Assistant Professor of Political Science

Job Summary:

As part of a group hire supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the College of Letters and Science at UW-Madison, The University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Department of Political Science and the Department of Psychology seek two full-time Assistant Professors beginning August 18, 2025, with a demonstrated commitment to excellence in research and teaching and an emphasis on communication, social identity and civil society. Each successful candidate's tenure home will be in one of the three participating departments, or some combination of the three, in consultation with the candidates. As such, the selected candidate will teach a range of undergraduate and graduate courses in one of three, or some combination of the three, departments/schools: the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, the Department of Political Science and/or the Department of Psychology. The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science, that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an inclusive, fair, and equitable environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

We seek to strengthen our cutting-edge research, teaching, and practice concerning issues of communication, social identity, and civil society. We are particularly interested in scholars studying one or more of the following issues: 1) communication ecologies, social structure, and civic life; 2) political discourse, contentious politics, and democratic health; and 3) social identity, social and racial injustice, and conflicts over political power and social respect. The successful candidate will join a community of productive scholars who value a wide variety of conceptual, methodological, and analytical perspectives including, but not limited to: quantitative observation, qualitative fieldwork, content analysis, survey analysis, experimental research, computational analysis, archival research, field interventions, translational and implementation work, and emerging artificial intelligence techniques.

Responsibilities:

The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college's commitment to equity among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service. In addition to developing and maintaining a robust research portfolio in the area(s) of communication, social identity, and civil society, the successful applicant will mentor highly motivated master's and doctoral students in this area of high demand and societal impact. Successful candidates will be expected to participate in the research mission of the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal at UW-Madison. The standard teaching load is four courses per academic year, typically including one graduate seminar per year. University and professional service is required appropriate to career stage.

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Education:

Required
PhD
A Ph.D. in communication, political science, psychology, or related field is required by the start of the appointment.

Qualifications:

Successful candidate must engage in high-quality research and teaching commensurate with experience. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience with fostering or the ability to foster an inclusive and equity-centered teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive.

Work Type:

Full Time: 100%

It is anticipated this position requires work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Ongoing/Renewable

Anticipated Begin Date:

AUGUST 18, 2025

Salary:

Negotiable
ACADEMIC (9 months)

Additional Information:

The faculty members across the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Department of Political Science and the Department of Psychology are also involved in teaching an innovative undergraduate curriculum and oversee three of the nation's top graduate programs. The University of Wisconsin-Madison enjoys outstanding intellectual resources, teaching and research laboratories, and multiple sources of research support. In 2022, UW-Madison ranked eighth in the world for communication and media studies, and top five in the U.S. The School of Journalism and Mass Communication offers leading doctoral, master's, and undergraduate programs. The Department of Political Science is one of the oldest and most respected political science departments in the country, and offers doctoral and undergraduate programs. The Department of Psychology at UW-Madison is highly rated and is a leader in its field. The department is multidisciplinary, has a highly collaborative environment, and is one of the largest and fastest growing majors at UW-Madison. The Department of Psychology offers cutting-edge research, along with award winning students, staff, and faculty.

Highlighting UW-Madison's leadership in interdisciplinary research in the areas of this search, the SJMC houses the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal, the Center for Communication and Democracy, the Center for Journalism Ethics, the Mass Communication Research Center, and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. SJMC faculty are also affiliates of Robert F. and Jean E. Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies, the Center for High Throughput Computing, the Center for Health Enhancement Systems Studies, and the Institute for Diversity Science. The Department of Political Science houses the Elections Research Center and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership. The Department of Psychology has affiliations with numerous centers, including, but not limited to the Center for Healthy Minds, the Health Emotions Research Institute, Harlow Center for Biological Psychology, the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior, and Wisconsin Twin Research.

UW-Madison is known for its interdisciplinary, international character, something that is evident through the many affiliations our faculty maintain with other units on campus as well as collaborations around the world. Located at the nexus of four beautiful lakes, Madison, the state capital, consistently ranks among the top American cities for its quality of life. University employees enjoy a thriving entertainment, cultural, sports, and "foodie" environment.

The College of Letters & Science is committed to creating an inclusive environment in which all of us - students, staff, and faculty - can thrive. Ours is a community in which we all are welcome. Most importantly, we strive to build a community in which all of us feel a great sense of belonging. There is no excellence without diversity in all its forms; diverse teams are more creative and successful than homogeneous ones. We are better when we are diverse and when we acknowledge, celebrate and honor our diversity. In acknowledging and honoring our diversity, we also assume a responsibility to support and stand up for each other.

The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.

How to Apply:

Telephone and email inquiries to discuss this position are welcome. Contact Professor Michael Wagner (608-263-3392 /michael.wagner@wisc.edu). Additional search committee members are also available to answer questions. They are: Professor Dhavan Shah (SJMC, dshah@wisc.edu), Professor Kathy Cramer (political science, kathy.cramer@wisc.edu), and Professor Markus Brauer (psychology, markus.brauer@wisc.edu).

To apply, candidates should visit jobs.wisc.edu, search for position #304352 and click on "Apply Now." Candidates will be required to submit 1) a cover letter detailing research interests, teaching qualifications, and any relevant professional experience; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) teaching evaluations or other evidence of teaching effectiveness, and 4) two samples of scholarly work. In addition, you will be asked for the names and contact information for three references. References will be contacted upon application submission and asked to upload a signed letter of reference. To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by October 15, 2024; applications will be accepted until position is filled.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer; we promote diversity and inclusion for all faculty, staff, and students and encourage all qualified candidates to apply. Unless confidentiality is requested in writing, information regarding applications for this position must be released upon request. Finalists cannot be guaranteed confidentiality. Employment will require a criminal background check.

Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant's dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant's ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of application materials must be created by the applicant that may include supporting letters. It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others.

Employment will require an institutional reference check regarding any misconduct. To be considered, applicants must upload a signed 'Authorization to Release Information' form as part of the application. The authorization form and a definition of 'misconduct' can be found here: https://hr.wisc.edu/institutional-reference-check/

Contact:

Michael Wagner
michael.wagner@wisc.edu
608-263-3392
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:

Assistant Professor(FA040)

Department(s):

A48-COL OF LETTERS & SCIENCE/JOURN & MASS COM/JN & MASS

Employment Class:

Faculty

Job Number:

304352-FA

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.