Department: Clinical Sciences
Salary: Commensurate with experience
Description
The University of Houston's College of Optometry invites applications for an open-rank, tenure-track or tenured, position in Clinical Sciences. We seek an outstanding scientist or clinician-scientist to develop or maintain a nationally recognized, independent, externally funded research program in clinical and translational vision science or relevant applied biomedical sciences.
We especially welcome research advancing ocular and visual health, linking eye care with systemic health, or improving healthcare delivery and outcomes. Candidates may employ clinical, epidemiological, computational, behavioral, physiological, imaging, or other translational research methods.
The candidate will join a collaborative environment integrating clinical investigation, biomedical science, health data science, and population health.
Areas of Research Interest
All areas of clinical and translational vision science are welcome, particularly:
- Ocular Biomarkers and Systemic Health
- Using the eye and visual system to detect, predict, and monitor systemic disease through ocular imaging, functional assessment, and clinical biomarkers.
- Rural Health and Healthcare Access
- Innovative strategies to improve access to eye care, particularly in rural and underserved populations, through telehealth, remote diagnostics, and community-based models of care.
- Health Data Science and Clinical Informatics
- Application of clinical informatics, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and large-scale health data to improve diagnosis, clinical decision-making, and patient outcomes.
- Health Systems and Population Health
- Research addressing healthcare delivery, population-level disease burden, access to care, clinical outcomes, and the effectiveness of healthcare systems.
- Ocular Health, Nutrition, and Precision Vision Health
- Interdisciplinary studies linking nutrition, metabolism, systemic health, and ocular disease, including individualized approaches to prevention and treatment.
- Ocular Growth and Refractive Development
- Clinical and translational investigations of emmetropization, myopia, and the biological, behavioral, and environmental mechanisms influencing refractive development.
- Neurological and Cerebral Visual Disorders
- Investigation of visual dysfunction associated with neurological conditions, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, dementia, and cerebral visual impairment.
These priorities are not restrictive; candidates complementing existing strengths or bringing novel approaches are encouraged to apply.
Research Environment
The College offers a collaborative, well-supported environment spanning biomedical discovery, clinical investigation, and translational research.
Research resources and opportunities include:
- Vision scientists and clinician-scientists using human-subjects research, experimental models, and molecular, behavioral, imaging, and optical methods.
- A National Eye Institute-supported P30 core grant providing instrumentation and optical design, programming and application development, biostatistics, histology, and biomedical imaging resources.
- Established clinical research programs, clinician-scientist training opportunities, and access to a large and diverse patient population.
- A developing cloud-based health data infrastructure integrating biological, clinical, imaging, and behavioral datasets for large-scale studies.
- Opportunities for collaboration across the University of Houston and with biomedical investigators in the neighboring Texas Medical Center.
Faculty Responsibilities include
- Develop and sustain an independent, nationally recognized research program supported by competitive external funding, particularly from the National Institutes of Health.
- Publish significant original research and contribute to collaborative scientific initiatives.
- Teach and mentor graduate and Doctor of Optometry students in areas aligned with their expertise.
- Participate in clinical education, patient-oriented research, or clinical service activities as appropriate to the appointment.
- Contribute to academic service and the College's research and educational missions.
Required Qualifications
- An earned O.D., Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant clinical, biomedical, or scientific discipline.
- Demonstrated research expertise in clinical or translational vision science or a related field with applications to ocular or visual health.
- Evidence of scientific productivity and potential to establish or sustain an independent, externally funded research program.
- Strong communication and collaborative skills, with a commitment to research mentorship and education.
Preferred Qualifications
- Postdoctoral, clinical research fellowship, or equivalent advanced research experience.
- A strong record of peer-reviewed publications and competitive external funding, appropriate to career stage.
- Expertise in clinical research, health data science, clinical informatics, epidemiology, population health, biomedical imaging, or related translational methods.
- Experience developing collaborative research programs involving clinical and biomedical investigators.
- Experience teaching and mentoring graduate or health professions students.
Candidates providing patient care must be eligible for appropriate professional licensure in Texas. Clinical practice experience is desirable but not required for research-focused appointments.
Faculty Appointment
This is an open-rank, tenure-track or tenured, faculty position in the Department of Clinical Sciences. Appointments may be made at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor rank. Rank, salary, and start-up support will be competitive and commensurate with qualifications, experience, and research program requirements.
Application Process
Review of applications will begin upon posting and continue until the position is filled. For fullest consideration, applications should be received by February 15, 2027.
Applicants should submit:
- Cover letter describing qualifications, research interests, and potential contributions to the Department of Clinical Sciences.
- Curriculum vitae.
- Research statement outlining accomplishments, current activities, and future directions (2–3 pages).
- Statement of teaching and mentoring interests (1–2 pages).
- Names and contact information for three professional references.
Questions regarding these positions may be directed to:
Dr. David Berntsen
Chair, Department of Clinical Sciences
DBerntsen@central.uh.edu
Dr. Geunyoung Yoon
Faculty Search Committee Chair
gyoon2@central.uh.edu
About the University of Houston College of Optometry
The University of Houston College of Optometry is internationally recognized for excellence in professional optometric education, biomedical vision research, and evidence-based clinical care. Its research enterprise connects fundamental discovery with clinical trials, advanced imaging, patient-based investigations, and translational studies. Located in Houston, the College offers opportunities for scientific collaboration through its established clinical programs, interdisciplinary research community, and proximity to the Texas Medical Center.
For additional information, visit www.opt.uh.edu.
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.
