Assistant Professor (Faculty Position in Computer Science)

The University of Central Asia (UCA) is a world-class centre for knowledge and learning, connecting isolated rural communities with the global community and building human capital needed for modern economies and stable governance.

The mission of UCA is to promote the social and economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain communities, by offering an internationally recognised standard of higher education and enabling the peoples of the region to preserve their rich cultural heritage as assets for the future.

UCA's undergraduate programmes are located in world-class residential campuses in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan, and Khorog, Tajikistan, near the Tien Shan and Pamir mountains. The Tekeli campus, in the mountain ranges of Kazakhstan, is in the planning stage. In response to the needs of rural mountain communities, UCA has established its three Campuses away from major urban centres. They are on the historic Silk Road, and UCA hopes to be at the heart of the economic and intellectual transformation taking place in the region.

A private, not-for-profit, secular university, UCA was founded in 2000 through an International Treaty signed by the Presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan, and His Highness the Aga Khan, ratified by their respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations. In addition, UCA brings with it the broader commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the largest private development agencies in the world.

Full-Time Faculty Position in Computer Science: Assistant Professor

Programme: Computer Science

School: School of Arts and Sciences
Reports to: Associate Dean, Naryn Campus
Duty Station: Naryn Campus, Naryn, Kyrgyzstan
Application Deadline: 25 November 2025
Contract Period: Fixed term for 2 years, renewable with potential transition to open-ended contract after 2 years

Position Summary

The University of Central Asia (UCA) is excited to offer a full-time residential faculty position in the Department of Computer Science at our Naryn Campus. This is an excellent opportunity for early career academics and postdoctoral students, passionate about research and teaching, to contribute to a world-class undergraduate programme in Computer Science, originally developed in collaboration with the University of Toronto. As a faculty member, you will play an essential role in delivering cutting-edge courses, shaping an innovative curriculum, and developing a research agenda that drives both academic excellence and regional development.

The position offers an outstanding platform for developing an academic and professional profile at a young and emerging university. Well-supported by senior Faculty, our Centre for Teaching and Learning Technology, and experienced academic mentors from across the University, the appointed Faculty will also have the opportunity to engage in cross-disciplinary initiatives alongside UCA's Graduate School of Development, focusing on high-impact areas such as Digital Policy, Cybersecurity, and Data Science. We are particularly eager to encourage applications from early-career female scholars, supporting their contributions to advancing the field of Computer Science.

This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a growing institution with ambitious goals for regional impact and academic excellence. If you are a passionate, innovative, ambitious early career educator and researcher, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Teaching: Deliver courses across the Computer Science undergraduate curriculum, including courses on theoretical foundations, applied programming, and hardware concepts. Engage students through interactive lessons, hands-on projects, and practical lab work.
• Curriculum Development: Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of the Computer Science curriculum, ensuring it remains at the forefront of global advancements in the field.
• Research: Develop individual research initiatives that align with UCA's mission to drive regional development, especially in the areas of technology, innovation, and sustainability and contribute to joint research initiatives with senior faculty and with industrial partners regionally and internationally.
• Collaboration and community engagement: Engage with and learn from other academic programs at UCA, particularly those focused on Data Science, Cybersecurity, Digital Policy and the development of the Central Asian Data Hub, through UCA's Graduate School of Development.

• Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. from a reputable university with specialization in Computer Science or Computer Engineering and a clear potential for high-level research, particularly in collaborative settings.
• Fluency in English is required but further support in English language acquisition can be provided for outstanding candidates with more limited English.
• Potential to develop a profile of national and international repute in research publication, knowledge exchange, impact and grant capture.

• Why Join UCA?

• Impactful Teaching and Research: Contribute to an academic institution that is dedicated to fostering innovation and development in Central Asia and beyond.
• Collaboration and Growth: Be part of a diverse, interdisciplinary academic environment, with opportunities for collaboration and research across multiple fields of societal relevance.
• Regional Leadership: Lead the development of innovative solutions to regional challenges in climate adaptation, sustainable development, technology, data science, and digital policy.
• Support for Female Scholars: UCA is deeply committed to supporting female scholars in STEM fields, providing opportunities to further advance gender equity in academia.

• Teaching experience requirements:

• Demonstrated subject knowledge across diverse core and elective courses;
• A demonstrated commitment to teaching and student learning experience. At least 2 years of teaching experience at the undergraduate level is expected, including as Teaching Assistant during previous studies;
• Willingness to and/or experience of using innovative teaching methods and evaluation methodologies;
• The priority will be given to candidates who have experience in teaching the following courses:
• Web and Internet Technologies
• Database Management Systems
• Digital Logic and Design
• Operating Systems
• Engage with the development of postgraduate programmes.

• Research experience requirements:

• The ability to publish research in web of sciences impact factor journals, Scopus indexed journals, ACM and AAAI conferences, NeurIPS, ICML or other top computer science venues;
• Regular attendance and experience with presenting at international conferences desirable;
• Aware of current and future industry trends; strong network of industry contacts to support internship programs, project collaborations and industrial mentoring;
• Interest in publishing research papers and working on research projects with undergraduate students.
• Experience in grant capture would be beneficial and a willingness to develop these attributes essential;
• Awareness of current and future industry trends and a willingness to engage with the public and private sector;

• How to Apply

  Ready to join our team? We kindly invite you to submit your application for this position by clicking the Apply button on this page. To facilitate a smooth application process, please create an account on our website. Be assured that the account setup and application steps are straightforward.
  Candidates from the founding countries of UCA: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan are encouraged to apply for the position.
  Applications will be reviewed when received. Early applications are strongly encouraged. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

  
  
  Education level: Doctorate
  
  Work experience: 4-5 years
  
  Start contract date: 14-11-25