Assistant Professor, Computational Communication

The Opportunity

The Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) in the College of Sciences at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-earning assistant professor with an emphasis in Computational Communication. This position is anticipated to begin in August 2026.

The successful candidate will contribute to the mission of the school by teaching at the graduate and undergraduate levels in one or more of NSCM's undergraduate programs in Communication, Advertising/Public Relations, Communication M.A. program, and Strategic Communication Ph.D. programs. The successful candidate may be expected to teach in different modalities including face-to-face and online.

Other typical responsibilities include actively participating in the school's academic life. This includes serving on committees, attending faculty meetings, graduations, and assessing student learning. External service expectations may include work with appropriate academic bodies and professional organizations. Additionally, we are especially interested in a candidate who can contribute through their research, teaching, and service to the excellence of our academic community and foster an environment in which faculty, staff, and students can thrive.

The UCF Nicholson School of Communication and Media (NSCM) provides a student-centered experience at the exciting intersection of technology, media, film, advertising, communications and public relations. As the premier academic program for communications and media in Central Florida with successful alumni around the globe, NSCM is known for excellence in research, teaching, and service to students and the community. The curriculum blends both the theoretical and applied aspects of the field, offering eight bachelor's degree programs, four master's degree programs, and a Ph.D. program in strategic communication. For more information about the school, visit https://communication.ucf.edu.

The UCF College of Sciences (COS) is the largest college at the university and a powerhouse for the regional and national STEM workforce, spanning the natural, computational, physical, and social sciences and housing centers, institutes and initiatives that serve as hubs for research and innovation. Through sharing and applying knowledge, COS is cultivating pathways for students to solve our world's most pressing and complex problems. With a mission to provide a world-class education in an environment where faculty, staff, and students thrive, research flourishes, and our community prospers; a number of COS academic programs are among those nationally ranked by U.S. News and World Report, Princeton Review, and others. For more information, please visit https://sciences.ucf.edu.

UCF, named one of the most innovative public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, is located in Orlando, Florida and is classified as a Very High Research Activity university by the Carnegie Foundation. With more than 70,000 students, UCF is one of the largest universities in the country, offering more than 240 degree programs. UCF is an economic engine, attracting and supporting industries vital to the region's future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. For more information, visit http://www.ucf.edu.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Communication or related area from an accredited institution by the start of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Applicants should be able to teach undergraduate and graduate courses in advertising and public relations, computational methods, quantitative methods, and other communication-related courses.

• Quantitative and computational approaches to these perspectives and topics can include, but are not limited to: semantic network analysis, social network analysis, data analytics, data visualization, machine learning (ML), or natural language processing

• Applicants should be able to integrate computational social science methods into their courses, including Python or R.

• The ideal candidate will conduct theory-driven, empirical communication research; have a promising or demonstrated outstanding research record; and the potential for obtaining external funding.

• Applicants should be able to mentor master's and doctoral students.

Additional Application Materials Required:
UCF requires all applications and supporting documents be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/. In addition to the online application, interested candidates should upload the following:

• A curriculum vitae.

• A letter of interest describing qualifications for the position, such as research agenda and teaching experience/interest.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

NOTE: Please have all documents ready when applying so they can be simultaneously uploaded. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to: Robert Littlefield vie email at Robert.littlefield@ucf.edu.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:
N/A

Job Close Date:

November 15, 2025

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?
As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program.

• Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.

• Retirement savings options.

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions.

• Education assistance.

• Flexible work environment.

• And more...For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

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Work Schedule

Type of Appointment

Expected Salary

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.