Assistant or Associate Professor of Environmental Health Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Assistant or Associate Professor of Environmental Health Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Public research university in Madison, WI
The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin–Madison invite outstanding environmental health scientists to apply for a joint appointment, tenure-track position for an Assistant or Associate Professor in environmental health as part of the Wisconsin RISE-EARTH (Environment: Adaptation, Resilience, Technology, and Humanity) initiative. We seek scholars who demonstrate high potential for developing an extramurally funded epidemiology research program at UW-Madison. While any candidates with advanced (PhD or MD and Master combination) training in environmental health will be considered, highly competitive candidates will have training and scholarship in one or more of the following areas of epidemiology: air pollution epidemiology, human health effects of contaminants in drinking water, biomarker and/or other environmental exposure and risk assessment, and measurement and analysis of lifetime environmental exposures on human health (exposome).
This position is part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student and educational opportunities, RISE addresses complex societal challenges of importance to the state, nation and world. Building on UW–Madison’s strengths, RISE expands the University’s successful track record of connecting with communities and industry on collaborative solutions.
Over the next three academic years, UW–Madison will substantially increase current hiring levels, bringing 150 new RISE faculty to campus. Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration.
Further information regarding RISE can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/.
Environmental public health involves interdisciplinary collaboration researching determinants of disease along causal pathways of exposure through to health outcomes. This hire, therefore, will be joint between the Nelson Institute and the Department of Population Health Sciences.
Research areas within environmental health may include, but not be limited to human health effects of: exposure to contaminants in air, water, soil, or food, climate change, noise, and environmental health effects of emerging technologies. We welcome applications from scholars employing observational or experiment studies, longitudinal or cross-sectional designs, and/or mathematical modeling of environmental health risk.
In addition to a joint appointment in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies (75%) and the Department of Population Health Sciences (25%), affiliations with other departments, centers, and institutes across campus are possible. This faculty appointment will be on an annual (12-month) pay basis. In addition, a generous start-up package including flexible research funds will be available for qualified candidates.
The Nelson Institute is a freestanding division of the university, serving more than one thousand undergraduate and graduate students, and home two dozen faculty from across the physical, biological, and social sciences and the humanities. It also houses four interdisciplinary research centers that serve as cross-campus laboratories and incubators for solutions to the world’s most critical environmental challenges. These include: the Center for Climatic Research, the Center for Culture, History and Environment, the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) that includes an environmental health focus, and the Center for Ecology and the Environment. The Institute has many partnerships in education, research and community service that promote a more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable world. The Institute offers an undergraduate major and certificates in environmental studies, and sustainability. Graduate students pursue MS and PhD degrees in environmental conservation, environmental observation and informatics, environment and resources, or water resources management; and certificates in energy analysis and policy or culture, history, and environment. The institute also stewards the Office of Sustainability Research and Education for the UW-Madison campus.
Population Health Sciences is an interdisciplinary department with the goal of understanding, preserving, and improving the health of populations and individuals. The candidate selected for this role will contribute to the advancement of this mission through research, teaching, and service, and interact with a collaborative community of scholars throughout SMPH and across campus. The ideal candidate will have experience working within interdisciplinary teams. The successful applicant will develop and lead an extramurally funded research program in environmental epidemiology, teach courses or equivalent research direction during the academic year, and participate in administrative and committee work to support the mission of the School of Medicine and Public Health and the Nelson Institute. An essential part of these duties will be working in a collegial relationship with other faculty members.
Madison is the state's capitol city and is well known for offering a small town feel in a medium sized city. It is a great place to raise a family and offers an ideal combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural events, outstanding schools and outdoor recreation.
10% Service:
Participate in faculty governance and service to the department, school, university, and profession, as appropriate.
30% Teaching:
Teach 9 credits (or equivalent) annually of courses or credited research direction in environmental health and PHS/Environmental epidemiology.. Advise and mentor graduate students in the Nelson Institute, PHS Population Health and Epidemiology programs and other relevant degree programs at UW-Madison.
The successful applicant will participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with other departments, schools and colleges.
The successful applicant will participate in administrative and committee work to support the clinical and scholarly missions of the Nelson Institute and School of Medicine and Public Health. An essential part of these duties will be working in a collegial relationship with other faculty members. Especially desirable is an ability to engage and interact with interdisciplinary communities and an enthusiasm for team-building within and beyond the health sciences to include physical systems sciences, social sciences and the humanities.
The successful candidate, depending on their background, will teach graduate and undergraduate students, medical students, residents, and fellows.
60% Research:
Develop and maintain an independent program of research in environmental epidemiology. Research programs may include but are not limited to innovative study of air pollution epidemiology, human health effects of contaminants in drinking water, biomarker and other environmental exposure assessment, health risks from climate change and energy policy, and exposome measurement and analysis.
The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Population Health Sciences
Candidates should demonstrate evidence of creativity and excellence in teaching and scholarly research as well as the ability to make valuable contributions to the department, college, and RISE initiative. Application materials for this tenure-track position in environment epidemiology should communicate capacity to conduct cutting-edge research, teach/mentor undergraduates and graduate students, and participate in department and university service. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate fostering or the ability to foster a teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive.
Hiring rank will be commensurate with years of relevant experience. To be hired at the associate professor level, candidates must possess experience and scholarly credentials that meet the tenure standards of the UW-Madison Divisional Committee and of the Nelson Institute.
All requirements must be met by the position start date.
Apply online at "Jobs at UW" (http://jobs.wisc.edu) under Job Requisition JR10016349. Applications must be received through UW- Madison's online application system. Applications submitted outside of this system will not be considered. Click the "Apply Now" button to start the application process. Applicants should submit the following items:
1. a letter of application,
2. curriculum vitae,
3. a research statement
You will be asked to provide the names and contact information of three (3) references who are well-respected authorities in the field. For those who advance in the process, references will be contacted to provide letters of recommendation. Candidates will be notified prior to contacting references.
To ensure consideration, complete applications must be received by 11:59pm (CST) on December 7, 2026. Applications will be accepted until position is filled. Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. UW-Madison is not an E-Verify employer, and therefore, is not eligible to employ F-1 STEM OPT Extension participants.
Lili Gagliano, [email protected]
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.
Public research university in Madison, WI
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public land-grant research university founded in 1848 in Madison, Wisconsin. Its teaching, research, and public-service mission is guided by the Wisconsin Idea.
Explore more opportunities at University of Wisconsin-Madison