Department/Organization
207201 - Advertising and Public Relations

Rank
Assistant Professor

Position Summary
The Department of Advertising and Public Relations, housed in the College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS) at The University of Alabama, invites applications for a nine-month tenure-track faculty appointment at the rank of assistant professor in advertising with a focus on artificial intelligence beginning in August 2025.

Detailed Position Information
The ideal candidate will have expertise in AI-driven innovations in advertising, computational advertising, programmatic advertising, and/or ad effectiveness in AI advertising. Candidates with additional expertise in Machine Learning, Artificial Neural Networks, Supervised and Unsupervised Learning, and/or Deep Learning and their applications within the domains of advertising and/or digital marketing are of particular interest. Applicants should demonstrate evidence of or potential for publishing an impactful research stream within the advertising discipline. Additionally, the ability to teach courses in AI research methods, analysis and insights, social and digital media, channel planning, advanced digital marketing, emerging technologies in A+PR, and media strategy and analytics would be preferred.

About the Department of Advertising & Public Relations
The Department of Advertising & Public Relations houses a growing community of faculty, staff, and students with various research and professional interests. The department faculty engage in a variety of successful cross-campus collaborations and leadership roles, including directorships in multiple communication-oriented labs and the Institute for Communication & Information Research within the college’s Office for Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activity.

The advertising and public relations undergraduate programs are ACEJMC-accredited. Advertising majors have four options: a general major or a concentration in brand management, advertising creative, or integrated channel planning. Public Relations majors have the option of a general or digital communication concentration. The graduate program awards a Master of Arts in advertising and public relations. The two-year residential program offers an individualized track and more specialized advertising, creative, and media strategy concentrations. The graduate program also provides distance-learning concentrations in digital communication and marketing communication management.

The Department is home to the award-winning Minerva advertising portfolio program and the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations. It has been listed by PRWeek magazine as one of the top five programs in the country and APR teams have been recognized in national student competitions including the American Advertising Federation’s National Student Advertising Competition and the Washington Media Scholars Foundation Case Competition. Students gain extensive practical experience before graduation through multiple outlets, including work with the student-run Capstone Agency and industry clients such as NASCAR, the Country Music Association, McLaren Automotive, Twitch, and Tervis.

Review of applications will begin September 15, 2024, and applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Questions regarding the search should be directed to the search chair, Dr. Jihoon Kim at jkim227@ua.edu.

Minimum Qualifications
• Doctorate in Advertising, Mass Communication, Communication Marketing, or closely related field completed by start date of appointment. ABDs will be considered.
• Scholarly activity in advertising or AI-focused journals, university presses, or other publication outlets consistent with departmental expectations for the rank of assistant professor.
• Record of teaching effectiveness, including courses in advertising, public relations, digital media, and/or other communication-related fields.

Preferred Qualifications
• Evidence of or potential for attracting extramural funding. • Potential for and interest in leading multidisciplinary research and/or grant teams. • Professional experience involving the application of AI in advertising or public relations. Demonstrated commitment to diversity of thought, experiences and backgrounds.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application
To apply, go to https://facultyjobs.ua.edu and provide the following: 1) Cover letter highlighting how your research, teaching, and service/leadership have prepared you to contribute to the development of a larger agenda for advancing advertising and artificial intelligence 2) CV 3) Names and contact information for three references 4) Evidence of teaching effectiveness

About the Division/College/School
The College of Communication & Information Sciences has four academic units, approximately 110 full-time faculty members, and serves approximately 3,500 students across bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs, including approximately 95 students in the college-wide Ph.D. program. The college’s Institute for Communication & Information Research (ICIR) is a premier research institute dedicated to addressing societal and cultural issues related to communication and information research. The ICIR collaborates with businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, foundations, and other entities to produce high-impact research that informs and improves our evolving communication and information landscape. The College is also home to the Public Opinion Lab, equipped with the Sprinklr data warehouse and custom data collection and management resources; a biometrics lab outfitted with state-of-the-art iMotions software and associated hardware; and the near-term development of an interactive VR/theater lab, among others. The college is also home to the Holle Center for Communication Arts, whose mission is guided by a commitment to advance narrative justice through innovative and arts-informed research, community engagement, and creative co-operation. The college also maintains the 40,000 square-foot Digital Media Center, which is home to Alabama Public Radio and WVUA 23, a full-power commercial television station serving a top-50 television market.

About the University
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus.

A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. The University of Alabama has R1: Doctoral Universities – Very High Research Activity status by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and is among the top doctoral research universities in the United States.

As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.

About Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa is so much more than a college town.

It's a vibrant community that’s filled with legendary history. Located along the Black Warrior River, the city features a walkable downtown that’s complete with live music, locally owned shops, outdoor spaces to explore and local restaurants to meet every palate. With a geography ranging from suburban to rural, the area offers a variety of housing options along with excellent public and private schools and a wealth of recreational and entertainment options.

With a metro area population of 235,000, the Druid City lies about an hour southwest of Birmingham, in west-central Alabama. It’s within a few hours’ drive of Gulf Coast beaches and major cities like Nashville, New Orleans and Atlanta, making it a great base for growing better acquainted with the South’s finest offerings.

Background Investigation and EEO Statement
Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.

The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. Follow the link below to find out more. "EEO is the Law" https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf