Description

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
School of Information Sciences
Assistant/Associate/Full Professor in Information, Culture & Society

The School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign seeks to hire outstanding faculty members to join our dynamic and collegial iSchool. We invite applications for at least one faculty position in information, culture, and society at the rank of Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor.

The iSchool welcomes scholars who share our interest in how information and its practices have shaped, and continue to shape, society through time from ancient techniques of visualization to early modern technologies of difference-making to the recent datafication of human life.

We seek candidates who explore the cultural and political practices of information from a humanistic perspective. Areas of investigation could include but are not limited to: ways of observing, describing, and representing; the visual organization of information; and strategies of abstracting, encoding, measuring, naming, classifying, and disseminating, as well as their consequences. Experimental and interdisciplinary approaches welcomed.

Candidates with backgrounds in history, the history of science & technology, philosophy, art history, and visual/material culture are especially encouraged to apply.

Time period and area of specialization are open. Stronger candidates will likely be able to suggest how their work can address contemporary issues and shed light on the evolving relationship of information, culture, and society.

A typical teaching load is three courses per year (2:1) across our undergraduate and graduate programs.

We seek applicants who will thrive in an interdisciplinary academic unit at one of the nation’s premier land-grant research universities. Successful candidates must exhibit the potential to conduct world-class research, teach effectively in undergraduate, professional, and doctoral programs, and contribute to our mission of service and community engagement.

At the iSchool at Illinois, we employ methods from across the disciplines to grapple with society’s most urgent challenges related to information, its practices, and technologies. Our faculty members are highly interdisciplinary, with backgrounds in information science, philosophy, history, psychology, political science, cognitive science, engineering, computer science, library science, literature, medieval studies, and sociology. The iSchool has four active research centers and an ever-growing number of labs in which faculty and students work together on their cutting-edge research projects: ischool.illinois.edu/research.

The iSchool at Illinois is home to the top-ranked professional master’s program in library and information science, which offers an award-winning online enrollment option, as well as joint degrees with History, Law, African Studies, and Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies. We also offer professional master’s programs in information management and bioinformatics, a certificate of advanced study, a licensure program in school librarianship, as well as an exciting STEM-designated undergraduate degree that reimagines a liberal arts education for a global information society. The iSchool’s doctoral program, established in 1948, is the oldest of its kind. More information can be found at: ischool.illinois.edu.

These are full-time, tenure-track faculty positions, appointed on a 9-month service basis paid over 12 months. The anticipated start date for appointments made under this announcement is 16 August 2026. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent in a relevant field by the time of appointment.

The targeted salary ranges for these positions is $105,000-$130,000 at the Assistant Professor level, $115,000-$145,000 at the Associate Professor level, and $140,000-$200,000 at the Professor level. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

To apply, please submit a cover letter of about two pages that discusses your interest in and suitability for this position, a CV, statements of research and teaching of about two pages each, and the contact information for three references. Letters of recommendation will only be solicited for candidates who are invited to campus for an interview. Applications received by December 15, 2025 will receive full consideration. Interviews may occur on a rolling basis. Review of applications will continue until suitable candidates are identified. Applications must be submitted through the University of Illinois Job Board online at jobs.illinois.edu.

For further information regarding this search, please contact the chair of the committee, Bonnie Mak bmak@illinois.edu, with "search" in the subject line. Questions about the application process should be directed to the iSchool’s Office of Human Resources at ischool-hr@illinois.edu or 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois has an active and successful dual-career partner placement program, a strong commitment to work-life balance, and a range of family-friendly programs. More information about these and other benefits can be found at go.illinois.edu/workatillinois.

The University of Illinois must comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.