Assistant Professor in Media, Behavior, and Health

Indiana University Bloomington; Bloomington (IN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Media School at Indiana University’s flagship Bloomington campus is inviting applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Media, Behavior, and Health to start August 1, 2027. We welcome scholars whose work spans media, health, and well-being and who will contribute to teaching and student mentoring across undergraduate and graduate programs.

We seek candidates with a strong research program, diverse methodological approaches, and the potential to secure external funding.

Qualifications

• ABD applications considered, but Ph.D. must be completed by appointment date.
• Demonstrated potential for research productivity in media, behavior, and health.
• Effective teaching skills adaptable to undergraduate and graduate learning.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a productive research program at the intersection of media, behavior, and health.
• Teach and mentor undergraduates and graduates on a standard 2-2 load.
• Collaborate across IU units and engage in interdisciplinary outreach.

Skills

Research productivity

Teaching ability

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in communication or related field

Job description

Posting Details

Title:

Assistant Professor in Media, Behavior, and Health

Appointment Status

Tenure Track

Department

IU Bloomington Media School

Location

Bloomington

Position Summary

The Media School at Indiana University’s flagship Bloomingtoncampus is pleased to announce a faculty search for an outstandingtenure-track colleague whose research and teaching examine therelationships among media, behavior, and health, to start August 1,2027. We welcome applications from scholars working across a broad rangeof topics at the intersection of media, health, and well-being.Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, mediainfluences on mental and physical health; health communication andhealth behavior; social media and well-being; media representationsof health, illness, and disability; stigma and stereotyping;cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to health-relatedmedia; health misinformation; and the development and evaluation ofmedia-based interventions designed to improve health andwell-being. We are particularly interested in scholars whose workhelps explain how media environments, messages, and technologiesshape health-related attitudes, psychological processes,decision-making, and behavioral outcomes. We welcome a range of theoretical perspectives and methodologicalapproaches, including experimental, survey, longitudinal,computational, neuroscientific, qualitative, and mixed-methodapproaches. Candidates may study children, adolescents, adults, orpopulations across the lifespan. This position offers substantial opportunities forinterdisciplinary collaboration across Indiana University,including with faculty in the Media School, the School of PublicHealth, the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, theIrsay Institute, and other units engaged in health and behavioralresearch. The successful candidate will join a growing community ofscholars examining media, behavior, health, and well-being acrossthe campus. The chosen applicant will be expected to maintain a productive andtheoretically significant research program, effectively teach andmentor undergraduate and graduate students on a standard 2-2teaching load, and serve the university, profession, and widercommunity. Teaching opportunities may include courses in mediapsychology, strategic communications, health communication, socialmedia, research methods, and other areas related to the candidate’sexpertise. The primary criteria for this search are excellence in research andteaching related to media, behavior, and health. Evidence ofpotential to secure external funding is viewedfavorably. External funding is conceived broadly to includegovernment, industry, foundation, and other private sources.

About the School

The Media School combines a long-standing tradition of excellencein journalism, film, gaming, and communications with a commitmentto digital and interactive media. It fosters a multidisciplinaryapproach to education and research, equipping students with thetheoretical and practical tools necessary to lead and innovate inthe media landscape of tomorrow. Faculty members are distinguishedfor their scholarly contributions and their dedication to teaching,offering a dynamic environment for engaging with media theory,production, and design. The Media School is home to the Center for Documentary Research andPractice, the Center for International Media Law and PolicyStudies, the Institute for Communication Research, the Michael I.Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism, the National SportsJournalism Center, the Observatory on Social Media, Indiana PublicMedia, Cream and Crimson Studios, the KIX Lab, and the Black FilmCenter & Archive. The school serves more than 2,300undergraduate majors in eight degree programs (Journalism, Media,Game Design, Cinematic Arts, Global Media, Media Advertising,Public Relations, and Sports Media). It also offers graduatedegrees (M.S. and Ph.D.) to approximately 75 graduate students, ofwhom two-thirds are in a doctoral program. Our state-of-the-artfacilities include equipment for television, film and audioproduction, game design, and communication research.

University and Community Setting

Nestled in the lively community of Bloomington, our universitycampus is renowned for its stunning limestone architecture andscenic natural landscapes. This setting foster a culture thatvalues both the arts and sciences and provides substantialopportunities for interdisciplinary research andcollaboration. Bloomington is a vibrant midsize city located within drivingdistance of Indianapolis, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, andLouisville. Our community is small yet welcoming, a home to peoplefrom all over the world. Bloomington features an active artscommunity, with several independent music and performance venuesand one of the best university cinemas in the country. SouthernIndiana is also home to beautiful scenery, and residents enjoyyear-round outdoor activities.

Basic Qualifications

• ABD applications considered, but Ph.D. in communication, media,psychology, public health, or a related field must be completed bythe date of appointment.
• Demonstrated potential for research productivity in areasrelated to media, behavior, and health.
• Effective teaching skills adaptable to undergraduate andgraduate learning environments.

Department Contact for Questions

Questions regarding this position or the application process shouldbe directed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. NicoleMartins, The Media School, Indiana University, [e-mail].

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated potential for interdisciplinarycollaboration.
• Demonstrated potential to secure external funding.
• Demonstrated success working with faculty and studentpopulations from a wide variety of backgrounds andexperiences.

For Best Consideration Date

10/23/2026

Expected Start Date

08/01/2027

Posting Number

IU-101677-2026