Assistant Professor, Digital Cultures and Ethnography

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Job Title:Assistant Professor, Digital Cultures and Ethnography

Department:Arts and Sciences Comparative Studies

Tenure-Track Assistant Professor, Digital Cultures and Ethnography

Department of Comparative Studies

College of Arts and Sciences

Tenure faculty (regardless of rank) - persons with the titles of professor, associate professor, assistant professor and instructor who serve on appointments totaling 50% or more service to the university and who are eligible for tenure or who have obtained tenure. Duties and responsibilities are assigned in accordance with the workload guidelines laid out in the pattern of administration of each faculty member's tenure initiation unit (TIU) and, as appropriate, regional campus; obligations will include research, service and/or teaching or clinical practice. These faculty will have earned doctorate or other terminal degree in the relevant field of study or possession of equivalent experience.

Position Overview

The Department of Comparative Studies at the Ohio State University invites applications for a position in Digital Cultures and Ethnography at the rank of tenure-track assistant professor. The field of specialization is open. We seek a scholar whose work reflects the Department's commitment to critical, interdisciplinary approaches to culture and society broadly conceived; potential disciplinary backgrounds include, but are not limited to, Folklore Studies, Cultural Studies, Anthropology, Science and Technology Studies, Information Science, and Media Studies. The department especially seeks candidates with expertise in current debates concerning digital cultures, ethnography, and artificial intelligence. The scholar's research may engage with topics such as: online groups and communities, genres, and contexts; the politics of information and misinformation; social media and online mythmaking; new global forms of folklore and performance; worldmaking projects in and beyond virtual spaces; social, political, and environmental implications of digital technologies and data cultures; and other key issues concerning contemporary life. We are particularly interested in candidates trained and actively engaged in digital ethnography, although we welcome applicants whose work also incorporates other methods. The candidate will be able to offer introductory courses in Ohio State's General Education program, as well as upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in the department. We highly value evidence of candidates' experience with program development, securing external resources, and building interdisciplinary connections and research initiatives.

The Department of Comparative Studies is a highly interdisciplinary space. The successful candidate's work will be in conversation with one or more of the fields represented in the Comparative Studies program: Folklore Studies, Cultural Studies, Indigenous Studies, Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies, Literary Studies, Religious Studies, and Science and Technology Studies.

Performance Objectives

Develop and maintain a productive research program in the areas of digital cultures and ethnography

Teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate level, including contributing to departmental strengths in folklore, science and technology studies, and/or cultural studies

Demonstrate excellence in student mentoring

Contribute to program development, curricular development, and other service to the department Education and Experience Requirements

Required : Candidates must have Ph.D. in hand at the time of appointment (August 15, 2026). ABDs are welcome to apply.

Desired : Candidates with training in digital ethnography are preferred as well as those whose work intersects with other fields represented within the department.

Ohio State provides access to a depth and breadth of opportunities and resources. Starting your first day, Ohio State offers you a comprehensive benefits package .

How to Apply

To be considered, please submit your application electronically via Workday. Application period closes 11/10/2025. Application materials submitted in Workday must include:

Attachment 1: Cover Letter: 1-2 page letter, which should include a brief summary of your academic background and why you are interested in this opportunity.

Attachment 2: CV (Curriculum Vitae): Detailed overview of your scholarly experience, including your research experience, teaching and mentoring experience, service, funding, and publications.

Attachment 3: Research Statement: Summary of your past research accomplishments, current work/research, and proposal for your future research plan as a faculty member.

Attachment 4: Teaching Statement: A statement of your approaches, experience and philosophy regarding your teaching, learning, and mentoring.

Attachment 5: A writing sample. Candidates selected to move forward in the process will be asked to provide three letters of reference. For inquiries, please contact Melissa Curley .

Additional Information: The College

With more than 80 majors and 100 minors, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the university. The Arts and Sciences provides extraordinary opportunities to collaborate across disciplines, blending creativity and analysis to truly be at the forefront of thought. The breadth and depth of knowledge in the college gives students and researchers the critical thinking and adaptability essential for a lifetime of success.

Department Information

The Department of Comparative Studies is an interdisciplinary community of students, educators, and scholars who use comparison to attend to the dynamics of knowledge and power in a range of practices and discourses. Within and across boundaries of discipline, nation, and language, we are committed to theoretically driven and empirically grounded scholarship. As a department that values collaboration and interdisciplinarity, we work closely with Ohio State's Humanities Institute, as well as the Center for Ethnic Studies, the Center for Folklore Studies, and the Center for the Study of Religion .

The University

Ohio State is a top-20 public university, and its Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is one of America's leading academic health centers. Eligible Ohio State employees receive comprehensive benefits packages, including medical, dental and vision insurance, tuition assistance for employees and their dependents, and state or alternative retirement options with competitive employer contributions.

Grounded in Ohio State University's Shared Values, our university community welcomes differences, encourages open-minded exploration and courageous thinking, and upholds freedom of expression.

The Ohio State University is committed to enhancing academic excellence. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining faculty of the highest caliber is a core component of this commitment. The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) has established central resources to focus on offering support to new and prospective faculty and their loved ones. Service offerings include dual career partner consultation, potential employer and/or employment opportunity identification, consultation and resources related to relocation, as well as identifying opportunities to engage on campus and in the surrounding community. While employment opportunities are not guaranteed, resources and consultation are available. More information about dual career and faculty recruitment can be found here .

In addition to being responsive to dual-career opportunities, we strongly promote work-life balance to support our community members through a suite of institutionalized policies. Ohio State is a member of the Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia HERC.

Located in Ohio's capital city, Ohio State's Columbus campus is near the center of a rapidly growing and vibrant metropolitan area with a population of over 1.5 million. The area offers a wide range of affordable housing, many cultural and recreational opportunities, excellent schools . click apply for full job details

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