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Why Rensselaer? Join Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's dynamic global community of changemaker including some of the world’s leading researchers, students, alumni, and faculty who ask the important questions and devise the scientific and technological innovations that make the world a better place for all of humanity.

The Department of Communication and Media offers a B.S. in Communication, Media & Design; an M.S. in Communication & Rhetoric; and a Ph.D. in Communication & Rhetoric.  The department is home to a dynamic, growing faculty researching communication and media from a broad range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary fields. For more information about the department, visit https://hass.rpi.edu/communication-media

Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, Rensselaer is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and an IBM Quantum One computer - the first university-based quantum computer in the U.S. 

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Job Summary

The Department of Communication and Media in the School of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute seeks applicants for the Thomas Phelan Endowed Chair & Department Head in Communication & Media, a tenured faculty position with a broad focus in Communication and the Public Sphere, beginning in August 2025.

We are interested in candidates whose research focuses on the material dimensions of digital media technologies including their sociocultural, political practices and how those practices impact the public sphere. Preferred areas of expertise include: Science Communication, Public Communication, Rhetoric/ Persuasion, Cultural Media Studies, Political Communication, and AI Ethics. Experience in and/or commitment to public-facing, participatory, or community- engaged scholarship is also desirable. The successful candidate will have a pivotal role in shaping and realizing the future of the department, therefore prior administrative experience is essential.

The successful candidate will provide leadership in advancing the department’s teaching, research, and service missions. Responsibilities include teaching at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, developing and maintaining a robust program of research and scholarship, and engaging in service to the department, the school, and Rensselaer. We seek a collaborative leader with a strong vision for addressing emerging challenges in communication and media, particularly those shaped by 21st-century technologies and interdisciplinary approaches.

Qualifications

Candidates must meet criteria for appointment as a tenured faculty in the Communications and Media department.

We seek applicants with an established program of research, leadership experience, collaboration, and evidence of a commitment to teaching excellence. We seek applications from outstanding candidates at the full professor level, although exceptional associate professor candidates will be considered, who will build upon our existing strengths in these and related areas across the university.

Ideally, candidates will have research focuses on the material dimensions of digital media technologies including their sociocultural, political practices and how those practices impact the public sphere. Applicants whose areas of expertise include any of the following are encouraged to apply: Science Communication, Public Communication, Rhetoric/ Persuasion, Cultural Media Studies, Political Communication, and AI Ethics.

Associate Professor: A Ph.D., Ed.D., or foreign degree equivalent in Communication, Media Studies, Rhetoric, or a related field, is required at the time of appointment. A successful candidate at this rank must possess a record of excellence in scholarship as demonstrated by an emerging national or international reputation, a level of high quality in educational activities.

Full Professor: A Ph.D., Ed.D., or foreign degree equivalent in Communication, Media Studies, Rhetoric, or a related field, is required at the time of appointment A successful candidate at this rank must be an academic leader, possessing a nationally or internationally recognized record of excellence in scholarship, a sustained level of high quality in educational activities that go beyond teaching and advising.

Starting Salary/Rate

Expected hiring range:

Associate Professor: $90,000 - $110,000 per 9-month academic year

Professor: $120,000 - 160,000 per 9-month academic year

Pay transparency disclosure: The selected candidate’s salary will be determined based on factors that include the available budget, internal equity, and the final candidate’s qualifications, experience, education and other job-related credentials. This hiring range is provided as Rensselaer’s good faith estimate of the expected hiring range at the time of posting.

Application instructions

Follow the on-screen prompts to create a brief online profile and contact information for three professional references. Please be ready to upload your

CV/Resume Cover letter Statement of Research Statement of Teaching, including evidence of teaching effectiveness Diversity Statement 

If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact careers@rpi.edu.

Job Posted Date

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  Applications received by January 10, 2025 will receive first consideration. 

Total Compensation and Benefits Information

Rensselaer’s Total Compensation Program is designed to provide stable pay growth, a comprehensive and affordable benefits package, and a comprehensive and affordable retiree medical and prescription plan. Rensselaer is recognized locally and nationally for the depth and breadth of its compensation and benefits program. Our goal is to provide you and your family with a comprehensive health and welfare program as an umbrella of financial security and protection during your employment. For more information, please visit Benefits | Human Resources (rpi.edu).

We welcome candidates who will bring diverse cultural, ethnic, national and international perspectives to Rensselaer’s work and campus communities.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity, Race/Gender/Veterans/Disability Employer.