Open Rank Faculty Position in Environmental Health Science
Pennsylvania State University
Open Rank Faculty Position in Environmental Health Science
Pennsylvania State University
Land-grant university in University Park, PA
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.
POSITION SPECIFICS
The Pennsylvania State University’s College of Health and Human Development invites applications for an open-rank tenure-track position under its ongoing program area in environmental health sciences initiative. Applicants should have research interests that align with one or both of the following priority areas:
1) Built environment and health outcomes - the study of the influence of human-made surroundings on health and well-being of populations. Our principal interest is in population-level inquiry that involves (or spans) epidemiologic or computational (digital twins, agent-based modelling) approaches to assessing the influence of the chemical and material, biologic, physical, and geospatial exposures related to the built environment on health outcomes. Outcomes of interest should relate to other college research priorities including physical activity, mental health and well-being, substance misuse, cognitive decline, nutritional status, chronic disease etc. Scholars who bring an environmental health policy perspective to these issues are also welcome to apply. Successful candidate’s formal training background could be from a range of disciplines including, but not limited to environmental health science, epidemiology, environmental/health policy, human biology, urban planning, architectural engineering.
2) Extreme weather and health outcomes - the study of the influence of extreme weather (e.g., drought, extreme heat, flooding, hurricanes) and associated events on health and well-being of populations, such as but not limited to birth and developmental outcomes, nutritional outcomes, epigenetics, aging outcomes, physical activity, stress and inflammation, mental health, cardiometabolic health, etc. Our principal interest is in population-level inquiry that is consistent with the priorities in NIH’s Health and Extreme Weather Strategic Framework. However, researchers focused on mechanisms underlying the above associations (e.g., thermoregulation impacts on physiology) are also welcome to apply. Successful candidate’s formal training background could be from a range of disciplines including, but not limited to environmental health science, epidemiology, human biology, meteorology, or climate science.
Successful candidates will be expected to build research programs involving collaboration across multiple disciplines to both capitalize on the broad range of scientific expertise at Penn State University and to promote an understanding of environmental influences on health that considers interactions with social, behavioral, and physiological determinants. Tenure track faculty members at Penn State are also expected to teach, mentor trainees, and engage in service to the university and profession.
The primary academic appointment for this position will be in one of the College of Health and Human Development’s eight academic units, including but not limited to the departments of Biobehavioral Health, Kinesiology, Nutrition Sciences, Human Development and Family Science, and Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management. HHD is one of the larger academic units at the University, home to approximately 160 full-time faculty and 200 staff members who serve approximately 4,300 undergraduate and 300 graduate students in-residence at its University Park campus, as well as 600 online students at Penn State’s World Campus. In addition to its eight academic units, the college houses three research centers, and the college’s investigators lead projects generating ~$80 million in externally supported research expenditures.
As appropriate, offered positions may also be supported by one (or more) of the following university-level research institutes: Institute of Energy and the Environment (IEE), the Social Sciences Research Institute (SSRI), or the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation as well as academic units in other colleges. Successful candidates co-funded by these institutes would attract extramural funding, publish in top journals, be collaborative and promote and enhance excellence and innovation in interdisciplinary research. For IEE, the focus would be on Institute’s Health and the Environment theme (one of IEE’s five key research themes). For SSRI, the candidate would emphasize research in social and behavioral sciences and be involved in broader University-wide activities, including those Penn State’s land grant mission. For Cocoziello, the research would center on how buildings and infrastructure are designed, constructed, and operated, how these structures create healthy, sustainable, and affordable housing solutions, and how they enhance living environments and accessibility for diverse communities.
Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university’s teaching, research, and service mission.
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 long history of these lands and our place in that history.
TO APPLY - Applicants must demonstrate excellence in research, a strong publication record, and interest in collaboration across disciplines. Candidates must hold a PhD in one of the fields listed above. Established researchers should have demonstrated a track record of external grant funding and a commitment to mentoring students or early career researchers with early career researchers demonstrating the potential to achieve the above. An online application should be completed and upload, including: 1) a cover letter (3 pages max), which specifically addresses the job requirements and outlines qualifications, discusses which department(s) would be suitable as the tenure home, current and future research interests (including highlighting key publications and current/future funding plans), and how they would interact with one or more of the co-funding institutes, teaching philosophy, and a commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence), 2) curriculum vitae, and 3) contact information for three (3) professional references who will be providing letters if applying at the assistant professor level or four (4) if applying at the associate or full professor level. We will request reference letters, with a short timeframe for response, only for applicants undergoing further consideration. Applications received by November 20 will be given full consideration, but applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. Employment will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with university policies.
Inquiries about the position may be directed to Dr. Asher Rosinger, Associate Professor of Biobehavioral Health and Anthropology, Environmental Health Sciences Program Area Leader, and Search Committee Chair, at [email protected] or 814-865-5220.
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.BENEFITS
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional wellbeing. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page. (Note: For Postdoctoral benefits, please see our Postdoctoral Benefits page.)
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity 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. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.
Land-grant university in University Park, PA
Pennsylvania State University is a multi-campus, land-grant public research university whose mission spans undergraduate and graduate education, research, and public service.
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