Assistant or Associate Professor – Big Data and Artificial Intelligence

The Missouri School of Journalism seeks a colleague whose research and teaching will center on the analysis and use of Big Data. This interdisciplinary position requires a faculty member who will broadly contribute to existing efforts in the School of Journalism as well as the MU Institute for Data Science and Informatic (MU IDSI) and the Data Science and Analytics MS degree program. The faculty member will be housed within the School of Journalism with a joint appointment in MU IDSI.

Research

The successful candidate will have a research program that contributes knowledge to theory and practice related to data usage in media and communication through innovations in quantitative, qualitative or mixed social science methodologies. Areas of specialization could include but are not limited to:

• application of research and analysis of large data sets for reporting news, developing persuasive messages or managerial strategy
• data visualization; audience analysis;
• modeling for the prediction of communication impact
• use of complex data analysis for in-depth reporting
• social media analytics
• development of new computational tools and analytical software for research

This joint appointment will become part of an excellent interdisciplinary research collaborative facilitated by the School of Journalism and MU IDSI for faculty mentoring in extramural funding competitions and research career growth.   

Teaching

The position will require the candidate to teach two courses annually at the School of Journalism and two courses annually in the campus wide Data Science and Analytics MS degree. Teaching responsibilities will depend on expertise and interest, and may include undergraduate and graduate level courses. The candidate may also develop courses that focus on data-driven analysis and/or artificial intelligence. The candidate may teach graduate seminars on the use of data for media decision-making or advanced research methods classes in the School of Journalism’s Doctoral program.

Qualifications

Rank is open at the assistant or associate professor levels. A Ph.D. is required. Candidate must have a demonstrated record of research productivity with an emphasis on big data/artificial intelligence along with a desire for interdisciplinary collaboration and to build connections with the professional community. In addition to an established research program, appointment at rank of associate professor also requires evidence of pursuit of extramural funding.

Appointment in a specific area of the School of Journalism will be determined by the candidate’s area of research and teaching expertise.

To Apply

Apply online (https://hrs.missouri.edu) by uploading: (a) a letter of application that describes your research, teaching, and outreach/professional experiences; (b) a curriculum vitae; (c) evidence of teaching excellence; d) the names and contact information for three references; and, e) a one page diversity statement that specifically addresses how you would engage with a diverse student population with regards to teaching, research, mentoring, and advising. Please reference job number 39482. Review of applications will begin January 3, 2022 and continue until the position is filled.

For position description questions or specific questions related to the search, Associate Professor and Search Committee Chair, Keith Greenwood by email: greenwoodk@missouri.edu. 

An Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled and Veteran Employer

The University of Missouri is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive academic community of faculty, staff and students. We seek individuals who are committed to this goal and our core campus values of respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence.

The Missouri School of Journalism (journalism.missouri.edu) is the world’s first established School of Journalism. Founded in 1908, the School of Journalism has been widely recognized for excellence and innovation in undergraduate and graduate education. The School encompasses teaching and research in the areas of journalism and strategic communication, including practical hands-on training in real-world news media and strategic communication agencies. In addition, the School’s Reynolds Journalism Institute provides resources and opportunities to develop and test new ideas.

The University of Missouri Institute for Data Science and Informatics (muidsi.missouri.edu/) was established in 2008 and hosts 61 core faculty members from 23 departments and eight colleges/schools on the MU campus. The Institute’s research addresses the areas of Biomedical Informatics, Clinical Informatics, Geospatial Informatics, and Big Data Analytics. The pioneering Data Science and Analytics MS degree (dsa.missouri.edu) offers students the opportunity to learn from faculty members while tackling real-world Big Data issues. Concentration areas include data journalism and strategic communication.

The University of Missouri (MU or Mizzou), located in Columbia, has an enrollment of 35,000 students and is Missouri's largest public research university. Mizzou is also the flagship campus of the four-campus University of Missouri System and one of only five universities nationwide with law, medicine, veterinary medicine and a nuclear research reactor on one campus. A member of the prestigious Association of American Universities since 1908, Mizzou is considered one of the nation's top-tier institutions.

With a population of roughly 120,000, Columbia is located midway between Missouri’s largest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City. Money magazine, Fortune magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Men's Journal, and MSN.com have named Columbia one of the best places in the United States to live because of its high quality of life. Columbia is home to nationally renowned public schools, including two top-ranked high schools. The city provides many opportunities for art, culture and music enthusiasts and has been recognized as a bike-friendly community with many parks and trails.

The University of Missouri is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive academic community of faculty, staff and students. We seek individuals who are committed to this goal and our core campus values of respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence.

To request ADA accommodations, please contact the Office of Accessibility and ADA Education at 573-884-7278 or CheekA@missouri.edu.

An Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/Pro Disabled and Veteran Employer