Associate or Full Professor in Artificial Intelligence, Entertainment, and Human Communication

About the Role

Northwestern School of Communication invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in Artificial Intelligence, Entertainment, and Human Communication. We seek an innovative scholar, artist, designer, technologist, legal scholar, or interdisciplinary researcher whose work examines the opportunities, challenges, and societal implications of artificial intelligence across creative industries, communication, performance, and human-centered technologies.

Areas of Interest

Candidates may be working in areas such as:

• AI and Creative Practice: Stage, scenic, costume, lighting, projection, and production design using AI-enhanced tools; generative AI in theatre, film, television, gaming, music, and immersive experiences; AI-assisted virtual characters and digital performers; human-AI collaboration in artistic creation and performance; virtual production, digital environments, and emerging entertainment technologies; AI-assisted storytelling and audience engagement
• AI, Sound, and Music: AI applications in sound design, music production, and audio engineering; computational approaches to sound analysis and immersive audio; machine learning and adaptive sound environments; ethical and artistic implications of AI-generated music and sound; AI voice cloning and digital voice ownership
• AI, Society, Policy, and Law: Intellectual property, copyright, and licensing of AI-generated content; labor, employment, and workforce implications of AI in creative industries; entertainment contracts and governance frameworks related to AI; ethical, regulatory, and societal implications of AI-enabled creative and communication technologies; design, development, and evaluation of human-centered AI systems that support artists, performers, designers, communicators, and audiences; role of AI in expanding accessibility, participation, and inclusion within creative and cultural experiences; frameworks for responsible, equitable, and transparent AI use in entertainment, media, performance, and communication contexts
• AI, Communication Sciences, Audiology, and Speech-Language Pathology: AI systems supporting vocal health for performers; machine learning approaches to vocal fatigue analysis; voice synthesis, voice preservation technologies, synthetic speech; audience perception of synthetic voices; AI auditory technology for entertainment applications

Primary Responsibilities

• Maintain an active program of research, creative activity, and/or professional practice
• Undergraduate and graduate student instruction
• Development of innovative curricula
• Student mentorship
• Collaboration across disciplines
• Service to the department, school, university, and profession
• Engagement with industry and community partners

Minimum Qualifications

• Terminal degree appropriate to the field and demonstrated expertise in artificial intelligence and its application, impact, governance, or creative use
• The candidate's appointment may be across one or more departments in the School of Communication with the tenure home determined by the major field of expertise

Who Should Apply

We welcome applications from theatre and performance designers, sound designers, communication scientists, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, media scholars, legal scholars, social scientists, and interdisciplinary researchers whose work bridges technology and human creativity.

Application Documents

Applications will be accepted via Northwestern Careers. For full consideration, please include the following materials:

• Cover letter describing relevant interests, preparation, and experience; candidates should specifically address how previous experiences relate to qualifications for the role
• Current CV, including links to creative works, if applicable
• Three (3) contacts for letters of recommendation, of which at least one should address teaching qualifications

Forward questions regarding the position to the search chair, Professor Darren Gergle (dgergle@northwestern.edu).

Pay

• Associate rank: $125,000–$148,000
• Full Professor rank: $225,000–$250,000
• Competitive based upon experience. The pay offered will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate including years since terminal degree, training, and field or discipline; departmental budget availability; internal comparators; and external market pay for comparable jobs.

Schedule

• This is a full-time continuing senior faculty appointment, service of 9 months paid over 12
• Preferred start: September 1, 2027
• Closing date: October 16, 2026
• Review of applications will begin on October 19, 2026

Benefits

Northwestern provides meaningful and competitive benefits including health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs.

About the School

The School of Communication has five departments and offers a suite of interdisciplinary undergraduate, professional, and graduate programs. The departments span the communication arts and sciences including the Department of Radio-Television-Film, the Roxelyn and Richard Pepper Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, the Department of Communication Studies, the Department of Performance Studies, and the Department of Theatre (which includes music theatre and dance). The school offers instruction to roughly 900 undergraduate majors and 650 graduate and professional students. Founded nearly 150 years ago, the School has been a leader in developing the communication disciplines and professions, and continues to be a center of excellence in the communication arts and sciences. Our current Dean is E. Patrick Johnson.

About the University

Northwestern University is one of the nation's largest private research universities. Located on the shore of Lake Michigan, the main campus is in Evanston and the medical campus is 12 miles south in downtown Chicago. There is continuing expansion of University facilities and programs, particularly in the sciences and medicine. A variety of cultural, social, and recreational activities abound on and near each campus. We are committed to supporting a strong campus community.