Illinois Social Media Research Ambassadors 2026

The University of Illinois Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation

About the Role

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation created this new program to showcase the university’s incredible research through the eyes of students. Ambassadors will be expected to work about 10 hours per week, and attend weekly check-in meetings, trainings on videography and science communication and a few other fun events. They will create regular content for social media channels across the University of Illinois. The position pays $15 per hour and reports to the OVCRI Marketing and Communications Fellow. Social Media Illinois Research Ambassadors are paid student content creators who give an inside look at the exciting, impactful research happening across the Illinois campus. Ambassadors will apply their social media expertise while translating scientific discovery into engaging content for broad audiences. By visiting the places where research happens and interviewing faculty and student researchers, they will gain resume-building experience telling the story of how Illinois research impacts society and changes lives. Application deadline is Thursday, Oct. 29.

Social Media Ambassadors will be selected in November, and those hired will be expected to attend a kickoff meeting in December before winter break. Students will create content regularly throughout the spring semester. 

Requirements

• Must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Stellar writing and communications skills
• Understand and have experience producing high-quality photography (on a smartphone)
• Demonstrate persistence and the ability to work independently 
• Willingness to be on camera and included in social media content 
• Active personal social media accounts that share content through a variety of techniques 

Preferred qualifications

• Understand and have experience producing high-quality horizontal and vertical video content 
• Experience conducting research on the Illinois campus