Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, Dublin Innovation Institute – Northeastern University – Dublin, Ireland / Boston, MA in United States

Summary

Northeastern University is seeking two open-rank faculty members for full-time positions. The role involves an initial appointment of up to four years at the Dublin Innovation Institute (DII) in Dublin, Ireland, focusing exclusively on research. Following this, the appointment will transition to a tenured or tenure-track faculty role at Northeastern's Boston, Massachusetts campus, with responsibilities including teaching, research, and service. The successful candidates will contribute to building a transatlantic research network focused on understanding systemic risks posed by digital and information technologies to democratic societies. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in Political Science, Communication, Computer Science, Information Science, Computational Social Science, or related fields. The application deadline is November 1, 2026.

Key Facts

Department	Dublin Innovation Institute – Northeastern University
Position Type	Full-Time, Open-Rank (Tenured or Tenure-Track)
Discipline	Political Science, Communication, Computer Science, Information Science, Computational Social Science
Research Area	Information, the Internet & Democracy; systemic risks of digital and information technologies to democratic societies; how people acquire, process, and share information in democratic societies; computational social science approaches to study information ecosystems and their implications for democratic governance; information acquisition and democratic processes; harms and/or mitigation approaches related to digital information technologies; AI's effect on civic and political information; information exposure and political behavior in digital environments; social media dynamics and democratic participation; misinformation, disinformation, and their effects on public opinion; news consumption patterns and media fragmentation; computational approaches to studying political communication; algorithmic curation and its democratic implications; digital platforms and civic engagement; information networks and political polarization; media effects on electoral processes and accountability; public opinion formation in information-rich environments.
Degree Required	Ph.D.
Contract Duration	Up to 4 years at DII, followed by a tenured or tenure-track role.
Deadline	2026-11-01
Required Documents	Cover letter, Curriculum vitae, Research statement, Teaching statement, Sample syllabi, Evidence of teaching effectiveness with complete sets of recent student evaluations, Names and contact information for at least three individuals who can each provide a letter of recommendation
Employer Address	Dublin Innovation Institute, Dublin, Ireland; Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Employer Contact	David Lazer, Search Committee Chair, at [email protected]

About the Project

The research project aims to build a transatlantic research network and agenda to understand systemic risks posed by digital and information technologies to democratic societies. Scholars will investigate how people acquire, process, and share information in democratic societies and/or in the service of democratic norms. The focus includes computational social science approaches to study information ecosystems and their implications for democratic governance, particularly at the intersection of information acquisition and democratic processes. Specific topics of interest include AI's impact on civic/political information, information exposure and political behavior in digital environments, social media dynamics, misinformation/disinformation, news consumption, algorithmic curation, digital platforms, information networks, media effects, and public opinion formation.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform research at the Dublin Innovation Institute (DII) for up to 4 years
• Support the work of Northeastern University's Institute for Information, the Internet & Democracy to build a transatlantic research network and research agenda
• Contribute to an interdisciplinary community of scholars examining social, political, and technological dimensions of information flows in contemporary democracies
• Transition to a tenured or tenure-track faculty role at Northeastern's Boston campus after the initial phase
• Teach at Northeastern's Boston campus (subsequent phase)
• Conduct research at Northeastern's Boston campus (subsequent phase)
• Perform service duties at Northeastern's Boston campus (subsequent phase)

Required Skills

• Computational social science approaches to study information ecosystems
• Research on information acquisition and democratic processes
• Research portfolio focused on potential harms and/or approaches to mitigating harms related to digital information technologies
• Demonstrated interest and engagement in translational research that informs public policy

Who Should Apply

Exceptional scholars from all sectors of the community who employ computational social science approaches to study information ecosystems and their implications for democratic governance. Candidates should have a research portfolio focused on potential harms and/or approaches to mitigating harms related to digital information technologies, and demonstrated interest in translational research that informs public policy. A Ph.D. in Political Science, Communication, Computer Science, Information Science, Computational Social Science, or related fields is required.

Benefits

• Medical insurance (Boston-based phase)
• Vision insurance (Boston-based phase)
• Dental insurance (Boston-based phase)
• Paid time off (Boston-based phase)
• Tuition assistance (Boston-based phase)
• Wellness & life benefits (Boston-based phase)
• Retirement benefits (Boston-based phase)
• Commuting & transportation benefits (Boston-based phase)

About the Employer

Northeastern University, established in 1898, is a leader in global experiential learning and interdisciplinary research, addressing international issues in health, security, and sustainability. It has executed externally funded research programs and graduate Ph.D. education programs for almost 80 years. Over the last two decades, it has transformed into a global research university through strategic collaborations. Northeastern is currently the fifth-highest funded private research university without a medical school.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the duration of the appointment at the Dublin Innovation Institute?

The initial appointment at the Dublin Innovation Institute is expected to last up to four years.

What are the responsibilities after the Dublin-based phase?

After the Dublin-based phase, the appointment will transition to a tenured or tenure-track faculty role at Northeastern's Boston campus, with responsibilities including teaching, research, and service.

What is the required academic qualification for this position?

A Ph.D. in Political Science, Communication, Computer Science, Information Science, Computational Social Science, or related fields is required by the employment start date.

Will the university assist with work permits?

Yes, DII and the university will sponsor eligible candidates for the necessary work permit(s) subject to local immigration requirements for both the Republic of Ireland and the US portions of the role.

Who should I contact for questions about the application?

You should address applications and any questions to David Lazer, Search Committee Chair, at [email protected].

What benefits are offered for the Boston-based phase of the appointment?

Benefits for the Boston-based phase include medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement, as well as commuting & transportation.