Associate or Full Professor in Scoring for the Screen

Northwestern University; Chicago (IL); Sur place; USD 140 000 - 160 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, invites applications for Associate or Full Professor in the Department of Radio/Television/Film & The Bienen School of Music to lead in scoring for the screen. The 100% in-person position will integrate with a new curricular track and cross-school collaborations, leveraging the Hobson-Lucas studio.

The role centers on research, creative work, and teaching undergraduate and graduate students, with supervision of theses and active participation in

Qualifications

• Terminal degree appropriate to the field (e.g., MFA in film and media production or music composition) or equivalent industry experience.
• Proven experience in scoring for film/television and collaborative creative work.
• Evidence of scholarly and creative work along with teaching/mentoring capabilities.

Responsabilités

• Research and create scoring for the screen across media projects.
• Provide undergraduate and graduate student instruction in related areas.
• Supervise student thesis projects and contribute to service to the department, school, university, and profession.

Connaissances

Screen scoring

Music composition

Teaching/mentoring

Formation

Terminal degree (MFA or equivalent)

Description du poste

Associate or Full Professor

(Tenured)

Department of Radio/Television/Film & The Bienen School of Music

The Department ofRadio/Television/Film explores the history, theory, and production of media—from cinema to television to sound design to interactive media and emerging technologies. We value originality, critical analysis, creativity, and vision in both scholarly research and creative work. Our programs, courses, and research opportunities focus on the history of film, television, sound, and interactive media as well as the critical analysis of media texts, technologies, and cultures. Our faculty explore the social and cultural impact of media—and use media to convey their own messages to the world. All are dedicated to integrating the theory and the practice of media, participating in interdisciplinary dialogue, and fostering a spirit of creativity and collaboration. This prepares students who are eager to pursue careers in the media industries as writers, directors, producers, and managers who inspire, persuade, and educate their audiences.

The Department, in joint effort with the Bienen School of Music, aims to build a new focus on musicians in the film and television industry. The schools seek to hire an accomplished creative at the rank of Associate or Full Professor with expertise in scoring for the screen. Radio/Television/Film has launched a new curricular track in “Composing for the Screen” and holds the state-of-the-art Hobson-Lucas Recording Studio designed to support recording processes. MFA students in the department’s Documentary Media and Writing for the Screen and Stage MFA programs often collaborate with student musicians in the Bienen School of Music for their films. This senior faculty member would address this collaborative student demand across programs and facilitate exciting initiatives, such as: an ongoing series of cross-school film screenings with live music; a program pairing student filmmakers with student composers; shared events featuring top composers for film, TV, and videogames; industry outreach and professional development for musicians, composers, and sound artists.

This position is 100% in person and located on Northwestern University’s Evanston campus in the greater Chicago area.

Employment term:

This is a full-time continuing senior faculty appointment, service of 9 months paid over 12. The hire would be subject to Northwestern’s tenure approval process.

Salary Range:

The salary range is $140,000-$160,000, competitive based upon experience.

Preferred Start:

September 1, 2027.

Closing Date:

October 16, 2026. Review of applications will begin on October 19, 2026.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Research and creative work in the area of scoring for the screen Undergraduate and graduate student instruction Supervision of student thesis projects Service to the department, school, university, and profession

Minimum Qualifications:

• Terminal degreeappropriate tothe field, i.e. MFA in film and media production, music composition, or similar credentials, and/or equivalent industry experience

The Schools:

The School of Communication has five departments and offers a suite of interdisciplinary undergraduate, professional, and graduate programs. The departments span the communication arts and sciences including the Department of Radio-Television-Film, the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Department of Communication Studies, the Department of Performance Studies, and the Department of Theatre (which includes music theatre and dance). The school offers instruction to roughly 900 undergraduate majors and 650 graduate and professional students. Founded nearly 150 years ago, the School has been a leader in developing the communication disciplines and professions, and continues to be a center of excellence in the communication arts and sciences. Our current Dean is E. Patrick Johnson.

Northwestern University’s Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music ranks as one of the nation’s leading music institutions. For more than a century, the Bienen School has offered a unique combination of conservatory-level musical training with the academic rigor of a top-tier research institution. Through exceptional training and dedicated, collaborative teaching, Bienen faculty prepare students to excel in the ever-changing music world and forge new paths in both the performance and academic arenas.

The University:

Northwestern University is one of the nation’s largest private research universities. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, the main campus is in Evanston and the medical campus is 12 miles south in downtown Chicago. There is continuing expansion of University facilities and programs, particularly in the sciences and medicine. Diverse cultural, social, and recreational activities abound on and near each campus. We are committed to supporting a strong campus community.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre‑tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University has provided a pay range representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for the position. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal comparators; and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.