Miller Center Director & Social Media and Democracy Research Hub, Rutgers Democracy Lab (RDL) New Brunswick Position Available In Middlesex, New Jersey

Position Summary:

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey is seeking a Miller Center Director & Social Media and Democracy Research Hub, Rutgers Democracy Lab ( RDL ) New Brunswick within the Eagleton Institute of Politics. This position directly supervises the Associate Director and Administrative Support Staff positions at the Research Hub, as well as a Graduate Assistant and students. Reports to the Administrative and Academic Directors of RDL and reports up to the Director of Eagleton. The mission of the Miller Center is to assist vulnerable communities to enhance their safety and standing in society by improving their relationships with law enforcement, with other government agencies and with other vulnerable communities. The Center identifies and implements best practices in policing, and researching and calling attention to extremism and hate speech as they spread across social media platforms and erupt in real-world acts of violence.

Key Goals:

Informing Democratic Practice :

promote a civic-minded community informed by research on how digital media and emerging technologies shape political behavior. By better understanding online discourse, the Hub seeks to rebuild trust and strengthen democratic participation at every level.

Student Engagement and Training :

Put students at the heart of research. Students from all disciplines will not only study democracy’s challenges and the impact of social media on society but also apply their training in practical settings. The Hub will offer hands-on learning, enabling students to work alongside faculty, policy experts, and tech industry leaders on real-world democratic issues.

Evidence-Based Solutions :

The Hub will explore and test ideas—such as interventions to counter false information or strategies to increase youth civic engagement—and develop recommendations grounded in data. Findings will be disseminated to inform policymakers, educators, and social media platforms about effectives ways to bolster democracy in the digital age.

Key Research Areas:

Measuring Social Media Trends and Civic Participation:

Examining how online discourse influences voter behavior, political engagement, and trust in democratic institutions. The Role of Generative AI, Polarization, and Misinformation in

Democracy:

Analyzing how emerging technologies contribute to the spread of false information, political division, and public trust in media.

Platform Design, Policies, and Civic Engagement:

Investigating how social media platforms’ algorithms, moderation policies, and content recommendation systems shape civic participation and democratic discourse. Among the key duties of the position are the following: Trains students, generates research that captures national attention, influences public policy, and advances democratic resilience in the digital era. Leads Miller and RDL research, student training, and policy engagement efforts. Oversees interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of social media, democracy, and civic engagement, ensuring the Hub contributes cutting edge insights into digital political discourse. Directs research initiatives, developing partnerships with industry and policymakers. Secures external funding. Shapes the national conversation about digital media’s role in democratic renewal. Creates a very visible and relevant research hub, engaging faculty, staff, and students at all Rutgers campuses. Oversees activities of the Miller Center on Policing and Community Resilience, including examination of the role of law enforcement in American democracy and programming to educate and train law enforcement in threats and challenges presented by social media. Creates an imprint on democratic learning and civic engagement among young adults. Builds and leads high-performing teams. Drives innovation within a major public university while fostering interdisciplinary connectivity to advance the mission and scope of RDL. Connects to the world outside of Rutgers at local, state, and national levels. Participates in Institute-wide and/or cross-team projects. Develops and implements a strategic vision for the Hub, ensuring its research and training programs align with the mission of the RDL. Builds interdisciplinary collaborations across Rutgers and with external partners, including policymakers, tech companies, and civic organizations. Publishes research findings in academic journals, policy reports, and public facing outlets to maximize impact. Establishes partnerships with social media platforms, advocacy groups, think tanks, and public institutions to advance digital democracy research. Serves as key representative of the Hub at conferences, policy roundtables, and academic forums. Organizes events at Rutgers to highlight the work of the research hub and that of key partners in the field. Develops RDL courses and workshops on social media, technology, and democracy, integrating research with classroom learning. Provides students with the skills needed to analyze digital political behavior and understand the role of technology in shaping civic life. Designs courses that bridge theory with applied research.

Minimum Education and Experience:

Master’s degree with minimum of 5 years of exceptional relevant experience.

City:

New Brunswick State:

NJ Physical Demands and Work Environment:

Eagleton offices are located within a historic building with no elevator. The duties of this position regularly involve navigating stairs numerous times a day. An applicant may request a reasonable accommodation if they have a disability that restricts them in their ability to climb and/or navigate stairs.

Special Conditions:

Must be available to work evenings occasionally during the academic year and some weekends. This position is paid from a five-year gift, and continuation is contingent upon available funds.

Posting Number:

25ST1266