Assistant Professor in Music, AI and Brain Health

Company: Northeastern University
Location: Boston
Posted on: April 2, 2026

Job Description:

About the Opportunity About the Opportunity: The College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) at Northeastern University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Music, AI and Brain Health, to be located at the Boston campus. We are particularly interested in candidates at the intersection of music, brain health and artificial intelligence qualified for a joint appointment between the College of Arts, Media and Design and the College of Science or Bouvé College of Health Sciences, who could serve as core faculty within the Institute for Cognitive and Brain Health. There is also potential for courtesy appointment in other relevant units such as the Experiential AI Institute. The ideal candidate will conduct original research at the intersection of music, neuroscience, brain health, and artificial intelligence; investigate AI applications for personalized music therapy and brain health interventions; and explore machine learning approaches to understanding musical cognition and neural plasticity. In this position, the successful candidate will develop and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in sound and health, including but not limited to music cognition, psychoacoustics, music-based interventions, creative cognition, music neuroscience, imaging and sonification, AI approaches to creativity and brain health, and AI applications in music therapy and/or sound and health. The ideal candidate would lead transformative curricular initiatives in sound health programming across both our Boston campus and our network campuses. We encourage applicants whose research includes but is not limited to the following topics: Computational approaches to understanding music's role in neuroplasticity and brain health across diverse populations and across the lifespan Sonification of brain imaging data to translate neural patterns into audible representations Psychoacoustic optimization of soundscapes for well-being and therapeutic outcomes AI-driven analysis of musical engagement patterns to predict and monitor cognitive decline Development of adaptive music-based interventions responsive to real-time physiological feedback Integration of music cognition principles with AI to create personalized sound-based health interventions Multimodal imaging studies combining neuroimaging with acoustic analysis to map music-brain interactions Our tenure and promotion process values collaborative research and teamwork. Hires will be mentored for success with individualized and group guidance. In addition, a strong and effective faculty development strategy is part of the Northeastern institutional mission. The ADVANCE Office of Faculty Development office works in conjunction with the Office of Research Development (ORD) and the Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning Through Research (CATLR) to provide programs and trainings to further develop and support a thriving faculty. The College is seeking to give excellent candidates across all demographics of society the opportunity, resources, and support to establish innovative and impactful research careers. This includes candidates at the earliest stages of their careers as well as those who are more established. For selected candidates, there may be an option of a 1- to 2-year CAMD funded, mentored post-doc Fellow position, to allow candidates to ramp up their research programs before starting on the tenure track. Responsibilities: Responsibilities will include teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, including courses in our interdisciplinary programs; mentoring students at undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels; maintaining a strong program of interdisciplinary research that attracts external funding and/or r ecognition ; and participating in departmental, college and university service. Qualified candidates must be prepared to work with global student populations. Qualifications: The successful candidate will have a PhD degree in Music, Neuroscience, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field by the employment start date; and demonstrated potential to attract external funding for research and/or creative practice. Additional Information: Interested candidates should apply here with a curriculum vita that includes a list of publications, statements addressing the prompts below, and contact information for at least three reference letters. Applications will be reviewed beginning on December 15, 2025. Successful faculty at Northeastern are dynamic and innovative scholars with a record of research and teaching excellence and a commitment to fostering belonging in the university community. Thus, strong candidates for this faculty position will have the experiences, knowledge, and skills to build their research, pedagogy, and curriculum in ways that reflect and enhance this commitment. Please indicate how your experience, knowledge, and skills have prepared you to contribute to this work with written statements addressing the following prompts: Research statement: Please describe the focus of your research, including the questions you have identified, the funding you have received to support the work (if applicable), the results you have discovered, and the products of these efforts. Please also describe any research you have undertaken with students and/or with the external community. Finally, please outline the research directions you foresee pursuing in the College of Arts, Media and Design. Teaching statement: Please summarize your past instructional and mentorship experiences, your pedagogical philosophy, your plans/goals for teaching in the College of Arts, Media and Design (including existing and proposed courses), and your strategies for teaching and mentoring global student populations. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by the law. About Northeastern: Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experience-driven lifelong learning. Our world-renowned experiential approach empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create impact far beyond the confines of discipline, degree, and campus. Our locations—in Boston; Arlington, Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; London; Portland, Maine; Oakland; San Francisco; Seattle; Silicon Valley; Toronto; Vancouver; and the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant—are nodes in our growing global university system. Through this network, we expand opportunities for flexible, student-centered learning and collaborative, solutions-focused research. Northeastern’s comprehensive array of undergraduate and graduate programs— in a variety of on-campus and online formats—lead to degrees through the doctorate in nine colleges and schools. Among these, we offer more than 195 multi-discipline majors and degrees designed to prepare students for purposeful lives and careers. The College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) is a collaborative community within the university that acts as a catalyst for research, inspiration, and discovery. It brings together a unique combination of disciplines, including Architecture, ArtDesign, Communication Studies, Journalism, Media and Screen Studies, Music, and Theatre. CAMD is also home to three interdisciplinary research centers: the Center for the Arts, the Center for Design, and the Center for Transformative Media. The Department of Music offers flexible, student-focused curricular options including Bachelors’ in Music, Music Industry, and Music Technology, along with combined majors with Psychology, game design, Physics, Computer Science, and Engineering. With a cross-disciplinary approach emphasizing cutting-edge technology and a wide-angle focus on music's cultural meaning and social impact, the department serves multi-talented, creative, entrepreneurial students committed to making a positive difference through music. The Institute for Cognitive and Brain Health harnesses neuroimaging, behavioral, and computational studies to understand how lifestyle choices and behaviors influence brain activity, structure, and cognitive function across the lifespan. Through interdisciplinary research examining factors such as physical activity, diet and nutrition, and creative activity (artistic engagement, including music, dance, and the arts), the Institute investigates mechanisms of brain health to maximize well-being and promote effective functioning from infancy through older adulthood. The Institute serves as a hub for multiple research labs and brings together expertise from psychology, neuroscience, physical therapy, and other disciplines to address critical challenges in cognitive decline and healthy aging. Position Type Academic Additional Information Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Pay Range: Assistant Professor: $88,000.00 - $110,000.00 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Keywords: Northeastern University, Boston , Assistant Professor in Music, AI and Brain Health, Education / Teaching , Boston, Massachusetts