Digital Games Post-Doctoral Associate

The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication within the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota invites applications for a one year, 9-month (AY25-26 August-May) position as a Postdoctoral Teaching Scholar in Digital Games, beginning Fall 2025 (start date: 8/25/2025). This is a 80%-time appointment for one year as a postdoctoral associate (Job Code 9546).

About the Position

At the University of Minnesota, postdoctoral associates are academic employees who conduct research, teach, or provide service that enhances career skills or allows for opportunities to learn new research or teaching techniques. They are trained by and work with a faculty mentor who collaboratively determines the training agenda. The goal of this position is to provide the candidate with advanced training in teaching courses in the School's core curricula. Candidates will also have opportunities to join, learn from, and contribute to Hubbard's research labs and group. Candidates who have research trajectories that align with current faculty research is a plus. The identified mentor will also help the postdoctoral position in their teaching and research for future opportunities.

Teaching Responsibility: 66.5%

• Responsibilities include preparing courses, advising students, and teaching a minimum of four undergraduate courses in a 9-month appointment, which may include: Media in a Changing World, Digital Games and Society, Mobile Communication, Digital Media and Culture, and/or other key courses in the Social Media curriculum sequence.

Research and professional development: 33.5%

• The selected candidate will also engage in training and research development activities, as determined in consultation with a faculty mentor. The postdoctoral associate will work with faculty to develop professional development and research activities associated with the unit's emerging strategic communication institute.

Required Qualifications:

• All candidates must expect to earn a Ph.D. in Mass Communication or a related field (e.g., communication) by the appointment start-date (08/25/2025).
• Expertise in media and digital games and evidence of excellence in teaching in higher education settings.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior teaching and research experience in media and digital games.
• Demonstrated potential to teach courses in the existing undergraduate curricula, including from among the following: Media in a Changing World, Digital Games and Society, Mobile Communication, Digital Media and Culture, and/or other key courses in the Social Media curriculum sequence
• A demonstrated commitment, knowledge, and skill in working with students to foster an environment of inclusion and belonging.
• Engagement with new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, in classroom teaching and the study of ethics in its use is a plus.

About the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication

The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota is part of the College of Liberal Arts and is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Journalism and Mass Communication. The Hubbard School offers majors in Strategic Communication - Advertising and Public Relations, Professional Journalism, and Media and Information; and minors in Media and Information and Digital Media Studies. The Hubbard School offers an academic M.A. and Ph.D. and a Professional M.A. in Strategic Communication.

Housed in Murphy Hall, a state-of-the-art facility for teaching and research of journalism, strategic communication, and emerging media studies, the Hubbard School is home to the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law, the Minnesota Journalism Center, the Hubbard Digital Studios, and the Digital Information Research Center/Sevareid Library. Hubbard facilities also include the Murphy Hall conference center, multimedia classrooms, and psychophysiological communication research labs, and a focus group room, which is used to support graduate-level experimental research. For further information, please visit the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication's website, at: https://cla.umn.edu/hsjmc

About the College of Liberal Arts
Home to the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over 20 buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, more than 40% of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual all-funds budget of $290 million.
CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints-so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

Pay Range: $51,000 - $53,000 annually; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Please visit the Office of Student Health Benefits website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

Student workers are eligible to participate in the Student Health Benefit Plan, if they maintain 6 or more eligible course credits within a given semester. The same applies for Undergraduate Students, Graduate Assistants, Residents, Fellows and Interns.

Student positions are a form of financial support while pursuing an education at the University of Minnesota.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and curriculum vita.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section. In order to be considered for this position, applicants must submit the following materials:

1. Cover letter addressing minimum and preferred qualifications
2. Curriculum Vita
3. A list of 3 professional references

Please submit all files as PDFs.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.
For inquiries regarding the postdoctoral teaching position, please contact Dr. Maria Len-Rios, Professor and Chair of the search committee, by email: lenr0001@umn.edu

For inquiries regarding the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication, please contact Dr. Elisia Cohen, Professor and Director of the School, by email: ecohen@umn.edu.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).