Career Center

The Department of Communication Studies at Northwestern University is searching for a tenure-eligible faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor in the area of human-centered design. We seek to recruit an individual engaged in impactful and visionary lines of research in human-centered design as it relates to technology and communication. We welcome applicants with expertise in areas including, but not limited to, the following: human-computer interaction, online communication platforms, human-AI communication and interaction, and virtual collaboration. Our intention is to recruit individuals with a track record of, or potential to develop, cutting-edge programmatic research to move the field forward. The successful candidate will be expected to teach in the undergraduate, MS, and/or PhD programs within the department. Our department has strong ties to multiple research entities, providing an extensive infrastructure to support translational research, and collaborations across disciplines.

The ideal candidate applies human-centered design to investigate and intervene in society, advancing objectives in social and design justice. Candidates should pursue research on human-centered design as it relates broadly to technology and communication, and should strive to achieve significant broader impacts on societal issues such as, but not limited to: social or economic inequality, health disparities, racial justice, LGBTQ+ issues, accessibility, climate change, and labor. We are interested in candidates who demonstrate strength in applying social scientific qualitative or mixed methods as well as sociotechnical system design and evaluation in their work. We are also interested in candidates who excel in an interdisciplinary environment and complement the department’s existing expertise in human-computer interaction, design, collaboration and organizing, networks, algorithmic media, social media, online communities, public culture, and computational communication science.

To qualify applicants should have a PhD in a relevant field by September, 2022. Duties of the position include publishing innovative research, contributing to undergraduate and graduate instruction in the department, and performing professional service. At the undergraduate level candidates would contribute to both the Communication Studies major as well as the HCI Certificate, which is available to all students on campus interested in developing an understanding of the interaction between humans and computers. At the graduate level they would teach and mentor students in the Technology and Social Behavior (TSB), and Media, Technology, and Society (MTS) PhD programs. They may optionally teach in one of our professional master’s programs. The candidate would be invited to join the Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design, a joint initiative of the School of Communication and McCormick School of Engineering. 

Preferred Start Date:  September 1, 2022

Salary: Competitive, depending on qualifications and experience.

Application procedure: Applications will only be accepted via online submission to our faculty recruiting system. Please including the following materials in your application: a cover letter describing your teaching, research interests, and experience; a current vita; three contacts for letters of recommendation; two writing samples; and a diversity statement. The diversity statement should address the applicant’s past and/or potential contributions to enhancing diversity, equity, and/or inclusion through research, teaching, and/or service. In order to ensure full consideration, applications should be received by December 1, 2021, but review will continue until the position is filled. Forward questions to the Search Committee Chair, Nick Diakopoulos. For more information about the Department, please visit: https://communication.northwestern.edu/communication-studies/.   

The School: The School of Communication has five departments and offers a suite of interdisciplinary undergraduate, professional, and graduate programs. The departments span the communication arts and sciences including the Department of Radio-Television-Film, the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Department of Communication Studies, the Department of Performance Studies, and the Department of Theatre (which includes music theatre and dance). The faculty of over 180 includes 102 tenure-track faculty. The school offers instruction to roughly 1000 undergraduate majors and 650 graduate and professional students. Founded over 135 years ago, the School has been a leader in developing the communication disciplines and professions, and continues to be a center of excellence in the communication arts and sciences. Our current Dean is E. Patrick Johnson.

The University: Northwestern University is one of the nation’s largest private research universities. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, the main campus is in Evanston and the medical campus is 12 miles south in downtown Chicago. There is continuing expansion of University facilities and programs, particularly in the sciences and medicine. Diverse cultural, social, and recreational activities abound on and near each campus.

Closing Date: Ongoing until position is filled. Review of applications will begin immediately.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and does not discrimi­nate against qualified individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizen­ship status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected class. Individuals from all diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.  For more information, please visit the University’s Policy on Institutional Equity. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Equity. Additional information on the accommodations process is available at northwestern.edu/equal-opportunity-access/accommodation/disability.html.

Applications accepted here: Apply for Job


Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.
  

About Northwestern University

Northwestern University is a major private research university with 12 academic divisions located on three campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Education City in Doha, Qatar. We have approximately 2,500 full-time faculty members, 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, and over 5,700 full and part-time staff. Northwestern University combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment. It provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth.

Connections working at Northwestern University