Associate or Full Professor in Scoring Screen

Faculty Position in Scoring for the Screen

The Department of Radio/Television/Film explores the history, theory, and production of media—from cinema to television to sound design to interactive media and emerging technologies. We value originality, critical analysis, creativity, and vision in both scholarly research and creative work. Our programs, courses, and research opportunities focus on the history of film, television, sound, and interactive media as well as the critical analysis of media texts, technologies, and cultures.

Our faculty explore the social and cultural impact of media—and use media to convey their own messages to the world. All are dedicated to integrating the theory and the practice of media, participating in interdisciplinary dialogue, and fostering a spirit of creativity and collaboration. This prepares students who are eager to pursue careers in the media industries as writers, directors, producers, and managers who inspire, persuade, and educate their audiences.

The Department, in joint effort with the Department of Music Studies in the Bienen School of Music, aims to build a new focus on musicians in the film and television industry. The schools seek to jointly hire an accomplished creative at the rank of Associate or Full Professor in scoring for the screen. Radio/Television/Film has launched a new curricular track in "Composing for the Screen" and holds the state-of-the-art Hobson-Lucas Recording Studio designed to support recording processes.

MFA students in the department's Documentary Media and Writing for the Screen and Stage MFA programs often collaborate with student musicians in the Bienen School of Music for their films. This senior faculty member would address this collaborative student demand across programs, offer courses that complement current composition and music technology offerings, as well as courses that may appeal to a broad range of students, and facilitate exciting initiatives, such as: an ongoing series of cross-school film screenings with live music;

a program pairing student filmmakers with student composers; shared events featuring top composers and other music professionals for film, TV, video games, and other forms of media; industry outreach and professional development for musicians, composers, and sound artists. This position is 100% in person and located on Northwestern University's Evanston campus in the greater Chicago area. Employment term:
This is a full-time continuing senior faculty appointment, service of 9 months paid over 12. The hire would be subject to Northwestern's tenure approval process. Salary Range:
At the rank of Associate is $120,000-$138,000, at the rank of Full Professor it is $140,000-$160,000, competitive based upon experience. Preferred Start:
September 1, 2027. Closing Date:
October 16, 2026. Review of applications will begin on October 19, 2026.

Primary Responsibilities:

Research and creative work in the area of scoring for the screen Undergraduate and graduate student instruction Supervision of student thesis projects Service to the department, school, university, and profession

Minimum Qualifications:

Terminal degree appropriate to the field, i.e. MFA in film and media production, DMA or PhD in music composition, or similar credentials, and/or equivalent industry experience Application Documents:
For full consideration, please be sure to include the following materials in your application:
Cover letter describing relevant interests, preparation, and experience; candidates should specifically address how previous experiences relate to qualifications for the role and how they see themselves contributing to both the School of Communication and the Bienen School of Music Current CV, including links to creative works Statement on teaching philosophy and creative practice Three (3) contacts for letters of recommendation, of which at least one should address teaching qualifications Forward questions regarding the position to the search chair, Professor Jacob Smith (jacob-smith).

For more information about the Department, please visit the department's website. The Schools:
The School of Communication has five…