W3-Professorship for Communication and Media Sciences (female/male/diverse)

With more than 6000 students from 93 countries, the German Sport University Cologne (GSU) is currently an outstanding university location both nationally and internationally. The GSU stands for proven research with a high volume of third-party funding and research-based as well as international teaching in sports practice and in all social and life science sub-disciplines of sport science. Research, teaching, and transfer are supported by the administration and central operating units with their services.

At the German Sport University Cologne, the Institute for Communication and Media Research is seeking to fill the following position as of April 1, 2026:

We are looking for an internationally recognized personality who represents the communication and media sciences in all its breadth in research and teaching. Special expertise is expected in the areas of „Digital transformation of media in sport“ and „Processes of change in sports journalism and media reporting in sport“.

The tasks of the professorship include collaboration in the Bachelor's, Master's, teacher training, and doctoral degree programs as well as in the academic self-administration of the university. The German Sport University Cologne pursues the goal of promoting (inter-) disciplinary and cooperative research. Accordingly, participation in joint research activities of the Institute and the University as well as the successful acquisition and implementation of third-party funded projects are an integral part of the professorship's remit.

• Completed university studies
• Ph.D. or equivalent
• Appropriate pedagogical/educational skills,
• Post-doctoral qualification (habilitation) or equivalent academic achievements.

• Expertise in the above-mentioned research fields: 1) Digital transformation of media practice and 2) Journalism research
• Relevant international and thematically broad publication achievements in the field of communication and media studies, preferably in the context of the professorship
• High level of expertise in quantitative and/or qualitative methods of empirical social, media or communication research
• Ability to develop and represent topics of sports communication and sports media in research and teaching
• Cooperation with media and sports practice organizations and transfer of scientific findings into practice
• Successful acquisition of, in particular, competitive third-party funding
• Experience with interdisciplinary and international research collaborations
• Positively evaluated teaching.
• Experience in the (further) development of study programmes and/or teaching formats
• Expertise in staff management and staff development
• Ability to connect to existing and developing research projects at GSU
• Experience in academic self-administration.

• References of own scientific activities to the context of sport
• English-language teaching skills
• Experience abroad in academic institutions.

The position entails a teaching obligation of 9 SWS.

International applicants are expected to be able to offer German-language courses within six semesters.

The German Sport University Cologne sees itself as an open-minded employer that values diversity. It is committed to diversity and gender equality and welcomes applications that contribute to this – regardless of gender, nationality, ethnic and social origin, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, and identity. Increasing the proportion of women in research and teaching is one of the university's strategic goals; qualified female academics are therefore expressly encouraged to apply. Women are given preferential consideration in accordance with the State Equality Act. Severely disabled persons and persons of equal status are very welcome and will be given preferential consideration within the framework of the statutory provisions.

The German Sport University Cologne offers an excellent academic environment, a wide range of professional development programmes, and support in balancing family and career.

Please send your application with the usual documents, in particular a description of your professional career, a list of publications, and a selection of important publications, quoting the reference number 2517 Prof-Kommunikation by 16. June 2025 in the form of a pdf file exclusively to the e-mail address bewerbung@­dshs-koeln.de.

Please also visit our homepage www.dshs-koeln.de. There, at www.dshs-koeln.de/datenschutz/, you will also find information on the handling of your personal data transmitted for the purpose of your application.