Department: Health & Human Performance
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Description
The Department of Health and Human Performance (HHP) at the University of Houston is seeking a community health promotion and applied kinesiology specialist with demonstrable academic skills for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. This position is a 9-month appointment with summer school teaching optional.
The successful candidate will join a high-performing, high-yield specialty designed to deliberately fortify our implementation science core—a primary catalyst for interdisciplinary collaboration across distinct departmental nodes, including the Center for Neuro-Behavioral Research (CNBR), the Laboratory of Integrated Physiology (LIP), and Sports Administration.
Qualifications
A Ph.D. in Kinesiology, Nutrition, Behavioral Science, Prevention Science, or a related community health promotion field is required. Applicants must demonstrate a strong research focus intersecting with implementation science, specifically targeting two high-priority sub-disciplines:
- Digital Health Interventions: Utilizing mHealth, wearable technology, and digital tracking tools to promote behavioral change and monitor physical activity in real-time.
- Community-Based Research: Designing, implementing, and evaluating sustainable, community-led physical activity interventions in underserved or marginalized urban spaces. Preference will be given to individuals who have expertise in community-engaged research in underserved urban areas, pediatric/adolescent health promotion, and large-scale project management (e.g., NIH R01/U54 frameworks).
Applicants are required to:
- Demonstrate strong potential to maintain an active, externally funded research program (NIH, etc.) that strengthens/broadens our current research areas.
- Show a consistent record of disseminating scholarly work through publications in high-impact journals and presentations at major scientific meetings.
- Display a commitment to university-level teaching and mentoring at the undergraduate, Master's, and Ph.D. levels.
Responsibilities
The successful candidate is expected to maintain a vigorous scholarly research program that will foster the acquisition of external funding, generate high-quality research publications, and scale HHP's research expenditures and institutional footprint.
Additional multi-level teaching and instructional responsibilities include:
- Undergraduate Level: Expanding high-demand coursework in applied kinesiology, community health programming, and digital health literacy.
- Master’s Level: Training students in program design, implementation science framework evaluation, and advanced health-tracking methodologies.
- Ph.D. Level: Providing specialized training in mHealth intervention design, community collaborations, and grant proposal writing, while serving as a primary advisor and mentor for doctoral dissertations.
- Service: Performing service to the department, college, university, and the profession (such as active involvement in organizations like the Society of Behavioral Medicine).
Application Process
Review of application materials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applicants should submit the following materials electronically:
- A Cover Letter describing your (a) qualifications and interest in the position, (b) evidence of scholarly impact, (c) history of or potential for external funding, and (d) teaching and mentoring philosophy.
- A current Curriculum Vitae.
- Three Letters of Recommendation.
- Copies of all Academic Transcripts.
University Description
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one of the most vibrant regions in the country, UH enrolls nearly 49,000 students.
Applications should be submitted through the University of Houston Careers website at https://www.uh.edu/human-resources/careers/.
The anticipated start date is Fall 2027.
Employees are expected to have a home address in the state of Texas for the duration of their appointments.
Official transcripts are required for a faculty appointment and will be requested upon selection of the final candidates.
All positions at the University of Houston-System are security sensitive and will require a criminal history check. Individuals conducting research in critical infrastructure areas (i.e., communication infrastructure systems, cybersecurity systems, electric grid, hazardous waste treatment systems, and/or water treatment facilities) are subject to regular review to ensure the security and integrity of the research is maintained.
The University of Houston System and its universities are Equal Opportunity Institutions. Everyone is encouraged to apply.
