Science-Based Solutions to Grand Challenges in Equity & Inclusion

Position: Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track.

Location: Ithaca, NY, USA. The academic home for this position is the Department of Communication, housed in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) on the Ithaca campus of Cornell University.

Position Description and Responsibilities: Cornell University’s Department of Communication seeks a colleague whose work explicitly addresses ongoing systemic challenges facing historically marginalized and disadvantaged communities, and centers equity, inclusion, and evidence-based approaches, in order to complement the disciplinary and cross-disciplinary strengths of the Department of Communication and CALS. This hire will join a CALS cohort who use basic and applied science to solve challenges and build sustainable relationships that engage historically marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities in the research process. Members of the cohort benefit from proactive mentoring that engages a network of senior faculty, academic and non-academic peers, and internal and external advocates during pre- and post-tenure career development. Mentoring partnerships are bidirectional, empowering the cohort and its members, and providing space for innovative collaborations to emerge from shared interests, goals, and opportunities.

We invite applications for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level. The position involves 50% research and 50% teaching responsibilities. Communication faculty teach two or three undergraduate and/or graduate courses per academic year (for a total of five courses across four semesters) and advise students in the department’s undergraduate and Ph.D. programs. The anticipated start date is July 1, 2024. Cornell offers a highly competitive salary and benefits package. Support for start-up research costs is available.

The successful applicant will conduct research that advances the department’s excellence in communication research and helps to solve challenges and build sustainable relationships that engage historically marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities in the research process. To continue Cornell University's legacy of engaged scholarship, the ideal candidate will have a track record of and sustained commitment to building relationships with the communities with whom they partner. Strong consideration will be given to communication scholars with demonstrated research and teaching in areas such as (but not exclusive to): disparities in access/use/representation in media and communication technologies; climate and environmental justice; social and socio-economic system resilience under climate change, globalization, and/or technological change; health equity; food security, food access, and food technology; agricultural, natural resource, land, and water (dis)possession and management; participatory research; improving urban landscapes and ecosystems; urban agriculture; empowerment of Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, and other communities of color; access, equity, and inclusion in the realm of artificial intelligence, big data, computational biology and/or the basic life sciences.

Cornell’s Department of Communication is an international leader in the study of communication as a social science. Our faculty and students are dedicated to understanding the role and enhancing the effectiveness of communication processes, systems, and infrastructure in society. We explore communication in its many forms and contexts as a fundamentally social phenomenon. Our faculty members are recognized for developing and applying novel theoretical perspectives to the most pressing social and policy issues of the day. The department is ranked among the top five in the nation in the most recent study by the National Research Council. This ranking reflects the productivity and quality of the faculty and the diversity and success of our students. The department is housed in a state-of-the-art office space that encourages collaborative work.

A track-record of publishing outstanding peer-reviewed scholarship is expected, as is excellence in and commitment to teaching, translation of knowledge, and advising and mentoring of students. We seek a colleague with an outstanding record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence at Cornell. Department faculty participate actively in Cornell's interdisciplinary community, such as through the Cornell Center for Social Sciences, the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research, Cornell Tech, Brooks School of Public Policy, and the Weill Cornell Medical College, and they collaborate with faculty in other departments, such as Information Science; Science & Technology Studies; Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; the S.C. Johnson College of Business, among many others. We welcome candidates who understand the barriers facing women and other marginalized identities who are underrepresented in the classroom and in higher education careers (as evidenced by life experiences and educational background), and who have experience in equity and diversity with respect to teaching, mentoring, research, outreach, life experiences, or service towards building an equitable and diverse scholarly environment.

Required Qualifications: A successful candidate will have a Ph.D. in Communication or a closely aligned field completed by the date of appointment and show promise of developing a national and international reputation doing theory-based empirical research. We seek innovative scholars of social science who will develop a research program connected to college and university priorities in addressing how people communicate, interact, learn, lead, and shape enterprises of all scales to improve the well-being of individuals, communities, and economies around the world.

Application: Applications are encouraged from candidates of all backgrounds, particularly from underrepresented groups and identities. Qualified applicants should submit 1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, qualifications, and interest in the position, 2) a Curriculum Vitae, 3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 4) a teaching statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 5) a statement of contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion outlining how, through research, teaching, mentoring, and/or service, the candidate has and will contribute to support Cornell’s mission of “any person … any study,” 6) at least one (but not more than three) writing sample demonstrating scholarly impact, and 7) names and contact information for four references; we encourage but do not require one reference to include a member of a community or network impacted by and/or integrated into the scholars’ research. Please apply via Academic Jobs Online , https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/24902 . Applications received by August 31, 2023, will be given full consideration. For questions regarding the position, please contact Search Committee Chair, Dr. Jonathon P. Schuldt, [email protected]. For administrative support regarding the application process, contact Kelli Carr, [email protected].

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University is engaged in pioneering pursuit of inclusive, purpose-driven science. As Cornell University’s second largest college, with discovery for impact at its core, we work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through equitable, world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: natural and human systems; food, energy, and environmental resources; and social, physical, and economic well-being. CALS is fundamentally invested in improving the lives of people, their environments, and their communities both in New York state and around the world.

Cornell University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples, has a Dual Career program, and is a member of the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium to assist with dual career searches including positions available in higher education in the upstate New York area.

The new faculty member will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary community on the main campus in Ithaca, New York. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Cornell's regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

The Cornell community embraces diversity and inclusion. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. We value AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and seek candidates who will create a climate that attracts and retains persons of all races, ethnicities, and genders. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations.

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Employment Assistance:

!For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [email protected] .

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX at voice (607) 255-2242, or email at [email protected] .

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also visit the office of Workforce Recruitment and Retention Monday - Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to use a dedicated workstation to complete an online application.

Notice to Applicants:

Please read the required Notice to Applicants statement by clicking here . This notice contains important information about applying for a position at Cornell as well as some of your rights and responsibilities as an applicant.

EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.
• Academic Discipline (faculty pay ranges reflects 9-month annual salary)
• Unique applicable skills.