Open Rank (Assistant, Associate, or Full)

The Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina (USC) Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH; www.sph.sc.edu) invites applications for an open rank tenure-track faculty position to begin August 16, 2025.

The successful candidate will have, or be able to develop, collaborative multi-disciplinary, translational research programs with a focus on applied physiology that complement or enhance research within the department and across the ASPH. Research programs of particular interest will be focused on applied exercise physiology, including, but not limited to, those with a primary emphasis on nutrition and exercise, human performance, and brain health.

The position requires an earned doctoral degree in exercise science, kinesiology, nutrition, neuroscience, or closely related fields. Applicants for the Assistant Professor rank must demonstrate potential for: 1) outstanding research accomplishments, high-quality publications, and extramural funding to support a research program; and 2) for serving as an effective instructor and mentor. Applicants for the Associate Professor rank must have a strong record of scholarship and funded research, plus at least five years of experience as an effective instructor, student mentor, and researcher by the start date of employment. Applicants for the rank of Professor must demonstrate evidence of sustained excellence in scholarly activity in nationally- and internationally-recognized, top-tier peer-reviewed journals and at least nine years of relevant experience in higher education (including teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in their area of expertise, strong record of external funding for scholarly activities, as well as successful mentoring of graduate students as the primary mentor) by the start date of employment. All applicants must show potential for, or a record of, academic service/leadership as appropriate to faculty rank.

The Department offers degrees at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level with programs in exercise science, athletic training, and physical therapy. The PhD program is consistently one of the top ranked programs in the US, and USC is among the top sport science universities in the US and the world. The department currently serves approximately 1200 undergraduates and over 270 graduate students across all programs. Successful applicants will be expected to contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching and research, as well as supervise graduate students.

The Department and Arnold School of Public Health have numerous researchers with a focus on exercise and health, performance, nutrition, endocrinology, metabolism, genetics, neuroscience, obesity, Children’s Health, and special populations. This position will be crucial for enhancing the capabilities in one or more of these areas.

Faculty members in the Department have established relationships with University Athletics, PRISMA Health, the Columbia VA Medical Center, US Special Operations Command, and numerous community partners and schools. The Department, School, and University also have excellent facilities to conduct everything from basic science and molecular work in both humans and animals, to applied interventions. Faculty members in the Department have access to well-equipped wet labs, a Clinical Exercise Research Center, and the state-of-the art Sport Science Lab.

USC is a research-intensive University and has been designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral institution with highest research activity. USC has also been designated a community engaged institution, making it one of only a few public universities to earn both the top-tier research classification and the community engagement classification from Carnegie. The university is in Columbia, South Carolina, the state capital and the center of a metropolitan area that is home to over 800,000 residents. The low cost of living in the Columbia metropolitan area, coupled with abundant recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities provides the opportunity for an excellent quality of life. Filled with historic homes and charming, diverse neighborhoods, Columbia is a city on the rise, noted by Thrillist website as one of eight cities with the cool appeal of Nashville or Portland. Jogging and walking paths line the downtown and riverfront greenway, with parks scattered throughout the rest of the city. The popularity of downtown living has sparked the growth of independent restaurants, coffee houses, wine bars, breweries, galleries, boutiques, and street fairs. Other Columbia highlights include: the Columbia Museum of Art with continuous high-profile traveling exhibits; the Nickelodeon art house cinema; the South Carolina State Museum with its planetarium, observatory, and 4-D movie theatre; the nationally recognized Riverbanks Zoo and Garden; and Lake Murray. Columbia has a lively local music scene as well as national entertainment tours that visit the Colonial Life Arena. Known for its college athletics teams as a member of the SEC, the city also hosts a minor league baseball team (the Columbia Fireflies). Centrally located, Columbia is two hours from the South Carolina coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

USC strives to create an inclusive community that facilitates our commitment to the communities that we serve. We seek opportunities to recruit, retain and promote individuals from traditionally underrepresented populations to further this vision. Our commitment to community engagement at the ASPH and university at-large is reflected by many programs and partnerships across campus.

Complete applications will include: 1) cover letter detailing how the applicant’s research interests, expertise and/or experience meet the requirements and responsibilities of the position, 2) curriculum vitae, and 3) contact information for three professional references. Applicants should contact Dr. Shawn Arent at sarent@mailbox.sc.edu with any questions. All finalists will be required to submit official transcripts from degree-granting institution(s). Review of applications will reconvene on December 9, 2024 until the position is filled.