Assistant Professor in Network Science and Communication (Northeastern University)

Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 97,000 - 122,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Job summary

A prestigious global research university in Boston seeks an Assistant Professor in Network Science to engage in impactful research and teaching. The role emphasizes social networks in communication and media, offering mentorship and collaboration opportunities across disciplines. Applicants should have a PhD in Communication Studies or a related field and a strong potential for securing research funding. The position includes a comprehensive benefits package and a competitive salary range of $97,000 to $122,000.

Qualifications

• PhD degree must be completed by the employment start date.
• Demonstrated potential for attracting external funding.

Responsibilities

• Teach undergraduate and graduate courses.
• Mentor students at all levels.
• Conduct interdisciplinary research.

Skills

Social network analysis

Computational communication research

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD degree in Communication Studies, Psychology, or related field

Job description

About the Opportunity

The College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) at Northeastern University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Network Science, to be located at the Boston campus. We are particularly interested in candidates with a focus on social networks and sports, science communication, or another communication/media topic, qualified for a joint appointment between the Department of Communication Studies and a department within the College of Science. There is also potential for collaboration with other relevant units such as the Network Science Institute.

The ideal candidate will conduct original research at the intersection of network science, communication, and media, and/or will advance computational communication research using network analysis approaches. In this position, the successful candidate will develop and teach core undergraduate and graduate courses in our communication studies degree programs. We encourage applicants whose research includes but is not limited to any of the following topics:

• Sports media, fans or culture
• Sports, markets and identity
• Sports teams and performance networks
• Science translation and media ecosystems
• Civic science, trust, and knowledge co-creation networks
• Science knowledge production and collaboration networks

Our tenure and promotion process values collaborative research and teamwork. Hires will be mentored for success with individualized and group guidance. In addition, a strong and effective faculty development strategy is part of the Northeastern institutional mission. The ADVANCE Office of Faculty Development works in conjunction with the Office of Research Development (ORD) and the Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Research (CATLR) to provide programs and trainings to further develop and support a thriving faculty.

The College is seeking to give excellent candidates across all demographics of society the opportunity, resources, and support to establish innovative and impactful research careers. This includes candidates at the earliest stages of their careers as well as those who are more established. For selected candidates, there may be an option of a 1- to 2-year CAMD funded, mentored post‑doc Fellow position, to allow candidates to ramp up their research programs before starting on the tenure track.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, including courses in our communication studies programs; mentoring students at undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels; maintaining a strong program of interdisciplinary research that attracts external funding and/or recognition; and participating in departmental, college and university service. Qualified candidates must be prepared to work with global student populations.

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have a PhD degree in Communication Studies, Psychology, or a related field by the employment start date; and demonstrated potential to attract external funding for research and/or creative practice.

Additional Information:

Interested candidates should apply with a curriculum vita that includes a list of publications, statements addressing the prompts below, and contact information for at least three reference letters. Applications will be reviewed beginning on December 15, 2025.

Successful faculty at Northeastern are dynamic and innovative scholars with a record of research and teaching excellence and a commitment to fostering belonging in the university community. Thus, strong candidates for this faculty position will have the experiences, knowledge, and skills to build their research, pedagogy, and curriculum in ways that reflect and enhance this commitment. Please indicate how your experience, knowledge, and skills have prepared you to contribute to this work with written statements addressing the following prompts:

Research statement: Please describe the focus of your research, including the questions you have identified, the funding you have received to support the work (if applicable), the results you have discovered, and the products of these efforts. Please also describe any research you have undertaken with students and/or with the external community. Finally, please outline the research directions you foresee pursuing in the College of Arts, Media and Design.

Teaching statement: Please summarize your past instructional and mentorship experiences, your pedagogical philosophy, your plans/goals for teaching in the College of Arts, Media and Design (including existing and proposed courses), and your strategies for teaching and mentoring global student populations.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by the law.

About Northeastern:

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experience‑driven lifelong learning. Our world‑renowned experiential approach empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create impact far beyond the confines of discipline, degree, and campus.

Our locations—Boston, Arlington, Charlotte, Miami, London, Portland, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle, Silicon Valley, Toronto, Vancouver, and the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant—are nodes in our growing global university system. Through this network, we expand opportunities for flexible, student‑centered learning and collaborative, solutions‑focused research.

Northeastern’s comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs— in a variety of on‑campus and online formats—lead to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools. Among these, we offer more than 195 multi‑discipline majors and degrees designed to prepare students for purposeful lives and careers.

The College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) is a collaborative community within the university that acts as a catalyst for research, inspiration, and discovery. It brings together a unique combination of disciplines, including Architecture, Art+Design, Communication Studies, Journalism, Media and Screen Studies, Music, and Theatre. CAMD is also home to three interdisciplinary research centers: the Center for the Arts, the Center for Design, and the Center for Transformative Media.

Benefits: Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement, and commuting & transportation.

Pay Range: Assistant Professor: $97,000.00 – $122,000.00