"Assistant Professor – Environmental, Risk, or Science Communication"

Advertised Job Summary

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SJMC) invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Environmental, Risk, or Science Communication with an expected start date of August 16, 2026. We seek a scholar-teacher whose program of research advances theory and practice in environmental, risk, and science communication, with strengths that complement our school and college. This position is also part of a Presidential-level cluster hiring initiative focused on water quality, environmental health, and disaster preparedness. The successful candidate will conduct original research, teach undergraduate and graduate courses, pursue external funding, mentor students, and engage in service to the school, college, university, and profession.

We welcome a wide range of expertise in environmental, risk, or science communication. Areas of interest include one or more of the following: media coverage and representation of science and environmental issues; communication in the context of hazards, weather events, risks, and uncertainty; science and environmental communication campaigns; information integrity and trust in public communication of science and environmental risk, including the role of digital platforms and social media; the use of artificial intelligence, data analytics, forecasting, or visualization to advance public understanding of science; strategic communication and public relations in science and environmental contexts; and innovative approaches such as immersive media, interactive platforms, visual storytelling for scientific uncertainty, or participatory models to support informed decision-making. We are especially interested in scholars whose work centers on water quality and communication related to water resources, with potential connections to environmental change, weather-related hazards, or disaster preparedness, in ways that support the university’s broader efforts in these areas.

The ideal candidate will enhance the school’s reputation in environmental, risk, and science communication through innovative research, high-quality teaching, and meaningful collaboration.

The College of Information and Communications

The College of Information and Communications (CIC) is home to two internationally recognized schools, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SJMC) and the School of Information Science (iSchool), along with the new interdisciplinary unit of Information and Communication Studies. Together these entities advance research, teaching, and outreach across a wide spectrum of communication and information domains. The CIC is distinctive in combining communication, information science, and interdisciplinary study under one umbrella, uniting rapidly evolving fields around the belief that information access and effective communication are cornerstones of self-governance and civic life. The college enrolls approximately 2,200 undergraduates and 500 graduate students and is supported by more than 150 faculty and staff members. Faculty and students benefit from state-of-the-art resources such as the Social Media Insights Lab and the Biometric and User Experience Lab, which support the study of media, data, and their influence on society. The new unit, Information and Communication Studies, further expands the college’s programs through undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates in communication, data and communication, health communication, and information security and cyber leadership.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications

The School of Journalism and Mass Communications (SJMC) enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduates and 120 graduate students across programs in advertising, public relations, broadcast journalism, journalism, mass communication, sports media, and visual communication, as well as several interdisciplinary minors. The SJMC also offers a research-oriented master’s program in theory and research, a professionally focused master’s program, and a Ph.D. in mass communication. Faculty combine scholarly and professional expertise to advance communication research and practice in ways that prepare students for leadership in media, strategic communication, and related fields.

Required Education and Experience

• Ph.D. in Environmental, Risk, or Science Communication, Mass Communication, Communication Studies, Communication, Journalism, or a related field by the start date of employment. ABDs will be considered, with the Ph.D. required at the time of appointment.
• An emerging record of scholarly publications or creative activity in environmental, risk, or science communication.

Preferred Qualifications

• Evidence of, or strong potential for, excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Demonstrated potential for securing external research funding.

Desired Start Date

08/16/2026