several AI Factories. UCC CSIT, through its Insight Centre for Data Analytics, is involved in all national and significant EU AI initiatives such as the AI4EU programme. This will offer the Professor/Chair of Machine Learning the opportunity to engage with the Irish and European AI and Machine Learning community in collaborative research. To support the Professor/Chair of Machine Learning in kick-starting their activities, the University/School will negotiate a start-up package, details to be discussed with the successful applicant. The Professor will also initially be assigned a reduced teaching load to allow them to startup their research activities in UCC.
Requirements
We are looking for a world-class scientist with expertise in the foundations of machine learning and its applications to deep learning and the ability and desire to:
- develop and lead research and teaching activities in the broad area of Machine Learning
- establish and manage a significant world-class research team supported by competitively won research funding; including the supervision of research students at PhD level
- publish in leading journals, including the top IEEE, ACM and Elsevier journals, and conferences such as NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR
- develop and strengthen links between Computer Science and key industry players working in and applying AI and Machine Learning, both locally and internationally, and proactively interacting with such industry with a view to developing research, teaching and outreach activities of mutual benefit
- take up leadership roles in the school, including serving as Head of School
- take leadership roles in Machine Learning across the University, nationally and internationally
- contribute to the overall strategic development of the school
- represent the school at internal and external events.
Application details
For an information package including full details of the post, selection criteria and application process see https://ore.ucc.ie/. The University, at its discretion, may undertake to make an additional appointment(s) from this competition following the conclusion of the process.
Informal enquiries can be made in confidence to Professor Dirk Pesch, Email: dirk.pesch@ucc.ie
For further information on the School of Computer Science and Information Technology is available https://www.ucc.ie/en/compsci/
University College Cork is committed to being a fully inclusive global university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are core values under our UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028. UCC holds a Silver Athena SWAN award in recognition of our commitment to advancing equality in higher education. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of age, care-giving status, disability, ethnicity, gender and/or gender identity or expression status, nationality, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion/creed, and/or sexual orientation. We are committed to supporting all staff through flexible working schemes, family-friendly policies, training and development, and staff networks. We value the enrichment that comes from a diverse community and seek to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of each individual in line with equality legislation. We encourage applicants to consult our Dignity and Respect Policy and learn more about our EDI related initiatives .
UCC remote working policy: https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/hr/policies/Work-LifeBalance-RemoteWorking-Feb25.pdf
Appointment may be made on the Professor Salary Scale: €144,298 - €182,426 (Scale B) / €137,083 - €176,166 (Scale A).
Salary placement on appointment will be in accordance with public sector pay policy.
We encourage you to reach out to us directly should you require assistance or reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process.
Please note interviews will be conducted either online via Microsoft Teams or in person in the first instance. Candidates may also be required to attend interviews in person if an interview takes place online. Candidates will be notified as appropriate**.**
Applications must be submitted online via the University College Cork vacancy portal (https://ore.ucc.ie/). Queries relating to the online application process should be referred to recruitment@ucc.ie, quoting the job-title.
Candidates should apply, in confidence, before 12 noon (Irish Local Time) on Tuesday, 14th April 2026
No late applications will be accepted.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER
Please note that an appointment to posts advertised will be dependent on University approval, together with the terms of the employment control framework for the higher education sector
Contact Person : Professor Dirk Pesch Contact Email : dirk.pesch@ucc.ie
Job ID : 094933 Contact Number :
Close Date : 14-Apr-2026 12:00
