Assistant Professor of Communication Science - RISE EARTH

Universities of Wisconsin • Madison, WI

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking outstanding social and behavioral scientists with strengths in quantitative methodology for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in environmental communication. This role is part of the Wisconsin RISE-EARTH (Environment: Adaptation, Resilience, Technology, and Humanity) initiative and the broader Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. The successful candidate will conduct theory-driven research on how communication influences public understanding, attitudes, decision-making, behavior, policy support, or collective action surrounding environmental challenges. The RISE initiative aims to address complex societal challenges through accelerated faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student opportunities. UW–Madison plans to hire 150 new RISE faculty over the next three academic years, fostering a community of scholars across disciplines. Research areas may include environmental and risk communication, conflict and negotiation, misinformation, social influence, disaster preparedness, public engagement with science, and communication surrounding emerging technologies. Scholars employing advanced quantitative methods such as surveys, experiments, longitudinal designs, network analysis, and computational social science are welcome. The Department of Communication Arts is multidisciplinary, with a collaborative environment, offering undergraduate and graduate programs. The hired scholar would contribute significantly to the Communication Science program, which focuses on human interactions in face-to-face and mediated contexts related to cognitive, social, and cultural functions of communication. Opportunities for collaboration exist within other departmental programs like Media & Cultural Studies, Film, and Rhetoric, Politics & Culture. The College of Letters & Science (L&S) emphasizes a liberal arts education, excellent teaching, and making an impact in the field, rewarding innovation and valuing shared governance. Madison offers a desirable living environment with a blend of urban amenities and natural beauty.

Requirements

• PhD required in Communication or similar discipline by start of appointment.
• Evidence of creativity and excellence in teaching and scholarly research.
• Ability to make valuable contributions to the department, college, and RISE initiative.
• Capacity to conduct cutting-edge communication research.
• Capacity to teach/mentor undergraduates and graduate students.
• Ability to foster a teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive.
• Demonstrate fostering or the ability to foster a teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive.
• Dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring.
• Ability to purposefully plan teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop an innovative research program.
• Contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching in communication science, including courses related to environmental communication, quantitative methods, interpersonal communication, media effects, risk communication, or related areas.
• Advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science through evidence-based and student-centered teaching and mentoring.
• Contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students, and the broader community.
• Participate in department and university service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree