Open Rank Faculty Position in Kinesiology, Physical Activity, Public Health, and Prevention Science

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Pennsylvania State University Department of Kinesiology, housed in the College of Health and Human Development, is actively seeking applications for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position, rank open. This position will be co-funded by the university's Social Sciences Research Institute. The selected candidate will play a pivotal role in advancing leadership within the department and college focused on research and teaching in physical activity, public health, and prevention science as well as advancing social and behavioral science research across the university and nationally.

In line with the SSRI's strategic research foci and special emphasis area on social and environmental determinants of health, we are seeking a scholar with a specific interest in community-engaged scholarship that examines multiple levels of influence on physical activity behaviors. For example, we are particularly interested in scholars whose work directly addresses health disparities in access to support for physical activity, interventions that seek to reduce disparities in health outcomes related to physical activity, and research approaches that apply community-engaged methodologies. The ideal candidate will complement our existing expertise, expand our ability to understand systems that impact physical activity and its related health outcomes, and have potential to drive innovation in public-impact research.

The responsibilities also include teaching undergraduate and graduate level courses, mentoring graduate students and supervising their theses/dissertations, conducting research, writing for publication and external grant funding, participating in department governance, and service to the department, university, and disciplinary field.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Candidates at the rank of Assistant Professor will have an earned doctorate in physical activity, public health and prevention science, or related field prior to beginning at Penn State, and should have evidence of an exciting program of research and teaching and mentoring promise.

• Candidates at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor must also demonstrate an established record of excellence suitable for appointment with tenure at the Pennsylvania State University and should have evidence of an international reputation in the field, sustained research impact, evidence of excellence in teaching and mentoring, and a robust record of external research funding.

• The candidate should demonstrate a clear program of research and strong publication record, commensurate with rank.

• The candidate must show evidence of or potential for receiving extramural funding commensurate with rank.

• The candidate must show evidence of experience with teaching and mentorship commensurate with rank.

Departmental and Institute Context:

This position will be co-funded by Penn State's Social Sciences Research Institute (https://ssri.psu.edu).

SOCIAL SCIENCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE (SSRI):

SSRI recruits faculty with a goal of fostering collaborations among social and behavioral scientists, and others, working from the person to the population level to address critical human and social problems at the local, national, and international levels. SSRI has five strategic foci: 1) the causes and consequences of inequality, 2) human development and behavior, 3) the social and environmental determinants of health, 4) innovative and data intensive research methods, and 5) individual and community impact. SSRI supports interdisciplinary research by bringing together researchers across the university around emerging areas, and by providing consultation, seed grants and faculty fellowships, and core resources tailored to the needs of social and behavioral scientists.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, DEPARTMENT OF KINESIOLOGY:

Dedicated to enriching human well-being and strengthening intellectual, social, physical, economic, and emotional wellness, Penn State's College of Health and Human Development provides a solid foundation for positively impacting the way people live. The Department of Kinesiology is one of eight departments in the college and boasts a multidisciplinary approach to the study of human movement and physical activity. This makes the department central to the college's mission and positions it well to continue to play an important role in advancing human health. Kinesiology enrolls more undergraduates than any other major, provides general education courses to more than 8,000 students per year and offers courses at 19 Commonwealth Campuses and on the World Campus. The department's goal is to optimize its curriculum for this large number of students and in doing so respond to the growing pressures on higher education to increase accountability for success in learning and improve affordability. The department's more than 50 faculty (full- and part-time), 16 professional staff, 715 undergraduate majors, and 45 graduate students take pride in leveraging basic clinical, social science and humanities methodologies to provide outstanding service and outreach to the field of kinesiology.

INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT ON DIVERSITY:

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in all of its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusion that supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusion as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission. In HHD, enriching the lives of others is our mission. We believe in the power of human capacity for growth and live that mission by meeting challenges, both big and small, with excitement and energy every day. To learn more about Penn State University's commitment to diversity and inclusion see the University's Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at https://equity.psu.edu/equity-at-penn-state/university-commitment and https://equity.psu.edu/equity-at-penn-state/belonging-statement. We invite you to come grow with us.

Our campuses are located on the original homelands of the Erie, Haudenosaunee (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora), Lenape (Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe, Stockbridge-Munsee), Monongahela, Shawnee (Absentee, Eastern, and Oklahoma), Susquehannock, and Wahzhazhe (Osage) Nations. As a land grant institution, we acknowledge and honor the traditional caretakers of these lands and strive to understand and model their responsible stewardship. We also acknowledge the longer history of these lands and our place in that history.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Candidates should complete an online application at https://hr.psu.edu/careers and upload: a) a cover letter (1 page), b) a CV, c) a statement of research interests (2-3 pages), d) a statement of teaching interests and experiences (1-2 pages), e) a statement of diversity, equity, inclusion and Belonging outlining how the candidate has addressed/has the potential to address these in their research, teaching and service (1-2 pages), f) a list of names and contact information of three professional references (who will provide letters of recommendation upon request), and g) up to three selected publications or preprints. For more information, contact Search Co-Chairs Melissa Bopp (mjb73@psu.edu) or Danielle Downs (dsd11@psu.edu). Review of applications will begin in the fall of 2024 and continue until a suitable candidate is identified.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: