Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor, Science Communication

Tenure Track Assistant or Associate Professor, Science Communication

School of Journalism University of Missouri

The Missouri School of Journalism is seeking applications for a tenure track faculty position at the rank of assistant or associate professor in science communication with interest in health communication beginning Fall 2021. The School has a long-standing reputation for providing cutting-edge research, teaching and outreach work that influence and lead the industry. With an increasing need to deepen public understanding of science and improve public discourse about science, this position has been created to further the School’s mission of facilitating high-impact research activities that can help bridge the divide between scientists, science communicators and the broader public. The School also values research that focuses on underrepresented communities and/or vulnerable populations. Candidates may come from academic disciplines such as journalism, strategic communication or related fields, with research expertise in science communication as broadly defined.

Qualifications and responsibilities: A Ph.D. in journalism, communication or related fields is required by the start date.

The successful candidate should have an established research program including high impact publications and a desire and/or demonstrated ability to secure grant funding with primary focus in science communication with interest in health communication. The successful candidate should also be committed to interdisciplinary teaching, have a demonstrated ability to mentor graduate students and help create a climate that attracts students of diverse backgrounds. The new faculty member should have an enthusiastic desire and/or demonstrated ability to collaborate on interdisciplinary research, teaching and training with other academic units on campus, and to build connections with the professional community.

This significant investment continues MU’s strategy of hiring faculty from key interdisciplinary areas to strengthen its culture of academic collaboration and industry outreach to attain a global impact. Successful candidates for the position will be expected to contribute to the University’s science communication initiatives and provide an innovative and forward-thinking vision and goals for bringing together interdisciplinary researchers, students and professionals from journalism, strategic communication, science, public health, veterinary medicine and other fields. The new faculty member will be housed in the School of Journalism and will also work closely with colleagues in the School of Veterinary Medicine, the School of Health Professions, the Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center and other STEM programs across the campus. 

About Missouri School of Journalism

Founded in 1908, the Missouri School of Journalism is the world’s oldest and leading journalism program and has been widely recognized for excellence and innovation in undergraduate and graduate education and scholarship. In its 2014 annual ranking of top journalism schools, News Pro-Radio Television Digital News Association again ranked the Missouri School of Journalism “far and away” the No. 1 journalism school in the country. The National Research Council ranks practical training to more than 2,000undergraduates and 200 graduate students. The School has a close and productive relationship with other academic units on campus, the media industry and the local community. It operates award-winning, community-based, multiplatform news outlets and produces comprehensive research-based advertising and public relations campaigns for real clients. The School also houses headquarters of prominent professional organizations, including American Society of News Editors, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Association of Health Care Journalists, and Pictures of the Year International, among others.

About Columbia, Missouri

The University of Missouri (MU or Mizzou), located in Columbia, has an enrollment of 30,000 students and is Missouri's largest public research university. Mizzou is also the flagship campus of the four-campus University of Missouri System and one of only five universities nationwide with law, medicine, veterinary medicine and a nuclear research reactor on one campus. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities since 1908, Mizzou is considered one of the nation's top-tier institutions. With a population of 100,000, Columbia is located midway between Missouri’s largest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City. Money magazine, Fortune magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Men's Journal, and MSN.com have named Columbia one of the best places in the United States to live because of its high quality of life. Columbia is home to nationally renowned public schools, including two top-ranked high schools. The city provides many opportunities for art, culture and music enthusiasts and has been recognized as a bike-friendly community with many parks and trails.

To Apply

Apply online (https://hrs.missouri.edu/find-a-job/academic) by uploading: (a) a letter of application that describes your research, teaching and outreach/professional experiences; (b) a curriculum vitae; (c) evidence of teaching excellence; d) the names and contact information for three references; and, (e) a one-page diversity statement that specifically addresses how you would engage with a diverse student population with regards to teaching, research, mentoring, and advising. Please reference job number 31970. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

For position description questions or specific questions related to the search, contact Professor and Search Committee Chair, Dr. Shelly Rodgers, by email: srodgers@missouri.edu .

An Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled and Veteran Employer

The University of Missouri is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive academic community of faculty, staff and students. We seek individuals who are committed to this goal and our core campus values of respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence.