Research Assistant Professor - Internal Medicine, Physical Activity and Weight Management

Department:

SOM KC Internal Medicine - Weight Management

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KU Weight Management

Position Title:

Research Assistant Professor - Internal Medicine (Physical Activity and Weight Management)

Job Family Group:

Academic

Job Description Summary:

The Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management, focuses on obesity prevention and treatment. This individual contributes to the Division’s nationally recognized research portfolio by leading and supporting studies in obesity prevention and treatment. The role includes advancing physical activity and nutrition strategies across the lifespan, with attention to individuals with typical and atypical development in both urban and rural settings.

The Division has a major research mission supported by The National Institutes of Health, industry, and private foundations. It also supports a medically supervised weight management clinic that provides robust clinical research programs for individuals seeking weight management and health enhancement (Kansas Weight Management Programs, KWMP). In addition to individual faculty research awards, the Division is part of two NIH Funded research centers; The Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research and The Nutrition and Obesity Research Centers (NORC).

Job Description:

About the Division

The Division of Physical Activity and Weight Management is a multidisciplinary, NIH-funded group within the Department of Internal Medicine focused on improving health through physical activity, nutrition, and weight management across the lifespan. Our work integrates:

• Controlled and translational research
• Clinical weight management programs
• Community-based and real-world implementation

We operate a well-established clinical weight management program that serves as a central platform for both clinical care and research, providing direct access to various populations of individuals with obesity and related chronic conditions. This clinical infrastructure supports efficient recruitment, intervention delivery, and longitudinal follow-up within real-world settings, facilitating high-impact clinical and translational research.

The Division is closely aligned with the Division of Obesity Medicine and is an active participant in the Kansas Center for Metabolism and Obesity Research (KC-MORE), an NIH-funded COBRE, which provides mentorship, pilot funding opportunities, and access to shared research cores. Additionally, the Division contributes to and collaborates with the Nutrition Obesity Research Centers (NORC) Research Resource Center, further expanding opportunities for multidisciplinary collaboration and national engagement.

Research efforts are supported by the Energy Balance Laboratory, a state-of-the-art facility equipped to measure energy intake, energy expenditure, and physical activity using advanced methodologies. These resources support rigorous investigation of behavioral and physiological mechanisms underlying obesity and weight management.

Ongoing work includes lifestyle and behavioral interventions targeting diverse populations, including rural and underserved communities, as well as individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Job Duties

Research (65%)

• Develop and maintain an independent, externally funded research program (e.g., NIH K- or R-level funding)
• Design and conduct clinical trials and behavioral intervention studies
• Leverage the clinical program as a platform for recruitment and intervention delivery
• Disseminate findings through peer-reviewed publications and national presentations
• Establish collaborations within KUMC and with external partners

Clinical & Program Leadership (25%)

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the Kansas Weight Management Program
• Supervise clinical and program staff (e.g., coordinators, interventionists, dietitians)
• Implement and refine behavioral weight management interventions
• Contribute to program growth, expansion, and quality improvement
• Integrate clinical programming with research initiatives
• Collaborate with clinical partners to enhance patient care and outcomes

Education & Service (10%)

• Mentor graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career investigators
• Participate in academic service, including committees and peer review
• Contribute to training and educational activities within the division

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. It is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, duties, and assignments. Furthermore, job duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required Qualifications
Education: Doctoral degree (PhD, DrPH, or equivalent) in a relevant field (e.g., public health, exercise physiology, behavioral science, nutrition)

• This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations.

Work Experience:

• Experience contributing to research studies, clinical trials, or intervention research
• Experience conducting or contributing to clinical or behavioral weight management interventions
• Evidence of scholarly productivity (e.g., publications, presentations)

Preferred Qualifications

Work Experience: 

• Experience or demonstrated trajectory to independent external funding, including:
  • Current or prior fellowship (e.g., F32, T), career development award (e.g., K), or equivalent.
  • Pending or planned federal grant submissions.
• Experience working within or alongside clinical weight management programs
• Experience of demonstrated potential to:
  • Lead research teams.
  • Supervise staff and manage program operations.
  • Integrate research within clinical workflows.

Required Documents

• Resume/CV
• Cover Letter

If selected as a final candidate for this position, you may be required to complete the Association of American of Universities Representations and Warranties document and sign a release of records that will allow the University of Kansas Medical Center to conduct a further background check with former employers.  A copy of the Representations and Warranties document can be found here.

Comprehensive Benefits Package:

Coverage begins on day one for health, dental, and vision insurance and includes health expense accounts with generous employer contributions if the employee participates in a qualifying health plan. Employer-paid life insurance, long-term disability insurance, and various additional voluntary insurance plans are available. Paid time off, including vacation and sick, begins accruing upon hire, plus ten paid holidays. One paid discretionary day is available after six months of employment, and paid time off for bereavement, jury duty, military service, and parental leave is available after 12 months of employment. A retirement program with a generous employer contribution and additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b) are available. https://www.kumc.edu/human-resources/benefits.html

Employee Type:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time