Assistant Research Professor

Job Posting Number: 2027065APF

Job Location: San Marcos

College/Division: Division of Research

Department/School: ALERRT Center

Position Description

The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) Center at Texas State University invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, non-tenure-line Research Assistant Professor to lead ALERRT’s first responder health and wellness research program. ALERRT is the national standard in active shooter response training and is home to a federally supported research program on active attacks, law enforcement training, and officer performance.

The successful candidate will build and lead a nationally visible research agenda on the health, wellness, and mortality of law enforcement officers, correctional officers, firefighters, and other first responders. The position combines population-level occupational mortality surveillance with biological and biosocial measures of health, including epigenetic measures of biological aging, genomic data, and physiological stress and cardiometabolic biomarkers.

The position reports to the ALERRT Director of Research and is based in San Marcos, Texas. ALERRT offers a collaborative, productive research team, direct access to a national network of law enforcement and first responder agencies, and research infrastructure that includes public-facing data platforms on active attack events.

Research Faculty conduct and advance scholarly research, develop and sustain externally sponsored research agendas, secure and manage extramural funding, disseminate research findings through peer-reviewed publications and other scholarly products, contribute to grant development and research initiatives, collaborate with faculty, students, and external partners, and provide service to the center/department/school, college/division, university, profession, and broader research community. Research faculty are individuals whose primary responsibilities center on the creation, application, and dissemination of knowledge through research, scholarship, and creative activity. They may lead, support, and manage sponsored projects; serve as Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on externally funded grants and contracts; mentor students and research personnel; translate research findings for academic, practitioner, and policy audiences; and contribute specialized expertise that advances the university’s research mission. The primary emphasis of research faculty appointments is research productivity, scholarly impact, and the development and execution of externally sponsored research programs. For more information, please visit AA/PPS 04.01.21 – Research Faculty Appointments.

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. in criminal justice, criminology, or a closely related field.
A history of high-quality scholarship, including publications in top-tier multidisciplinary or medical journals such as Nature or The Lancet family of journals.
Peer-reviewed publications on law enforcement or first responder health, wellness, or mortality.
Demonstrated expertise in the analysis of large-scale secondary data, including national mortality surveillance or death certificate data.
Evidence of continued scholarly productivity and potential for significant professional growth in research related to first responder health, wellness, and mortality.
Advanced proficiency in statistical programming in R.

Preferred Qualifications

Postdoctoral training in social science genomics or epigenetics to inform a first responder health and wellness research agenda.
Familiarity with secondary datasets such as the National Occupational Mortality Surveillance (NOMS) program to inform a first responder health and wellness research agenda.
Published research using DNA-methylation measures of biological aging.
Experience analyzing data from large longitudinal cohort studies (e.g., Add Health, MIDUS).
Published research with interdisciplinary teams linking physiological biomarkers to cardiometabolic health among firefighters or law enforcement officers.
Experience as PI or Co-PI on proposals submitted to federal funding partners.

Application Procedures

Only applications submitted through the Texas State University website will be accepted and considered: https://jobs.hr.txstate.edu/postings/59086.

To ensure full consideration please submit the following before November 13:

Cover Letter that addresses all required and preferred qualifications.
Curriculum Vitae.
Unofficial Transcripts (all in one document).

The selected candidate will be required to provide official transcripts from all degree granting Universities.

Type of Position

Full-Time

Posting Date

11/09/2026

Review Date

11/13/2026

Close Date

11/13/2026

Open Until Filled?

Legal Notices

Texas State University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal or state law in employment, educational programs, and activities and admissions.

Employment with Texas State University is contingent upon the outcome of record checks and verifications including, but not limited to, criminal history, driving records, education records, employment verifications, reference checks, drug screening (if applicable), and employment eligibility verifications.

Certain positions, including those with clinical responsibilities, require compliance with health, immunization, and other requirements mandated by affiliated clinical agencies. Employment and continued assignment in such roles are contingent upon meeting and maintaining these requirements.

This position may conduct research on critical infrastructure depending on the research focus of a hire. Consistent with the requirements of the State of Texas, individuals conducting research on critical infrastructure will be subject to pre-employment, and then subsequent routine background checks/cybersecurity screenings. Employment will at all times be contingent upon the successful completion of these screenings in accordance with State and University requirements.

Reasonable Accommodation

If you experience accessibility issues or require alternative formatting during the application process due to a disability or underlying condition, we request that you contact Talent Acquisition for assistance. A representative from Talent Acquisition will respond to you as soon as possible.

Record Checks and Verifications

Eligibility for Employment

In accordance with federal law, all new employees must complete the Form I-9 and provide acceptable documentation verifying their identity and authorization to work in the United States. Texas State University participates in E-Verify, and employment is contingent upon the successful verification of work authorization. Employees are required to maintain valid work authorization to satisfy the conditions of Form I9 at all times during their employment and the university makes no implicit or explicit promises to financially support visa or permanent residency applications.

Why Work at Texas State?

Texas State University is a large, student-centered public research institution serving more than 40,000 students across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in San Marcos and Round Rock. Classified as a Carnegie Doctoral University with High Research Activity (R2), TXST is actively advancing its ambitious Run to R1 strategy, demonstrating sustained growth in research activity, doctoral education, and scholarly impact.

Faculty at TXST join a vibrant academic community of over 5,000 faculty and staff committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service. The university offers a collaborative, supportive environment, and interdisciplinary scholarship. Outstanding faculty are drawn to TXST for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact—advancing research, mentoring a growing student body, and helping shape the future of a rapidly growing research university.

Assistant Research Professor