Human Communication and Technology Assistant Professor/Associate Professor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Champaign (IL); On-site; USD 93,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dual Career Program

Explore Champaign-Urbana

Tuition waivers

Job summary

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is seeking a nine-month, full-time Assistant or Associate Professor in Human Communication and Technology with a focus on AI-enabled interpersonal and organizational contexts. The role emphasizes teaching across undergraduate and graduate programs, building an independent research program, and contributing to university service.

Applicants should hold a PhD in communication or related field, demonstrate teaching effectiveness, and show potential for

Qualifications

• A doctorate in communication or related field is required before the target start date.
• Evidence or promise of developing a record of teaching effectiveness and independent social scientific research.
• Evidence of promise of securing external funding.
• Either a record of publication indicative of associate professor or a promising research agenda for assistant professor.

Responsibilities

• Teach effectively at undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Establish and maintain an active and independent research program.
• Provide service to the department, the university, and the profession.

Skills

Teaching effectiveness

Social scientific research

External funding pursuit

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in communication or related field

Job description

The Department of Communication at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks a nine-month full-time Assistant Professor or Associate Professor in the area of Human Communication and Technology with an emphasis that connects with our departmental strengths in health, interpersonal, or organizational communication.

Research and teaching should focus on technologies used in communication between or among people. Specific research foci may include the implications and usage of AI in interpersonal relationships, group deliberations, teams, or healthcare organizations; AI and the automation of communication processes, the communication practices involved in automation, or organizational deliberations about automation; the impact of social media and algorithms on human communicative processes; or the implications of potentially transformative technologies for human communication(e.g., generative AI, agentic AI, immersive technologies, wearables, algorithmic management platforms, surveillance technologies, hyperfast networks, AI supply chains and infrastructure, quantum computing).

The candidate will join departmental colleagues with varied disciplinary backgrounds in a unit of 22 graduate faculty members and 11 specialized faculty members. The department supports undergraduate and Master’s programs (including an online MS program in health communication) as well as one of the nation’s oldest and most distinguished doctoral programs.

For more information about us, visit https://communication.illinois.edu/

The successful candidate will contribute to the mission of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at the University of Illinois, where curiosity drives impact. As the heart of a leading land‑grant research university, LAS brings together diverse disciplines to explore fundamental questions and address complex challenges. We prepare students for a lifetime of inquiry, leadership, and service through innovative research, transformative teaching, and thoughtful mentoring. We strongly encourage applications from those who have demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and experience needed to be effective teachers for our student population with its wide range of backgrounds and experiences, in alignment with the mission of our university. To learn more about the mission, vision, and values of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, visit: https://las.illinois.edu

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Successful candidates are expected to teach effectively at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, establish and maintain an active and independent research program, and provide service to the department, the university, and the profession. We seek candidates with demonstrated experience engaging with students representing the full breadth of identities to impact the holistic educational and learning environment of the students enrolled in the department and the campus at large.

QUALIFICATIONS

A doctorate in communication or related field is required before the target start date of August 16, 2027. Applicants must show evidence or promise of developing a record of teaching effectiveness and independent social scientific research. Applicants also should demonstrate promise of securing external funding. Applicants must have either (a) a record of publication indicative of an associate professor for appointment at that rank or (b) evidence of a promising research agenda indicative for appointment at the rank of assistant professor.

Candidates whose doctorate may be delayed but will complete all the degree requirements within the first appointment year may be appointed at the rank of Instructor. After the doctorate requirements are met, the appointment will be changed to Assistant Professor.

SALARY AND APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

This is a full-time, 9-month appointment, tenure-track/tenured position. The expected start date is August 16, 2027. The budgeted salary range for the position is $93,000 to $100,000 at the Assistant Professor level, $100,000 to $121,000 at the Associate Professor level, for a 9-month service basis (paid over 12 months). 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 equivalent years in rank, training, and field or discipline; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable jobs. This position will be expected to work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on a full‑time basis per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy. This position is eligible for sponsorship for work authorization, except for sponsorship of a new H1B petition that would incur the $100,000 fee.

To find out more about the resources available at the university and Urbana‑Champaign community, please visit these sites:

• Benefits-Employee benefits are competitive and include those in recognized marriages or civil unions (for same‑sex and different‑sex partners).
• Dual Career Program
• Explore Champaign‑Urbana
• Work‑life balance and family‑friendly programs
• This position is intended to eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non‑discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodation portal, or by contacting the Office for Access & Equity at 217‑333‑0885, option #1, or [e-mail].

APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE INFORMATION

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 6pm (CST) on September 15, 2026.

For further information about the position, please contact: Leanne Knobloch, Professor and Search Chair;[e-mail].

Questions regarding the application materials may be directed to [e-mail].

For questions regarding the application portal, please contact 217‑333‑2137 or [e-mail].

Founded in 1867 as Illinois’s flagship public university, the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign empowers a global community of students, scholars, and alumni to change the world through bold, innovative research and transformative education. With a land‑grant heritage rooted in progress, Illinois faculty drive paradigm‑shifting discoveries, mentor future leaders, and collaborate across 15 colleges and instructional units and more than 20 research institutes. The university’s legacy of excellence includes 24 Nobel Prizes and 29 Pulitzer Prizes awarded to its faculty and alumni, $755 million in sponsored research funding, and 94 academic programs ranked in the top 20 nationally. Illinois offers the resources, recognition, and reach to accelerate your career - along with a highly competitive benefits portfolio. Discover how the Illinois Value Proposition fosters professional longevity, personal fulfillment, and a deep sense of purpose in every role.

Faculty Recruitment
Champaign-Urbana