The Department of Exercise Science (www.sph.sc.edu/exsc) 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, 2026. This position is part of a Presidential initiative for strategic hires in identified areas of interest across the university.

The successful candidate will have, or be able to develop, collaborative multi-disciplinary, translational research programs with a focus on biomechanics that complement or enhance research within the Department and across ASPH. Research programs of particular interest will have a primary emphasis on human health, performance, and/or injury.

The position requires an earned doctoral degree in exercise science, kinesiology, nutrition, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, 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 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, diverse 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.

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.

The University of South Carolina offers a robust benefits package described at: http://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/human_resources/benefits/index.php

How to apply: Applications must be submitted via USC Jobs at the following link: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/198004. 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 begin on December 17, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.

The position requires an earned doctoral degree in exercise science, kinesiology, nutrition, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, 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.

About University of South Carolina

The University of South Carolina (UofSC) is classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education as a Research University of Very High Research Activity. UofSC is located in Columbia, the capital city and geographical center of the state, with the campus adjacent to the state government complex and the downtown business and cultural districts. The Greater Columbia area has a population of more than 800,000 and is easily accessible by public transportation and interstate highways. One of the oldest and most comprehensive public universities in the United States, the University of South Carolina, Columbia is the major research center of the University and its largest campus, enrolling 24,000 undergraduate students and 7,700 graduate and professional students. From its location in the state capital, the University offers a range of excellent programs and activities designed to enhance the intellectual, cultural, physical, and social development of its diverse student body. Additional opportunities for personal and career development are provided to the citizens of South Carolina through outreach and continuing education activities. Today the University serve...s the entire state and includes, in addition to the Columbia campus, two four-year campuses and five regional campuses. Enrollment on all campuses totals over 45,000. The University offers more than 324 major degree programs, including baccalaureate degrees in 126 areas, 11 programs of study for associate degrees on regional campuses, master’s degrees in 172 areas, doctoral degrees in 74 areas, and professional doctorates in business, education, engineering, law, medicine, music, pharmacy, and public health. More than two dozen programs are nationally and internationally ranked, from the creative arts, liberal arts, health and physical sciences to law, business, and engineering. The Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH) was established in 1975 and currently has a graduate enrollment of more than 830 students and an undergraduate enrollment of 2000 students. The School is fully accredited by the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH). It includes six departments (Exercise Science; Epidemiology and Biostatistics; Health Services Policy and Management; Health Promotion, Education and Behavior; Environmental Health Sciences, and Communication Sciences and Disorders), six centers (Prevention Research Center, Center for Research in Health and Nutrition Disparities, Center for Health Services and Policy Research, Center for Public Health Preparedness, South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, and Speech and Hearing Center), and one institute (The Institute for Partnerships to Eliminate Health Disparities.) The School works closely with the University’s other health professions schools – the School of Medicine, the College of Nursing, and the College of Pharmacy. Faculty from these schools are actively involved in interdisciplinary research, training, and service activities with ASPH faculty.

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