Assistant Professor

Job Description

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas invites applications for Director of Health Disparities Research Initiative through the Academic Health Initiative. This is a 12-month, tenure track position at the open rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor or Professor in the School of Public Health.

ROLE of the POSITION
The School of Public Health is seeking a full-time open-rank faculty member / Director for the Health Disparities Research Initiative. The initiative spans several schools and colleges at the University through the Academic Health Initiative and is designed to foster interdisciplinary research and collaboration in health disparities research.

The university-wide health disparities research initiative will increase the impact of research on health disparities at local, state, national and global levels, and strive to achieve targeted metrics including external federal grant funding for a health disparities research program.

This position will promote health equity by facilitating collaborative research, education, and training opportunities in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, social science and health policy disciplines addressing racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, gender, sexual gender minorities (SGM), and other disparities in health and healthcare.

In particular, we are interested in an investigator who conducts health disparities research in chronic or infectious diseases that adversely affect disadvantaged populations that include racial and ethnic minorities (African American, Hispanic American, American Indian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or rural populations). While excellence in research is the most important criteria for a successful candidate, successful programs of research might include, but are not limited to, prevention and management of diabetes and obesity in minorities, cancer detection and intervention among minority populations, identification and prevention of specific types of cancer known to be at high risk for specific minority groups (e.g., prostate and breast cancer among African Americans, stomach cancer among Asian Americans), research on differential access to care, and health policy research.

This position will facilitate and conduct university-wide research on health disparities through interdisciplinary research. S/he will disseminate research outcomes at conferences, seminars, symposia and community outreach events. S/he will provide training and mentorship for junior faculty, fellows, and students interested in health disparities research.

This faculty member will enhance the impact of health disparities research by creating collaborations and partnerships with community, social, clinical and translational health disparities research centers as well as other entities throughout the state.

Finally, driven by external awards, but also partially supported by State funds, the health disparities research team will be integrated with key graduate programs, support dozens of Graduate Research Assistants, and integrate research faculty and postdoctoral scholars as appropriate. There is the potential for this research team to evolve into a recognized university-wide Institute. The successful candidate will need to have a demonstrated track record in securing external grant awards from such agencies as the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Science Foundation and/or other agencies.

PROFILE OF THE SCHOOL
The UNLV School of Public Health (SPH) was established in 2004. It is the first CEPH-accredited School of Public Health in Nevada. It is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of people worldwide. The SPH departments, programs, and research units work to provide a diverse education, practical training experience, and numerous community involvement opportunities to prepare students to become leaders and professionals in the field of Public Health.

PROFILE OF THE ACADEMIC HEALTH INITIATIVE
The UNLV Academic Health Initiative (AHI) was established in 2018 and is dedicated to caring for the Las Vegas community and beyond. The AHI includes the UNLV schools of medicine, public health, nursing, dental medicine, integrated health and behavioral and mental health programs dispersed throughout the university. The AHI was formed to provide a diverse education, practical training experience, and numerous community involvement opportunities to prepare students to become leaders in the health professions.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Assistant Professor

Have earned a PhD, or doctoral degree in health science related fields from a regionally accredited college or university as recognized by the United States Department of Education and/or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Demonstrate strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.

Credentials must be obtained prior to the start date.

Evidence of high-quality scholarly activity and extramural funding

Associate Professor

Have earned a PhD, or doctoral degree in health science related fields from a regionally accredited college or university as recognized by the United States Department of Education and/or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Demonstrate strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.

Be regionally or nationally recognized as an expert in the area of health disparities

Have strong evidence of scholarly activity and extramural funding commensurate with the rank of Associate Professor.

Professor

Have earned a PhD, or doctoral degree in health science related fields from a regionally accredited college or university as recognized by the United States Department of Education and/or the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Possess a strong record of external research funding from NIH and other funding agencies.

Have a strong scholarship and publication record in health disparities research as this research pertains to disease prevention, disease management, healthcare access, or health policy.

Have a national reputation as a health disparities researcher as evidenced by a record of peer reviewed published research and external grant support.

A record of utilizing creative leadership and promoting interdisciplinary research collaboration. In this endeavor the candidate will need to work across Schools and Colleges at the University so as to secure support for the faculty hires that will be supported by the Health Disparities Research Initiative.

Demonstrate strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.

Must have a strong record of interdisciplinary research with diverse audiences and populations.

COMMITMENT to DIVERSITY and CAMPUS VALUES
A successful candidate will support diversity, equity, and inclusiveness and contribute to a respectful, positive work environment. They will use our Campus Values to guide their decisions and actions and demonstrate our Rebel spirit.

SALARY
Salary is competitive with those at similarly situated institutions.