Political Science Associate Jobs in Massachusetts

About the Opportunity

Job Summary:

Northeastern's Dublin Innovation Institute invites applications for two open-rank faculty positions at the Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Full Professor faculty levels in computational social science to begin on January 1, 2027.Appointment will be to the Institute and will report to the Head of the Institute directly. We seek scholars whose research advances our understanding of how people acquire, process, and share information in democratic societies and/or in the service of democratic norms.

Academic rank at the Associate Professor and Full Professor levels will be commensurate with experience and qualifications reflecting a record of demonstrated teaching and scholarly excellence. We welcome applicants from a wide variety of social, scientific, and computational disciplines.

Dublin Innovation Institute:

The Dublin Innovation Institute is an Irish registered company wholly owned by Northeastern University launched in 2025 by Northeastern University, based at University College Dublin. One of the missions of the Institute will be to help build a trans-Atlantic research community around the themes of information, the internet, and contemporary democracy. These hires will be key building blocks in this initiative.

The Dublin Innovation Institute (DII) is a collaborative initiative built on the long- standing partnership between University College Dublin (UCD) and Northeastern University.

For nearly two decades, the two universities have worked together across teaching, research, and innovation. In 2024, the DII was created to deepen this transatlantic partnership and strengthen the research ecosystem connecting Europe and the United States, with a shared focus on addressing global challenges.

Located on the UCD campus, the Dublin Innovation Institute (DII) serves as an independent research entity. Faculty appointed through this competition will be based at the DII and employed directly by the Institute, not by University College Dublin.

About Northeastern University:

Established in 1898, Northeastern University stands as a leader in global experiential learning and interdisciplinary research, addressing international issues in health, security, and sustainability. Externally funded research programs and graduate Ph.D. education programs at Northeastern University have been executed for almost 80 years. Transforming into a global research university over the last two decades, Northeastern has experienced remarkable expansion through strategic collaborations with businesses, government entities, and non-profit organizations.This surge in partnerships has propelled the university's research initiatives and enriched experiential learning avenues for students across all academic levels. Through a focus on, and substantial investment in, impactful, interdisciplinary research, Northeastern University is fostering innovation in emerging fields. This approach recognizes the need for inventive configurations to comprehend intricate systems and effectively translate foundational discoveries into practical, real-world applications. Currently, Northeastern is the fifth-highest funded private research university without a medical school, a list that includes MIT, CalTech, Princeton, and Carnegie Mellon. The University has also been a leading generator of spin-out companies, a testament to its orientation to use-inspired research and faculty and professional researchers strongly engaged with the world outside academia.

Position Overview:

We welcome applications from exceptional scholars from all sectors of the community who employ computational social science approaches to study information ecosystems and their implications for democratic governance. The successful candidate will contribute to our growing interdisciplinary community of scholars examining the social, political, and technological dimensions of information flows in contemporary democracies. The position is structured to start with research responsibilities exclusively, transitioning to a combined research and teaching role in a later phase.

This is a full-time, permanent position (tenure-equivalent). The successful applicant will be based in, and work from Dublin.

Research Focus:

The ideal candidate's research will address questions at the intersection of information acquisition and democratic processes. Of particular interest with respect to the position is a 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 would be a plus. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

How AI is affecting the ways in which people get 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
Qualifications:

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

Documents to Submit:

Applicants should submit a cover letter that addresses their interest in and qualifications for the position, a curriculum vitae, a research statement, a teaching statement, sample syllabi, evidence of teaching effectiveness with complete sets of recent student evaluations and the names and contact information for at least three individuals who can each provide a letter of recommendation.

Closing date: May 1, 2026

Please address applications by end of the day from anywhere in the world no later than May 1, 2026, and any questions to David Lazer, Search Committee Chair, at d.lazer@northeastern.edu.

Benefits:

Employee benefits specifically associated with the Dublin Innovation Institute and this position will be communicated to candidates at the interview stage only. The benefits page linked to the advert relates to the USA and is not applicable to the Dublin location.

The Institute does not require assistance from recruitment agencies. Any applications made by recruitment agencies will be returned.

Pay Ranges:

Assistant Professor: 95,000 - 120,000 EUR

Associate Professor: 110,000 - 140,000 EUR

Full Professor: 135,000 - 180,000 EUR

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Pay Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.