Assistant or Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology & Nutrition

Assistant or Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology & Nutrition

The University of Southern Mississippi is currently accepting applications for the position of Assistant or Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology & Nutrition.

Position Details

Location Hattiesburg

118 College Drive

Hattiesburg, Mississippi, 39406-0001

United States

Division School of Kinesiology and Nutrition

Position Type Faculty

Employment Status Full Time

Grant Funded No

Pay Grade

Posting Close Date 8/1/25

Special Instructions to Applicants

The University of Southern Mississippi is a leader in academic excellence, innovative research, and community engagement. The School of Kinesiology and Nutrition is dedicated to advancing knowledge and practice in exercise and nutrition and is committed to fostering an inclusive and dynamic learning environment. We invite applicants for a tenure track, full-time, nine-month position at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Nutrition in the College of Education and Human Sciences to begin fall 2025. We seek a highly motivated scholar with a strong record of research, teaching, and service. The successful candidate will contribute to our school through excellence in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses, leading impactful research, and engaging in professional service. The goal of this position is to enhance school expertise related to biomechanics and kinesiology.

Applicants should include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and 2 statements: (1) research accomplishments and 3-year plan (3 page maximum, not including references), and (2) teaching philosophy (2 page maximum). Candidates should also provide a list of three professional references and official transcripts indicating all degrees. Review of applications will begin fall, 2024.

All questions concerning the position should be directed to Dr. Nuno Oliveira (Nuno.Oliveira@usm.edu) Search Committee Chair. To ensure consideration, please submit application materials by October 11th, 2024.

Job Summary

This nine-month, tenure track faculty position requires teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses in the school, developing and maintaining a programmatic line of research, mentoring students, and providing service to the school, college, university, and professional organizations. The school administers programs in Exercise Science, Nutrition and Dietetics, Fitness and Nutrition, Sport Coaching, and K-12 Physical Education Licensure. The ideal candidate would be qualified to teach, serve, and help manage content and programming within the undergraduate and graduate Exercise Science and Sport Coaching programs specific to the human movement sciences (Kinesiology/Biomechanics/Sport Skill Analysis).

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

A tenure-track appointment as an Assistant Professor involves:

Research

Commitment to build and sustain a robust research agenda to include creation and dissemination of new knowledge.

Conducting high-quality, independent research in the field of Biomechanics.

Seeking and securing external funding through grants and other sources.

Publishing research findings in peer-reviewed journals and presenting at national and international conferences.

Mentorship of Graduate students in research.

Teaching

Developing and delivering undergraduate and graduate-level courses in nutrition, exercise science, and related subjects both online and face to face.

Designing engaging, evidence-based curriculum and utilizing innovative teaching methods.

Providing academic and career guidance to students, including supervising graduate theses and dissertations.

Mentoring and advising students in academic and research pursuits.

Service

Participating in departmental, university, and professional service activities.

Contributing to curriculum development, committee work, and community outreach initiatives.

Engaging in collaborative projects within and outside the institution.

Assisting with the assessment and evaluation of programs.

Minimum Qualifications

For Assistant Professor rank:

Earned doctorate (degree conferred by August 2025) in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Nutrition, Human Performance, Athletic Training, Sports Medicine, Physiology, Sports Science, or related field.

Demonstrated excellence in teaching evidence of potential to conduct and disseminate research. Experience mentoring students and leading research projects.

Research related to analysis of healthy and/or disordered human movement, the optimization of sports performance, or the promotion, maintenance, or restoration of health through movement.

For Associate Professor rank: All of the above, plus 6 years of research experience (provide evidence of funding history in research statement and CV) in a tenure track position or equivalent independent position.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Ex ce ptional written and oral communication and interpersonal skills.

Proven track record of innovative teaching practices and research impact.

Demonstrated ability to work effectively and collegially with students, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds, programs, and colleges.

