Assistant Professor in AI Policy and Media

About the Opportunity

The College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) at Northeastern University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in AI Policy and Media, to be located at the Boston campus. We are particularly interested in candidates at the intersection of fields such as Communication Studies, Journalism and Media Innovation, Political Science, Science and Technology Studies, and Media Studies. We seek an assistant professor to be appointed in Communication Studies or Journalism in CAMD, and jointly appointed at the Policy School within the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. Northeastern's new Institute for Information, the Internet, and Democracy (IIID) will also be a possible research locus for joint activity and collaboration.

The ideal candidate will conduct original research at the intersection of AI policy, democracy, and creative and/or media industries; investigate the social, political, and ethical implications of AI systems and digital platforms; examine the impact of emerging technologies on democratic institutions and public discourse; and/or assess the implications of generative AI for creative and media industries, such as for intellectual property.

In this capacity, the successful candidate will develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in digital policy, AI governance, technology and democracy, platform regulation, AI and media, or related topics. This is an excellent opportunity for scholars interested in shaping the discourse on responsible AI development, democratic governance, and creative industries in the digital age. We are seeking a candidate with a record of high-quality research on AI policy and internet governance initiatives.

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 office 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 will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, including courses in our interdisciplinary programs; mentoring students at undergraduate, masters, 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.

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

Interested candidates should apply here with a curriculum vita that includes a list of publications, a cover letter, and statements addressing the prompts below. 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.

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—in Boston; Arlington, Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; London; Portland, Maine; 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.

The Policy School in the College of Social Science and Humanities aims to drive interdisciplinary thinking and problem solving on issues of pressing concern to society at local, state, national, and international levels – from transportation, housing, energy and community development to social and environmental justice, resilience and sustainability. By educating students in both theory and practice, the Policy School prepares them to become effective contributors to social, economic, and environmental change, in careers spanning the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, as well as academic research.

The Institute for Information, the Internet, and Democracy (IIID) conducts high-impact, responsive research that keeps pace with rapidly evolving technology while addressing its profound implications for users and society. IIID actively works to understand, evaluate, and improve how these powerful digital platforms and information communications tools can better serve democratic values and institutions.

Position Type

Academic

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit for more information.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Pay Range:

Assistant Professor: $97, $122,000.00

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.