ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Health & Kinesiology

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Description: The Department of Health and Kinesiology is seeking an exceptional candidate for a tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. The ideal candidate will have an active research program with a demonstrated ability to establish and sustain an externally funded research agenda. Additionally, the candidate should be able to teach and develop courses in undergraduate and graduate programs, including areas such as biostatistics and epidemiology. The candidate will also support new programming within the MPH program, offered in both residential and online modalities. Additional responsibilities include mentoring students, collaborating with faculty and staff, engaging in departmental and professional service, and working with community partners on public health initiatives.

Qualifications: The successful candidate must have a PhD, DrPH, DVM, or MD in public health, community health, epidemiology, biostatistics, kinesiology, or a related field. A strong record of academic scholarship and teaching experience that meets qualifications for the rank of Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois is required. Research areas of interest include, but are not limited to, health behavior and promotion, health disparities, one health, rural health, community assessment surveillance, and implementing and evaluating effects of community-level interventions, all approached through the lens of epidemiology/biostatistics. Experience collaborating with communities on public health initiatives is also desirable.

Salary

The budgeted salary range for the position is $80,000 to $95,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. The position includes start-up funds and an attractive benefits package.

Appointment Information

This is a 100% full-time Academic position, appointed on a 9-month basis. Application Process: To apply, create a candidate profile at https://jobs.illinois.edu . Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. Once your profile is created, select the position for which you are applying:
https://illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/15375?c=illinois  and upload all required documents, including:

            • Cover letter
            • Curriculum vitae
            • Research statement (up to 2 pages)
            • Teaching statement (up to 2 pages)
            • A list of names, e-mail addresses and phone numbers for at least three references.
              Candidates will be informed before references are contacted.


Please complete your application by November 14, 2025. Review of applications will begin immediately afterwards. However, the position will remain open until filled. Starting date is August 16, 2026.
 
For additional information, please contact Search Committee Chair, Dr. Pedro Hallal (phallal@illinois.edu). For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

General Information:
The Department of Health and Kinesiology (HK, https://ahs.illinois.edu/kch-home): The mission of the Department is to advance and disseminate knowledge related to health, rehabilitation, and human movement using an interdisciplinary approach. Through the integration of high-quality research, instruction, and outreach programs, faculty scholars within HK are leading initiatives that address pressing concerns of our diverse society such as prevention and management of chronic disease as well as maintenance of health and well-being across the lifespan. HK hosts a diverse group of faculty, students, and staff (https://ahs.illinois.edu/kch-directory-update) working and learning in a collegial and collaborative environment. HK offers BS degrees in Community Health, Interdisciplinary Health, and Kinesiology; MS and PhD degrees in Community Health and Kinesiology; Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Health Administration (MHA), and Master of Science in Health Technology (MSHT). More than 1,700 undergraduate and 200 graduate students are enrolled in the Department. Most undergraduate students continue their education in professional allied health or graduate degree programs, and most doctoral graduates attain positions in academia or industry. The recently renovated Freer Hall Lab includes a variety of new laboratory space totaling ~38,000ft that includes several wet and dry space laboratories, office spaces for students and faculty, and common areas designed for meetings and collaboration.  The research laboratories include two biochemistry and cell culture laboratories, equipped with centrifuges, biosafety cabinets, chemical fume hoods, incubators, -20°C freezers, flammable refrigerators, water purification system, and lab benches with vacuum and compressed air connectors.  The three biospecimen collection sites include phlebotomy chairs and hospital beds designed for long-term studies.  The metabolic testing laboratory is equipped with an isokinetic dynamometer for measuring muscle strength (HUMAC Norm), two treadmills, and a metabolic cart (Parvo). There is also a body composition lab equipped with several ultrasound machines and a DXA for measuring body composition. Other facilities include a fully equipped metabolic kitchen and an observation room.  

The MPH Program (https://ahs.illinois.edu/mph-home): The Department of Health and Kinesiology offers an MPH program with two concentrations: Health Behavior and Promotion, and Epidemiology. This program actively supports major campus initiatives, providing innovative leadership in public health research, education, and service at regional, national, and international levels. The program received initial Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) accreditation in 2013 and was reaccredited in 2018 for a seven-year term. The Department and MPH program host a diverse group of faculty, students, and staff. The program offers a traditional 2-yearMPH program as well as a BS-MPH4+1 year option for students majoring in Community Health, Interdisciplinary Health, or Kinesiology. The program currently offers concentrations in Health Behavior and Promotion and Epidemiology. The MPH in Epidemiology is a STEM designated degree allowing international students with F-1 visas to qualify for a STEM OPT extension. Students in our growing program are surrounded by nurturing and supportive faculty. The MPH program has established partnerships with leading local, state and national public health agencies(e.g., Champaign-Urbana Public Health Department, Illinois Department of Public Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AARP)to offer intensive “on the job” experiences and complete the required Applied Practice Experience (APE) and Integrative Learning Experiences (ILE)hours. Exit survey data show that 94% of our MPH graduates are employed or continuing education upon graduation.

