Pay Grade/Pay Range: Minimum: $53,500 - Midpoint: $66,900 (Salaried E8)
Department/Organization: 207201 - Advertising and Public Relations
Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm
Note to Applicants: Position is eligible for remote work subject to University policy.
Job Summary: The Postdoctoral Fellow provides for an internship and continuation of scholarly activity and research after achieving the PhD or other doctoral degree under the direction of a senior faculty member who serves as a mentor for the postdoctoral appointee.
Additional Department Summary: The College of Communication and Information Sciences at The University of Alabama (UA) and the Department of Communication at the University of Utah (UofU) are seeking candidates for a Postdoctoral Fellow in Civic Science for a two-year appointment beginning in August 2026. The fellowship is funded by the Rita Allen Foundation.
Leads the co-design and implementation of a fellowship project in close collaboration with researchers at the University of Alabama and University of Utah. Creates at least one substantial civic science work product that contributes new knowledge to the field and the host institutions.
Conducts research on two related domains. The first domain is understanding how institutions organize, support, and evaluate science communication and public engagement work, with a focus on understanding how administrators and decision-makers perceive and support this work. The second domain is understanding existing pathways of professionalization in science communication to identify gaps in training and competencies for the array of jobs in civic science.
Required Department Minimum Qualifications: Ph.D. in a field relevant to civic science, including biological, physical, or social science; math, technology, or engineering; media, journalism, communication, arts, or design; formal or informal science learning; science funding; community organizing; or public policy.
Candidates must have completed their Ph.D. prior to the start of employment.
Skills and Knowledge: Ability to plan and conduct quality social science research. Ability to synthesize and translate social science research and its implications to lay and expert audiences. Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate public engagement and/or science communication deliverables, interventions, or programs. Ability to work effectively and with minimal supervision as an independent scholar and as a productive team member. Demonstrated ability to integrate research and practice. Demonstrated commitment to broadening participation in and benefits of science. Demonstrated ability to connect and network across scientific domains and sectors.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience with high-level research program and/or project management. Experience in delivering high-level, quality public engagement, science communication, and/or civic science programs. Existing work or demonstrable interest in investigating emergent, anticipatory issues in science and technology with social, ethical, and/or economic import.
Background Investigation 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.
Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal poster.
The University of Alabama affirms its longstanding commitment to institutional neutrality, free speech, and academic freedom.
