"CCIS - Assistant Professor, Tenure Track, Advertising and Public Relations - 528177"

Position Summary

Appointments to the faculty of The University of Alabama are based on the personnel requirements of the University’s academic programs and on the goal of achieving and maintaining excellence in its teaching, research, and service/academic citizenship activities. Desired expertise includes computational social science methods, social network analysis, AI-driven communication tools, large-scale social media data analysis, and data-informed content production. The successful candidate will advance understanding of digital technologies in advertising, public relations, and online public behavior through high-impact, theory-driven scholarship. Teaching responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate courses in digital communication and contribute meaningful service to the department, college, and university.

Detailed Position Information

The Department of Advertising & Public Relations in the College of Communication & Information Sciences at the University of Alabama seeks a nine-month tenure-track Assistant Professor whose expertise centers on digital communication strategy and analysis, with additional strengths in content production informed by computational evidence and network insights.

This position aligns with a high-impact research area where faculty expertise in computational communication, social media analytics, digital advocacy, and networked publics is rapidly elevating the national and international profile of the unit. The ideal candidate will pursue a rigorous, data-intensive research agenda focused on how digital technologies shape advertising, public relations, strategic communication, and online public behavior. A successful candidate will demonstrate expertise in one or more areas including:

• Computational social science methods, including large-scale social media data analysis and machine learning
• Social network analysis of influence, information diffusion, online advocacy, and digital publics
• AI-driven communication tools, including generative AI and algorithmic content systems
• Social media monitoring, digital trace data, and platform analytics
• Digital activism, crisis communication, and public policy communication in networked environments
• Emerging content creation tools and data-informed digital strategy

Applicants must display an ability to be an active and involved member of a highly collaborative faculty team. The successful hire will teach two courses each fall and spring semester, which may include undergraduate, Master's, and Ph.D. courses.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctorate in a communication-related field (e.g., advertising, public relations, marketing, communication, psychology, sociology) with at least one year of tenure-track experience at a research-intensive university.
• Scholarly activity in journals, university presses, or other publication outlets consistent with departmental expectations for the rank of assistant professor.
• Record of teaching effectiveness, including courses in public relations, and/or other communication-related fields.
• Potential for publishing digital communication strategy/analysis/content creation research that advances the department’s profile within the public relations discipline.

Preferred Qualifications

• Potential for and interest in leading collaborative research and/or grant teams that include but not are limited to fellow faculty and students in the Department of Advertising & Public Relations.
• Potential to attract extramural funding related to the intersection of digital communication strategy, analysis, and/or content production with advertising and/or public relations.
• Potential to develop and teach courses connecting advertising and/or public relations with the applicant's topical expertise in digital communication strategy, analysis, and/or content production.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application

To apply, go to https://careers.ua.edu/faculty and provide the following: 1. Cover letter highlighting how your research, teaching and service and/or leadership prepare you to contribute as a faculty leader in digital communication strategy, analysis, and/or content production and 2. Curriculum vitae. Applications submitted by January 22, 2026 will receive full consideration. Questions regarding the search should be directed to the search chair, Dr. Robert McKeever (rmckeever@ua.edu).

Department/Organization

207201 - Advertising and Public Relations

Rank

Assistant Professor