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Professor of Statistics (RISE-AI)

University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI · Full time

Posted Oct 31, 2025 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell us about your research and the scientific problem it addresses.

What they are checking: Whether their research matters to science or society, which the posting emphasizes.

How do you mentor undergraduates in research?

What they are checking: Whether they invest in student-centered teaching and mentoring, as the college values.

Tell me about an interdisciplinary collaboration that worked well.

What they are checking: Whether they can work with scientists in other fields, which the role requires.

What service roles have you held, and what would you take on here?

What they are checking: Whether they are ready for senior service expected of a tenured professor.

What would you do

What graduate course would you want to teach, and why?

What they are checking: Whether they can contribute to graduate training in a highly ranked department.

How do you handle a collaborator who wants a result your analysis does not support?

What they are checking: Whether they protect scientific integrity under pressure.

About the work

How does your work connect to artificial intelligence under the RISE-AI initiative?

What they are checking: Whether they can contribute to the campus AI effort with real statistical depth.

How do you teach statistics to undergraduates who are not statistics majors?

What they are checking: Whether they can make statistics engaging for a broad audience.

How do you decide which journals or conferences to target for your work?

What they are checking: Whether they understand publishing across statistics, data science and related fields.

How do you keep your methods relevant as data science changes quickly?

What they are checking: Whether they keep learning and adapting their research.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Job Category: Faculty Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Professor Job Summary: The highly ranked Department of Statistics is seeking excellent candidates for a tenured faculty position in the area of statistics. In this position, the incumbent is expected to engage in research related to scientific problems with substantial importance in science and/or society. The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to a fair environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community. Successful applicants will teach undergraduate and graduate statistics courses, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, publish results in academic journals in statistics, data science, and closely related fields and present them at national and international meetings, and participate in professional and university service and outreach. Successful applicants will participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with other departments, schools and colleges. This position is part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student and educational opportunities, RISE addresses complex societal challenges of importance to the state, nation and world. Building on UW-Madison's strengths, RISE expands the University's successful track record of connecting with communities and industry on collaborative solutions. Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration. Further information regarding RISE can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/ The University of Wisconsin-Madison ranks among the top universities in the country in research expenditures and provides excellent support for faculty seeking external funding. Internal research support is available from funds provided by the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. The Department of Statistics is experiencing rapid expansion as part of the university's substantial investment in data science. This growth is centered within the newly formed School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences (CDIS), which officially opened its state-of-the-art new building in August 2025 ( https://cdis.wisc.edu/building/ ). The department is also home to the Data Science major, which is the university's fastest-growing program (learn more about CDIS here: https://cdis.wisc.edu/ ). Our field and our department are growing rapidly, fueling our excitement for the future of our discipline . The Department has 36 regular faculty members, over 100 PhD students, over 100 MS students, and around 1800 undergraduate majors in statistics and data science. Some faculty members have joint appointments in other departments. The Department is well known for its strong interplay between statistical theory, methodology , and practice. Madison is the state's capitol city and is well known for offering a small town feel in a medium sized city. It is a great place to raise a family and offers an ideal combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural events, outstanding schools and outdoor recreation. In the College of Letters & Science, we provide a liberal arts education that is both broad and deep through excellent, empathic teaching. We hire faculty who are interested in pursuing difficult questions , making new discoveries, and making an impact in their field. We reward excellent teaching and classroom innovation, and we are committed to shared governance. Learn more about the L&S mission on our webpage: https://ls.wisc.edu/about/mission . Key Job Responsibilities: Successful applicants will teach undergraduate and graduate statistics courses, mentor students, conduct scholarly research, publish results in academic journals in statistics, data science, and closely related fields and present them at national and international meetings; and participate in professional and university service and outreach. Department: College of Letters and Science, Department of Statistics Compensation: Negotiable – 9 months / ongoing / renewable Required Qualifications: Demonstrated excellence or demonstrated potential for excellence in statistical research, very broadly defined. Interest and ability to teach at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Ability to interact with an interdisciplinary and collaborative intellectual community. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience with fostering teaching, learning, departmental, and a research environment where all can thrive. Education: PhD in Statistics or similar by appointment start date How to Apply: Apply online at "Jobs at UW" ( http://jobs.wisc.edu ) under Job Requisition JR10005191 . Applications must be received through UW- Madison's online application system. Applications submitted outside of this system will not be considered. Click the "Apply Now" button to start the application process . The application should include the following 4 documents: 1) a letter of application, which should address the applicant's suitability for the RISE-AI initiative and research experience related to scientific problems with substantial importance in science and/or society , 2) a detailed resume/CV and a copy of university transcripts, 3) a teaching and mentoring statement, 4) a research statement that includes a summary of dissertation and publications. A pplicants who move forward in the process will receive an email requesting the names and contact information for three references; each reference will receive an electronic link through which they can upload a signed letter of reference . At least one of the letters should address the applicant's effectiveness as a teacher . For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59pm on December 8,2025. Applications will be accepted until position is filled. Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant’s dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant’s ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of the application materials must be created by the applicant and may include supporting letters . It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others . Contact Information: Matthias Katzfuss Phone: 608-263-8531 Email: mkatzfuss@wisc.edu Institutional Statement on Diversity: Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website . To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department .

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