Research Assistant Professor, Department of Interactive Media

The School of Communication at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) invites applications for a Research Assistant Professor position. We seek candidates whose research examines how increasingly agentic AI (e.g., large language models, algorithmic systems) shape users psychological and behavioral well-being, particularly among vulnerable populations.

Applicants are encouraged to approach these topics from perspectives such as human-machine communication, mobile communication, and health communication, employing mixed methodologies (e.g., experimental, computational, and qualitative approaches) and integrating diverse data types, including self-reported and digital trace data.

The School of Communication at HKBU has a long-standing reputation for excellence in teaching, research, and professional education. It offers an intellectually vibrant and collaborative environment that supports impactful scholarship and fosters the next generation of communication researchers and professionals. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate strong potential for promotion to assistant professor, as evidenced by high-quality research performance and publication record.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on applied and/or theoretical issues in agentic AI related communication studies;
• Apply for competitive external funding (e.g., RGC grants) to support a sustainable research agenda;
• Teach assigned undergraduate or postgraduate courses each semester on communication theory or relevant research methods and analytical tools (e.g., R, SPSS, Mplus, NVivo, SNA, etc.); and
• Contribute to service and administrative duties within the school, university, and academic community.

Requirements:

• A Ph.D. degree in Communication, Information Science, or a related field is required.
• Demonstrated expertise in mixed-methods research, including experiment, computational, and qualitative approaches, etc;
• Proven ability to lead and coordinate research teams and work effectively in a collaborative environment;
• Commitment to working in a culturally diverse academic community; and
• Strong record of peer-reviewed publications in top-tiered (JCR Q1) SSCI/SCI journals.

Preferred Attributes:

An ideal candidate will contribute to the school s mission of advancing high-impact research that bridges academia, industry, government, and the wider public, addressing the social implications of AI and emerging media technologies.

The appointment will begin in April 2026 for a contract of three years.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Application Procedure:

Applicants are invited to submit their applications at the HKBU e-Recruitment System. In addition, applicants should submit the following documents:

• A cover letter outlining research interests and teaching experience;
• A curriculum vitae (including educational background and publication record);
• A list of three references (contact information only at the initial stage).

Three letters of recommendation will be requested at the second stage of the selection process.

Those who are not invited for interview 4 months after submission of application may consider their applications unsuccessful. All application materials including publication samples, scholarly/creative works will be disposed of after completion of the recruitment exercise unless upon request. Details of the Personal Information Collection Statement can be found at https://hro.hkbu.edu.hk/en/worklife-at-hkbu/employee-favourable-environment.html#privacy-policy.

The University reserves the right not to make an appointment for the post advertised, and the appointment will be made according to the terms and conditions applicable at the time of offer.

Review of applications is ongoing until the position is filled.