Assistant Professor

Candidates should have an established record of research and teaching that bridges such disciplines as journalism, digital media, cognitive/behavioral/social dimensions of security technologies, policies/law related to privacy and technologies, and technological advancements in cybersecurity. We seek scholars who can advance interdisciplinary understanding of how people perceive, interact with, and are protected by cybersecurity systems while contributing to our undergraduate and graduate programs and collaborative campus initiatives. 

Among the required characteristics of the hire: 

• A Ph.D. in information science, computer science, media studies, mass communication, computer engineering, communication, or other related or relevant fields, or a terminal degree from another field such as law.
• Experience teaching and/or conducting research on the role people play in keeping computing networks and information systems secure. 
• Experience teaching and/or conducting research that involves explaining tenets, challenges, and solutions/protections in cybersecurity.

Desired qualifications

• Interest in teaching about personal, group, and institutional cybersecurity and privacy.  
• Openness to working with the research team leading the Life in Media Survey (LIMS), a study of digital media use and wellness among 11- to 13-year-olds based in the Department of Journalism and Digital Communication, which, pending funding and budgeting approvals, will track the same respondents into adulthood, and in which personal privacy is an important topic. The researcher would have access to valuable, longitudinal data from a national survey of young adolescents as they age into adults.

Submission requirements

• Cover letter/letter of interest 
• Current C.V. 
• Names and contact information for at least three references

 

Additionally, USF recently established the Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing, and the successful candidate will have the opportunity to liaise with scholars in that new college. 

 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. 

 

USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division 1 athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

 

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Mor