Position Number: 01601
School/College: School of Public Health
Job Description: The University of Alabama at Birmingham ( UAB ) School of Public Health ( SOPH ) is conducting a national search for an innovative and accomplished leader for the position of Department Chair of Health Behavior. One of six health science schools at UAB , the School of Public Health offers unparalleled opportunities for research, teaching, scholarship, and service, having transformed Birmingham into a nexus of medicine, business, research, and development. In 2022, the School received over $38 million in research grants and contracts and ranked 22nd in NIH funding among all schools of public health.
The Department of Health Behavior has 11 full-time faculty and approximately 67 masters and 26 doctoral students. The Department offers the Master of Public Health (online and in class) and a Doctor of Philosophy degree (in class), both with an emphasis on Health Behavior. Additionally, the department recently launched the Disability Health Studies Graduate Certificate and two LGBTQ Health and Wellbeing Certificate Programs (undergraduate and graduate).
Research areas of the department include a range of methods (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, implementation science, community-engaged research) across diverse health domains (e.g., nutrition, physical activity, and obesity; sexual health; addiction and substance abuse; mental health). The Department takes an intersectional approach with attention to different core identities (e.g., sexual and gender minority orientation, racial/ethnic background, disability, individuals experiencing unstable housing, and veteran status) across the life course. Collectively, they contribute to a range of intervention and health promotion efforts that help reduce risk and promote resilience.
The SOPH recently established the Magic City LGBTQ Health Studies Endowed Chair in the department to address the significant health disparities impacting the LGBTQ population both in Alabama and across the nation. Faculty in the department are closely affiliated with SOPH's Center for the Study of Community Health, which is one of 26 CDC Prevention Research Centers in the U.S. and the longest continually funded PRC within the CDC . Faculty in the department are also affiliated with various university interdisciplinary centers, such as the Nutrition Obesity Research Center ( NORC ), the Center For AIDS Research ( CFAR ), and the National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability.
The SOPH seeks a Chair with a vision to guide the growth of the department. The Chair will strengthen the department through strategic faculty hires to enhance the research portfolio and utilize creative approaches to improve the master's and PhD academic programs. The Chair will also provide direction and oversight for all aspects of departmental functions, including practice and service, finances, personnel, and governance structures. Lastly, the Chair will collaborate with the Dean and the faculty to ensure an infrastructure and culture that fosters academic career development and will participate with other chairs in guiding and shaping policies within the School of Public Health.
The successful candidate will demonstrate a record of academic accomplishments in health behavior or related areas, including recent first and senior authorships of manuscripts in high-impact journals, scholarly recognition, recent research support as a principal investigator (PI) on grants from the NIH , CDC , or similar agencies and foundations, along with administrative responsibilities such as serving as a chair, graduate director, or center director, to warrant appointment at the level of a tenured or tenure-earning Professor. The successful candidate should also have demonstrated excellence in teaching, mentoring, and/or supporting faculty members and students. Education at the doctoral level is required to apply for the position. Experience in community based participatory research is desired but not required.
UAB has retained Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist a university search committee in this recruitment. All applications, inquiries, and nominations, which will remain confidential, should be directed to the firm as follows:
Vijay Saraswat, Partner,
Damla Williams, Senior Associate,
EEO Statement: UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work/life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans.
Department: Health Behavior
Assignment Category: Full-Time
Tenure Status: Open Tenure
Required Qualifications: The successful candidate will demonstrate a record of academic accomplishments in health behavior or related areas, including recent first and senior authorships of manuscripts in high-impact journals, scholarly recognition, recent research support as a principal investigator (PI) on grants from the NIH , CDC , or similar agencies and foundations, along with administrative responsibilities such as serving as a chair, graduate director, or center director, to warrant appointment at the level of a tenured or tenure-earning Professor. The successful candidate should also have demonstrated excellence in teaching, mentoring, and/or supporting faculty members and students. Education at the doctoral level is required to apply for the position. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Preferred Qualifications: Experience in community based participatory research is also desired but not required.
Pre-Employment Background Check: A pre-employment background investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.
About University of Alabama, Birmingham
In fall 2018, UAB had a third consecutive year of record-high over all enrollment with 21,923 students, including its largest freshman class ever (2,299), with enrollment growth in every school on campus and in the acclaimed UAB Honors College. The freshman class had an average ACT of 25.2 and GPA of 3.73- both higher than 2017. UAB's students are talented and diverse, with minority students making up 40.5 percent of the freshman class and 39.7 percent of the entire of the student body. Logo Logo UAB is was recently recognized as the Top Young University in the U.S. and 10th globally in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. UAB research expenditures are at a record high, exceeding $562 million in FY17, and UAB ranks 15th in federal funding nationally among public universities (top 4 percent) and 31st overall (top 5 percent). In National Institutes of Health funding, UAB ranks 8th among public universities (top 2 percent) and 23rd overall (top 4 percent) with more than $244 million. UAB Health system has over one million patient visits annually and is home to Alabama's largest hospital and the 3rd largest public hospital in the U.S. UAB houses the state's only level ... 1 adult trauma center and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center in Alabama and a five-state region. UAB is the state's largest single-site employer, with more than 23,000 employees, and has an annual economic impact of over $7.15 billion on Alabama. Show more
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