Job Details

Assistant Professor in Indigenous Communication in the Department of Communication

Position Number: 6871928
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Position Type: Communications - Media & Communication Studies

Assistant Professor in Indigenous Communication in the Department of Communication

Details

The Department of Communication at the University of Utah invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Indigenous Communication. We seek a scholar whose research and teaching center Indigenous knowledge systems, lived experiences, and communicative practices, particularly in relation to areas such as health, science, environment, journalism and media, and public life.

The successful candidate will have an interdisciplinary research agenda that examines how communication operates within and across Indigenous communities, institutions, and publics. Areas of interest may include (but are not limited to): Indigenous health communication, environmental and land-based communication, science and technology studies, risk and crisis communication, media sovereignty, journalism, public policy, and community-engaged or participatory research.

We are especially interested in candidates whose research and teaching:

Centers Indigenous epistemologies, methodologies, and ethical research practices
Addresses issues of equity, sovereignty, and self-determination in communicative contexts
Engages applied or community-based approaches with relevance to health, science, environmental, or policy settings
Engages significant teaching areas such as applied research methods, strategic communication, social responsibility, professional and organizational communication, health communication, journalism, and media theory

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

A strong and emerging research agenda with clear potential for peer-reviewed publication and external funding
A commitment to inclusive, culturally grounded, and equity-minded teaching that is anchored in expertise in Indigenous knowledge systems, lived experiences, and communicative practices
The ability to contribute to interdisciplinary collaboration across health, science, environmental, and policy-focused units
Interest in mentoring students and participating in departmental and university service
Evidence of successful teaching across areas such as applied research methods, strategic communication, social responsibility, professional and organizational communication, health communication, journalism, and media theory

Teaching responsibilities will include undergraduate and graduate courses aligned with departmental needs in Communication as listed above, with additional opportunities to develop courses in Indigenous Communication, health communication, environmental communication, journalism and media, or related areas.

The University of Utah is committed to fostering an inclusive campus community and strongly encourages applications from candidates who will contribute to the intellectual, cultural, and social vitality of Indigenous, local, and global communities.

Minimum Qualifications

Ph.D. in Communication or a closely related field by the start date (ABD candidates will be accepted)

Appointment Details

Tenure-track Assistant Professor
Full-time, nine-month appointment
Competitive salary and benefits

Review of applications begins 2/18/2026.

Department: 00085 - Communication
City: Salt Lake City, UT
Track: Tenure Track
Close Date:
Open Until Filled: Yes
Requisition Number: PRN01468CF

To apply, visit https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/195363

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action (OEO/AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at:
https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/
Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu