Careers & Internships

Strategic Communications & Marketing Coordinator

The Strategic Communications and Marketing coordinator is part of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) Communications Team and supports the development and execution of strategies that advance iSEE’s research, engagement, and communications goals. This position focuses on compelling storytelling, audience-centered marketing, cross-channel coordination, and analytics-informed decision-making across iSEE’s various platforms. The coordinator works collaboratively with the iSEE staff, faculty, and campus partners to ensure communication efforts are strategic, consistent, and effective.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Content Creation
  • Develop content that translates complex scientific research, programs, and engagement activities for diverse audiences and diverse modes of communication (including data visualization and social media posts).
  • Write and edit content for websites, social media, newsletters, printed materials, and other marketing assets that maintain a consistent voice and adhere to university and iSEE brand and style guidelines.
  • Support content planning and development across iSEE’s major programs and initiatives to ensure clarity, consistency, and audience relevance.
• Audience Research & Analytics
  • Assist with audience research and segmentation to better understand iSEE’s target audiences, including faculty, students, policymakers, funders, industry partners, and the public.
  • Help define audience needs and interests to guide targeted outreach.
  • Assist in tailoring messaging approaches for different audiences and platforms.
  • Use analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, email, and social media metrics) to track campaign performance and audience engagement.
  • Assist in analyzing data to identify trends, insights, and opportunities for improvement.
  • Prepare performance summaries and recommendations to support data-informed marketing decisions.
• Marketing Strategy Support & Planning
  • Work with the Director of Strategic Communications to help develop and refine marketing strategies aligned with iSEE’s strategic goals.
  • Conduct market research to inform messaging, channel selection, and campaign approaches.
  • Maintain awareness of marketing trends, tools, and best practices relevant to higher education and research communications.
• Collaboration & Project Management
  • Work collaboratively with iSEE staff, faculty partners, and campus units to align marketing efforts with program goals.
  • Collaborate with web, design, and communications staff to ensure timely, accurate, and consistent campaign execution.
  • Contribute to and work within the team’s project management system to support organization, efficiency, and timely delivery.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, public relations, business administration, journalism, or a related field.
• Three (3) years (36 months) of professional work experience in marketing, communications, public relations, brand management, or a related field.
• Experience creating content for digital platforms in a professional environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• A master’s degree may substitute for one year of work experience and a Ph.D. may substitute for two years of work experience.
• Experience engaging with scientists and writing about scientific research in non-technical ways; Experience with data analysis and engagement tracking in digital environments.
• Familiarity with analytics tools, email marketing platforms, or content management systems.
• Experience working in higher education, research, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations.

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on Monday, July 20, 2026.

Associate Director for Research

The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) seeks a tenured faculty member to provide leadership for growing the portfolio of externally funded interdisciplinary research in sustainability, energy, and environment on campus by:

• Providing administrative leadership in identifying opportunities for external funding for interdisciplinary research in sustainability, energy, and environment.
• Fostering the formation of interdisciplinary teams to pursue major funding opportunities.
• Diversifying the funding portfolio for research in sustainability, energy, and environment by engaging with corporate, foundation, government, and non-government partners to address challenges of mutual interest.
• Facilitating networking among faculty across campus to grow and connect the community of scholars in iSEE themes.
• Designing training and mentorship workshops in interdisciplinary research.
• Increasing the visibility of the institute’s research breakthroughs and impact, and strengthening the Institute’s off-campus reputation as a sustainability expert and leader.

An annual stipend and summer salary will be provided. Stipends have generally been $6,000. Additional compensation may be negotiated based on the selected candidates’ appointment and departmental needs.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must be a tenured faculty member at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with research interests in areas relevant to sustainability and an interest in, and ability to, collaborate and communicate with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.

The successful candidate should have a demonstrated record of leading externally funded interdisciplinary research, engaging in team science, and a commitment to mentoring early-career scholars.

Start Date

Negotiable with a preference for August 16, 2026.

To Apply

To apply, please send a letter of interest and a copy of your current CV to Amy Rosenbery, iSEE, husted@illinois.edu. Please reach out to Madhu Khanna, khanna1@illinois.edu for more information or to discuss the position.

Deadline for full consideration is July 15, 2026, but the position will be open until filled.

Levenick Professor and Director, Levenick Center for a Climate-Smart Circular Bioeconomy

The Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE) seeks a tenured full professor to provide leadership in growing a campuswide network of scholars and an externally funded portfolio of interdisciplinary research in climate-smart circular bioeconomy through iSEE by:

• Pursuing external funding opportunities for interdisciplinary research in circular bioeconomy through iSEE.
• Fostering the formation of interdisciplinary teams to pursue major funding opportunities in circular bioeconomy research in collaboration with the iSEE Associate Director for Research.
• Engaging with corporate, foundation, government, and non-government partners to identify opportunities for collaboration and establish the University of Illinois as a leader in the circular bioeconomy.
• Co-envisioning and co-organizing an annual conference on circular bioeconomy to facilitate networking among faculty across campus and connect with the global community of scholars, in collaboration with the iSEE Director and staff.
• Designing an annual training and mentorship workshop for early-career scholars in circular bioeconomy on campus in collaboration with the iSEE Associate Director for Research.
• Increasing the visibility of the Levenick Center and building its reputation nationally and internationally.

This position provides a named professorship for the duration of the term as Director of the Levenick Center. The professorship endowment provides approximately $18,000 annually, which is split between an administrative stipend and discretionary research funds according to applicable college guidelines. The Director will receive annual funding of about $100,000 from the income generated by the Center endowment that can be used to support staff time, one month of summer salary, and a small seed grants program. The Director of the Levenick Center will report to the Director of iSEE and work in close collaboration with the iSEE Associate Director of Research and other iSEE staff.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must be a tenured full professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with research interests relevant to a circular bioeconomy, a demonstrated record of externally funded interdisciplinary research, and an interest in building collaborations both internally and externally, mentoring early/mid-career scholars, and responsibly stewarding the Levenick Center gift.

Start Date

Negotiable, with a preference for August 16, 2026.

To Apply

To apply, please send a letter of interest and a copy of your current CV to Amy Rosenbery, iSEE, husted@illinois.edu. Please reach out to Madhu Khanna, khanna1@illinois.edu for more information or to discuss the position.

Deadline for full consideration is July 15, 2026, but the position will remain open until filled.