Assistant Professor Faculty Position in the Department of Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations, with a focus on the Future of Healthy Aging
About The Position
Boston University’s College of Communications, Department of Mass Communication, Advertising, and Public Relations, is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor to research how communication, media, and new technologies impact healthy aging and the well-being of older adults. This role is part of a significant university investment in convergent research, aiming to unite diverse expertise and perspectives to address critical societal challenges. The ideal candidate will investigate how communication, media, and emerging technologies influence healthy aging and older adults' well-being, with potential areas of focus including health information and misinformation, digital access and literacy, communication with healthcare providers, AI-driven health technologies, and media portrayals of aging. The successful applicant will bridge scientific and professional insights on aging with the creation, dissemination, and utilization of information to promote healthier and more equitable aging. This cluster hire leverages BU's strengths in Health Across the Lifespan, drawing on existing research in areas like the Framingham Heart Study, New England Centenarian Study, and various interdisciplinary centers focused on aging demographics, economics, Alzheimer's disease, and the biology of aging. The initiative aims to foster transformative research by integrating faculty from diverse fields such as anthropology, biology, business, communications, epidemiology, law, physical therapy, sociology, and surgery. The goal is to introduce new ideas, methodologies, and viewpoints to advance healthier aging throughout the life course and tackle the challenges posed by a global aging population. The Department of Mass Communication, Advertising & Public Relations is recognized for its expertise in strategic communication, media effects, health communication, and public engagement. Faculty within the department explore how communication influences individual behavior, public opinion, organizational strategies, and societal results in the current dynamic information environment. Their research encompasses digital media, persuasive communication, public relations, social marketing, emerging technologies, and data-driven communication strategies, with the objective of understanding how information can be used to enhance individual and public health. Boston University, founded in 1839, has a long-standing commitment to openness and accessibility, being one of the first universities to admit students of all backgrounds. This tradition underpins its dedication to academic freedom, open inquiry, and the vigorous exchange of ideas.
Requirements
- Ph.D. or equivalent degree in Mass Communication, Advertising, Public Relations, or a related field.
- Demonstrated excellence in innovative scholarship.
- Ability to contribute to engaged teaching.
- Willingness to participate in the intellectual life of the University.
Nice To Haves
- Scholars who examine how communication, media, and emerging technologies shape healthy aging and the well-being of older adults.
- Scholars with areas of interest including health information and misinformation, digital access and literacy, communication with healthcare professionals and caregivers, AI-enabled health technologies, and representations of aging across media.
- Scholars who will contribute new ideas, methods, and perspectives to the Future of Healthy Aging initiative.
- Scholars who can connect fundamental discovery, population health, and translational research.
Responsibilities
- Conduct research on how communication, media, and new technologies affect healthy aging and the well-being of older adults.
- Examine how communication, media, and emerging technologies shape healthy aging and the well-being of older adults.
- Connect scientific and professional insights about aging with the ways information is created, shared, understood, and used to support healthier, more equitable aging.
- Contribute to the community of teachers and researchers through excellence in innovative scholarship.
- Engage in teaching.
- Participate in the intellectual life of the University.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
