Careers

The College of Communication Arts and Sciences invites applications for two Dean’s Postdoctoral Research Associates. The Dean’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program is designed to promote an inclusive scholarly environment and nurture outstanding scholars in communication and related fields whose work advances diversity, equity, and inclusion. Fellows are appointed for a one-year fellowship, renewable for a second year. The Dean’s Postdoctoral research associate is a research-focused position. Selected candidates will pursue their research program with formal mentorship and support of faculty. Postdoctoral Fellows will have the opportunity to teach one course or complete one outreach-focused project per academic year, as appropriate for the candidate’s career goals. The appointment includes a competitive salary, benefits package, and funds for research and travel. 

Dean’s Research Associates will conduct research with the mentorship of faculty across any of the five departments/schools in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences. Researchers will be assigned a faculty mentorship committee. We encourage applicants to review faculty biographies before applying. Salary range begins at $60,000.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

• Applicants will be selected based on their academic achievement, promise in research and teaching, as well as their demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the academy. 

• Any remote work permitted with respect to this position must be performed in the state of Michigan. The employee must be able to come to work at the East Lansing campus location as needed.

•  CV 

• A 1-2 page cover letter that states your interest in the program and that responds to each of the following prompts:

  • What are your research interests and how might they be advanced through mentorship from specific ComArtSci faculty and/or research labs and centers? List up to three potential faculty mentors with whom you share research interests.

  • What are your career goals and how do you envision that your career might advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in your field? 

  • You may also describe any experiences that have shaped your trajectory as an academic.  

• Names and contact information for three references. References will only be contacted for finalists

This opportunity is housed in MSU’s world-renowned College of Communication Arts and Sciences at Michigan State University. Established in 1955, as the first of its kind in the country, “ComArtSci” is now one of the largest and most respected colleges of Communication in the world. The College of Communication Arts and Sciences combines a research-intensive faculty with a strong professional mission to prepare students for rewarding careers and to influence the professional practice of communication globally.  

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are integral to our practice as communicators, storytellers, and innovators. We believe it is our responsibility to foster an open and welcoming environment that aspires to attract, recruit, and sustain diverse students, faculty, and staff. Diversity is among the main drivers of institutional excellence, and we are proud to embrace and promote broad communities of knowledge, backgrounds, and experiences. Our efforts to advance DEI are guided by a shared vision grounded in a culture of caring, belonging, transparency, and accountability. In alignment with the University’s DEI plan, we commit to actively challenge, disrupt, and dismantle systems that reinforce and/or maintain historical and contemporary social inequalities and inequities. We are dedicated to ongoing dialogue to strengthen our commitment to social justice, advocacy, and activism. We strive to be DEI thought leaders who inspire, influence, and cultivate progress in our College and throughout the MSU community.