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

The University of Alabama • Tuscaloosa, AL

3d

About The Position

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: The ideal candidate will develop a robust research agenda applying digital technology to public relations, with expertise in areas such as: 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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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
• Contribute meaningful service to the department, college, and university.
• Teach two courses each fall and spring semester, which may include undergraduate, Master's, and Ph.D. courses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees