Job Summary

The Statistics Department in the Bailey College of Science and Mathematics at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, is seeking applications to fill multiple full-time, academic year, tenure track positions with appointment beginning August 17, 2026.

The successful candidate will join Cal Poly’s Statistics Department and contribute to teaching, scholarship, and service while also engaging in cross-disciplinary collaborations. Successful candidates must be committed to high-quality undergraduate and graduate education, with the ability to teach a range of statistics courses, including service courses, upper-division electives, and graduate-level courses. As scholars, faculty are expected to engage in quality scholarship as evidenced by external validation. As colleagues, faculty are encouraged to contribute service at all levels of the University, including department, college, university, and professional service. Opportunities exist to engage with the new interdisciplinary B.S. in Data Science program, jointly offered with the Computer Science and Mathematics departments, which will launch in Fall 2027, as well as with initiatives across the Bailey College of Science & Mathematics and the Noyce School of Applied Computing. The preferred candidate will also contribute to the growth of the Statistics Department’s M.S. program by mentoring graduate students and advising thesis research.

The typical teaching assignment is seven 3-unit semester courses per year on a 4–3 load, with opportunities for adjustments based on research mentoring, supervision of M.S. theses, or external funding. Teaching responsibilities will include courses at various levels of statistics for both majors and non-majors, upper-division electives, and graduate-level courses, with the possibility of developing new courses in the candidate’s area of specialty.

Appointment at the Assistant Professor rank is anticipated; higher ranks will be considered. Rank and salary are commensurate with qualifications and experience of the individual selected.

• If appointed at the Assistant Professor rank, the anticipated hiring range is $97,788 - $107,628.
•  If appointed at the Associate Professor rank, the anticipated hiring range is $112,500 - $118,524.

Bailey College is committed to maintaining the excellence of the University and to offering our students a rich variety of expertise, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning. The successful candidate will be mindful to promote student success. Successful candidates should consider the University’s goals in their approach to teaching, research, and service.

Cal Poly embraces a teacher-scholar model in which faculty are expected to be excellent teachers, produce scholarship in their field of interest, and provide service to the institution. The selected candidate will consider using creative teaching approaches that enhance student learning and participate in scholarly practices such as peer-reviewed research, conference presentations, and grant development that leads to publication. The selected candidate will pursue a systematic program of research and scholarship, curricular improvement, and participate in service activities including committee service, student advising, and building industry relationships.

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience and commitment to excellence in teaching statistics at the university level.
• Expertise in an area compatible with or broadening the research activities of the department.
• Experience with data science or other cross-disciplinary collaboration.
• Experience supervising student research.

Special Conditions

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Note: Cal Poly cannot deny an applicant a position solely or in part due to a criminal conviction history until it has performed an individualized assessment and linked the relevant conviction history with specific job duties in the position being sought.

Please note: Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive. Sensitive positions are those requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to Cal Poly or individuals in the university community.

For health and well-being, Cal Poly is a smoke & tobacco-free campus. The university is committed to promoting a healthy environment for all members of our community.

About the Department

The Statistics Department offers a B.S. in Statistics, an M.S. in Statistics, and minor programs in statistics and actuarial preparation, as well as a cross-disciplinary minor in data science in partnership with the Computer Science Department. In Fall 2027, the department will launch a B.S. in Data Science jointly with the Mathematics and Computer Science Departments. The department also provides support courses for most majors at Cal Poly, contributes many courses to the general education program, and operates a statistical consulting service in support of campus scholarship activities.

The Statistics Department is an affiliate of the newly established Noyce School of Applied Computing at Cal Poly, an interdisciplinary school that creates opportunities for students and faculty to use computing and statistical principles, concepts, and technologies to address real-world problems. As an affiliate, the department has access to additional resources for teaching and applied research, further supporting faculty and student success.

The department faculty includes 24 tenured/tenure-track faculty and 13 lecturers. For more information, please see https://statistics.calpoly.edu.

 About the University

Founded in 1901, Cal Poly is one of only five comprehensive polytechnic universities in the nation, with approximately 22,000 undergraduates, 120 postbaccalaureate, and 900 graduate students. U.S. News and World Report has ranked Cal Poly #1 among public master's universities in the western United States for 28 consecutive years. A primarily undergraduate university, Cal Poly offers academically focused students 66 baccalaureate degrees and 27 master's degrees. Operating on the semester calendar system as of August 2026, Cal Poly takes pride in its "Learn-by-Doing" approach to teaching and learning, which has characterized Cal Poly since its founding. One of the 22 campuses of the California State University system, Cal Poly has a statewide mandate as a polytechnic university. Cal Poly is one of the largest land-holding universities in the nation and uses all of its land holdings in active support of its educational programs. Cal Poly is located in historic San Luis Obispo, a city of 47,000, 12 miles from the Pacific Ocean and midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California's scenic Central Coast. With excellent public education resources, recreational facilities and an expanding dedication to the arts, the area is known for its scenic landscapes and extraordinarily temperate climate.

 Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

This position is open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. Cal Poly complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

Cal Poly is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At Cal Poly, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

How to Apply

Interested candidates must submit the following documents:

1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
3. Research Plan - The research plan provides an opportunity to outline your proposed research agenda and demonstrate your expertise and potential as a researcher in the field of statistics at Cal Poly.
4. Universal Student Success Statement - Cal Poly is a public, student-centered university that serves the diverse constituents of the state of California and has a strong emphasis on the teacher-scholar model. Please detail your approach to teaching and learning at the collegiate level, including any evidence of experience with inclusive, accessible, and intentional teaching, to a wide variety of students and a description of how you will continue to develop this expertise at Cal Poly. Service or scholarship related to skills developed in these areas might also be included here. In your discussion of your approach to teaching, please also give particular attention to your philosophy, goals, and specific pedagogical strategies for teaching statistics to service students, majors, and graduate students.
5. Unofficial graduate transcript(s) as one document.  

These documents are not accepted in hard copy format. When completing the online faculty application, please be prepared to provide three professional references with names and email addresses. Official transcripts are required prior to appointment.

Review of applications will begin November 14, 2025. Complete applications received after that date may be considered. For questions, please contact statisticsdepartment@calpoly.edu.