The College of Applied Health Sciences (AHS, https://ahs.illinois.edu): The mission of AHS is to promote culturally relevant individual and community health and well-being across the lifespan, facilitate optimal living with disability, and foster the development of livable communities in a diverse society through learning, discovery, and engagement. The College enrolls 2,234 undergraduates and 408 graduate students in its three academic departments: Health & Kinesiology (http://kch.illinois.edu/); Recreation, Sport & Tourism (http://rst.illinois.edu/); Speech & Hearing Science (http://shs.illinois.edu/). Each department is highly ranked in national surveys. Within AHS are also the Center on Health, Aging and Disability (CHAD); the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services (DRES); and the Chez Veterans Center. Our College has documented strengths in the study of lifestyle behaviors such as exercise and nutrition, lifestyle interventions, microbiome, aging, human performance, falls and fall prevention, assistive technologies to improve communication, brain imaging, and community and organizational development.  We recently dedicated a new College research facility, the McKechnie Family LIFE Home. 

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, http://illinois.edu/): Established in 1867, UIUC is a land-grant, Research 1 institution that has established an international reputation as an educational community ideally suited for excellence in scholarship and research across the academic spectrum. Illinois is a recognized leader in national and international education. With an international student enrollment of over 12,000 in 2024-25, Illinois ranks second in the nation among public colleges and universities and includes students from over 120 countries. More than 1,600 students studied abroad in 2024-25, and around 300 programs are offered each year in 50 countries around the globe.  The University is home to internationally recognized facilities and interdisciplinary programs including: Institute for Genomic Biology (www.igb.illinois.edu/), Beckman Institute (http://beckman.illinois.edu/), W.M. Keck Center for Comparative and Functional Genomics (www.biotech.uiuc.edu/centers/Keck/), National Center for Supercomputing Applications (www.ncsa.illinois.edu/), Division of Nutritional Sciences (http://nutrsci.illinois.edu/), Neuroscience Program (http://neuroscience.illinois.edu/). The Illinois Health Sciences Institute, Center on Social and Behavioral Sciences, and the Discovery Partners Institute (located in Chicago) offer many research support services and outreach opportunities to healthcare systems such as Mayo Clinic, OSF HealthCare, and Carle Hospital, industry, and community. The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology offers opportunities for affiliation or formal appointment (including laboratory space) with several relevant research groups including Brain Connectivity and Networks, and Neurotechnology for Memory and Cognition, among others. The Biomedical Imaging Center supports new 7T human and 9T small animal magnetic resonance imagers. Innovative interdisciplinary graduate programs in neuroscience and nutrition offer opportunities for collaboration and student recruitment. The Cancer Center at Illinois initiates and harnesses the combined power of engineering and basic sciences to transform cancer research, detection, and treatment. The National Center for Supercomputing Applications is a leader in advanced computing, software, data, networking, and visualization resources. These resources and more provide a fertile environment for cutting-edge health technology research. With an undergraduate enrollment of 35,000 and a graduate enrollment of over 20,000 students in more than 100 disciplines, Illinois is among the top five universities in the country in the number of earned doctorates awarded each year. The quality of our students is very high. We are leaders in technology and our employee and alumni innovations have been extraordinary. YouTube, Netscape, medical MRI screening, the LED, and the plasma screen used in televisions and computers are just a few discoveries created by our faculty and alumni. In response to the COVID-19pandemic, UIUC led all universities with a novel and aggressive non-invasive saliva testing program which served as a model for the country. The University of Illinois offers generous employee benefits including health insurance and retirement programs. In addition, we also offer our employees tuition waivers and other development opportunities for personal and professional growth, including a Dual Career Academic Couples Hiring Program. We value our employees and seek to foster an inclusive workplace.

The Champaign-Urbana Community: Home of the University of Illinois flagship campus, Champaign-Urbana (http://ci.champaign.il.us/about-champaign/) is a ‘micro-urban’ community (http://www.micro-urbanist.com) with a population of ~226,000 in the metro area located in east central Illinois. It is conveniently located between Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis and has its own airport and train service. Combining natural Midwest beauty and cultural resources typically found in much larger metropolitan areas, Champaign-Urbana is friendly, livable, easy to navigate, affordable and has an excellent public-school system. There is a ‘work-life’ balance here that gives faculty ample time for both scholarship and family pursuits devoid of the hassles of large city life. The average commute time is less than 15 minutes. The Champaign-Urbana area offers a range of businesses, recreation, and culture unmatched by other communities its size, due in large part to the presence of the University of Illinois. Whether you’re looking to raise a family, enjoy the outdoors, partake in a variety of cultural activities, enjoy the excitement of Big 10 sports, or become part of the University of Illinois community, Champaign-Urbana has something to offer you.

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Requisition ID: 1033196
Job Category: Faculty
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu