Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow in Health and Risk Communication

Department: Col of Humanities and Soc Science

Classification: Post Doc 12 month

Job Category: Postdoctoral Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Restricted: Yes

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Department of Communication, housed within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at George Mason University, invites applications for the position of Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow in Health and Risk Communication.

George Mason University’s Department of Communication, within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences (CHSS) has a diverse and collegial faculty committed to excellence, innovation, community and public service, and fostering a supportive and welcoming environment for all. All department faculty participate in the life of our campus community, including career fairs, faculty functions, recruiting sessions, and other events. Located just 15 miles from Washington, D.C., we offer a broad undergraduate program, five minor programs, a vibrant MA program including strategic, health, and science communication specialties, and a highly ranked PhD program emphasizing health, science/environment/risk, and strategic communication. The Department also offers a graduate certificate in science communication. We serve a diverse population of undergraduate and graduate students who bring a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds to our classrooms. Additionally, the department supports several co-curricular activities, including debate, forensics, Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and a comprehensive student media program. The research life of the department includes both undergraduate and graduate research, and is reflected in the activities and outreach of its faculty, including those of the Center for Climate Change Communication, the Communication, Health, and Relational Media (CHARM) research lab, the Center for Health and Risk Communication, the Character Assassination and Reputation Politics (CARP) research lab, and the Pop Culture Lab. Finally, the Department hosts the biennial DC Health Communication Conference, as well as the annual meeting of the 4C Medical Society Consortium.

For more information about the Department of Communication, visit: https://communication.gmu.edu/.

About the CHSS Postdoctoral Fellowship Program:

The Postdoctoral Fellowship Program (PFP) provides enhanced professional development and research/teaching training support to postdoctoral researchers and teaching fellows. The learner-centered program offers training, mentoring, and guidance to prepare postdoctoral fellows for careers in and beyond the academy. The Department of Communication will provide research and teaching mentors from our faculty. The fellow will also be provided with a professional development mentor from outside the department. The fellow will have the opportunity to collaborate with department faculty and students on research.

George Mason University is now the most diverse public university in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is classified as an R1 University (very high research activity) according to the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. We seek a fellow to support the research activity of our faculty and the curricula of our academic programs. 

About the Position:

Postdoctoral researchers and teaching fellows receive the benefits of employment which are ordinarily provided to 12-month term faculty members, including annual leave and sick leave accrued at the same rate as is accrued by 12-month term faculty members. However, postdoctoral researchers and teaching fellows are not faculty members and are not governed by the GMU Faculty Handbook.

Appointments are generally made in one-year renewable terms, up to a maximum of three years.

Postdoctoral researchers and teaching fellows are subject to all University policies applicable to all employees, including, but not limited to, Policy 4001, Conflicts of Interest.

Responsibilities:

• Teach 2 courses per semester, determined by department need and candidate expertise;
• Continue research and teaching-related professional development in their specialty area under the supervision of a senior faculty member (“Faculty Mentor”);
• Participate in the Postdoctoral Research and Teaching Fellows Workshop Series;
• Conduct research, scholarship, and creative activities;
• Submit the results of their research for publication; and
• Write and submit grant proposals as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent terminal degree in Communication or related field, received within the last 5 years;
• Ability to teach graduate and/or undergraduate courses in health and risk communication and other areas of applicant expertise based on department need;
• Expertise in one or more research methods (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, critical, etc.); and
• Knowledge in at least one research method.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least 1 year of teaching experience in health and risk communication at the undergraduate and/or graduate level;
• Expertise in critical research methods and related areas;
• Research areas that connect to/complement department research areas generally and the Center for Climate Change Communication specifically;
• Knowledge of climate change communication and interdisciplinary collaboration; and
• Knowledge of critical research methods.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow in Health and Risk Communication at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and any available/applicable teaching evaluations.

The anticipated start date for the position is January 10, 2026.

The application deadline for full consideration will be August 29, 2025. Review of applications will begin thereafter, and continue until the position is filled.

Position-specific questions can be directed to the Search Chair, Dr. Chris Clarke (cclark27@gmu.edu).

Posting Open Date:  August 8, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  August 29, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes