The Department of Journalism at the University of Connecticut (UConn) seeks a tenure-track faculty member at the rank of Assistant Professor to join a cluster hire in Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML): Understanding and Addressing Natural and Climate Change-Related Disasters. With hires in Journalism, Earth Sciences, Economics, Geography, and Statistics, the cluster will engage the role of AI/ML in understanding the scientific underpinnings of natural and human-induced environmental risk, human dimensions of hazards and risk mitigation, the economic impacts of these hazards, and meaningful public engagement.

For the Department of Journalism, we seek a colleague with broad knowledge and a passion for data and fast-evolving AI-assisted tools and techniques for journalism. We welcome applicants who are making use of AI/ML innovation and its ethical applications for journalists and possess a strong interest in products and processes that use AI to amplify factual information in public facing ways and meaningfully engage public audiences.

Our ideal candidate will have significant professional journalism experience and an interest in experimenting with emerging AI/ML tools for storytelling, crunching and analyzing data, streamlining journalistic workflows, and debunking disinformation. The successful candidate’s active research will help shape best practices for how journalists approach evolving AI/ML technology, considering its opportunities, vulnerabilities, and risks.

The Journalism faculty member hired as part of the AI/ML cluster will have opportunities to collaborate within and across departments in the cluster and engage in connections to other centers and institutes across the University. This hiring initiative builds on the investment of the UConn College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in research, teaching, and public outreach focused on AI/ML and environmental problems.

UConn Journalism is the only nationally accredited journalism program in New England. As such, it embraces the standards set by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (www.acejmc.org). It has six tenure-stream faculty, three in-residence faculty, and about 175 undergraduate majors. All faculty members have significant professional backgrounds, with records of professional publication and scholarship, including two who have won Pulitzer Prizes. The goal of the Department is for our journalism graduates to represent the highest standards of our profession and become national and international leaders in the field. We do not produce promotional, marketing, or advertising material. For more information see: https://journalism.uconn.edu. The Journalism Department embraces an inclusive environment and encourages applications from members of underrepresented groups.

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, Connecticut, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence and a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled UConn to become extraordinarily selective. Our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will exhibit a genuine, demonstrated interest in scholarship on the use of artificial intelligence/machine learning and its ethical applications for journalism in news gathering, news production, and distribution. The successful candidate is expected to contribute to research and scholarship through publications in high-quality scholarly, professional, or mass media venues.

In the area of teaching, the successful candidate will share a deep commitment to effective undergraduate instruction. The teaching load is two courses per semester – one course focused on the specialized expertise of the faculty member and one core journalism course. All Journalism faculty members are expected to contribute to the Department's goal of preparing future generations of journalists to serve the needs of an increasingly diverse population.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in journalism or another related field, or Ph.D. (depending on the field).
• A strong professional journalism portfolio showing practical knowledge of data-driven methods/applications and the use of AI-assisted tools and techniques.
• Demonstrated capacity to teach at least one undergraduate core journalism course.
• Documentation of a commitment to teaching and/or mentoring a diverse student population.
• Ability to excel in research, teaching, and public engagement.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience teaching courses involving data journalism, and artificial intelligence/machine learning.
• University teaching experience.
• History of involvement in relevant professional journalism organizations.
• Demonstrated interest in climate change and environmental/public health problems in general.
• Demonstrated history of or potential for securing external funding.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a 9-month, tenure-track position at the level of Assistant Professor with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2024. The teaching load includes two courses per semester. The successful candidate’s academic appointments will be at the Storrs campus. Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience, as well as disciplinary norms.