Knowledge of the field of Exercise Science along with knowledge of the field of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Skill sets associated with use and application of common Exercise Science methodologies, teaching, and scholarly tools.

Preferred Qualifications:

An established research focus demonstrated through both publications and pursuit of extramural funding.

Demonstrated excellence in university-level teaching with experience in online Learning Management Systems like CANVAS.

Location: The position is based in Hattiesburg, Mississippi as in-person.

The School: Representing approximately 600 students and 27 faculty and staff. The School of Kinesiology and Nutrition houses the 5th largest undergraduate program at the University and supports state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities. The school also supports the federally funded Mississippi Center for Clinical and Translational Research Community Engagement and Outreach Core, and the DoD funded Sports and Tactical Athlete Research (STAR) Laboratories. The STAR labs initiative is a collaboration of experts who seek to advance the current state of understanding and technology related to warfighter/athlete/tactical head and neck and lower extremity protection and overall performance. The school research efforts work to support the STAR laboratories (head and neck/lower extremity biomechanics), established Community Nutrition research, and Cardiovascular Health and Disease prevention. On-campus facilities offer newly renovated teaching and research spaces. Laboratory facilities include approximately 9,000 square feet of well-equipped, state-of-the-art, on- and off-campus dedicated space that includes a Foods laboratory (equipped with 8-station industrial, stainless steel teaching kitchen with video technology), Biomechanics laboratory (equipped with Qualisys markerless motion capture, 6 AMTI fixed force platforms, AMTI moveable force platform, AMTI instrumented treadmill, Noraxon EMG suite, Delsys EMG suite, Novel Loadsol wireless insoles, and Biodex System 4 isokinetic Dynometer), Exercise Physiology lab (GE U/S unit, Treadmills, Cycle ergometers, Hokanson cuff, Grass Stimulator, Cosmed K5, LabChart Data Acquisition Unit, NeuroAmp X microneurography unit, EKG bioamps, Artinis PortaLite NIRS system, and CWE Gemini Gas Analyzer), and Anthropometric Assessment laboratory (GE Lunar iDXA scanner, Seca Ultrasound Stadiometer, Impedimed SFB7 Bioelectrical Impedance Spectroscopy, Bello Near-infrared Reactance Spectroscopy, Veggie-meter non-invasive rapid reflection spectroscopy, and InBody 570), and Wet Laboratory (Millipore Direct Q Water Purification System, Eppendorf -80 Freezer, Tecan Spark Microplate Reader, Tecan Microplate Washer System, and Eppendorf Centrifuge), and the Head and Neck Biomechanics Impact laboratory (Cadex Monorail Drop Tower, Cadex Twin-wire drop tower, Cadex Linear Impactor, full suite of Hybrid III/NOCSAE/DOT instrumented headforms, Data acquisition systems, Vision Research Phantom v611 and Miro Hi-speed cameras, Angular Rate System: Hybrid III DTS ARS with Sliceware and Nine Accelerometer Package: Hybrid III DTS NAP using Sliceware, and NOCSAE NAP using BioDAQ).

For over 50 years, our School has enjoyed a rich history of securing federal and state funds for research and teaching endeavors as well as working with community partners, stakeholders, and organizations towards the aim of improving health and human performance and preventing disease and injury.

About The University of Southern Mississippi

Since our founding in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi has remained dedicated to preparing students for success. We deliver programs to more than 13,000 students in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, as well as online. We are a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, earning distinction as one of the nations leading research institutions.

Southern Miss is known for pioneering work in polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, and bringing language to children with communication disorders. We are also a national leader in a broad range of disciplines, including cybersecurity, hydrography, nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, among others.

We produce graduates ready to enter fields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs such as computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We’re developing the next generation of business leaders, while also responding to critical workforce shortages by producing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of excellence in the arts, we are one of only 36 public institutions in the nation accredited in four major areas of the arts. Home to the Golden Eagles, our student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division I sports. With a culture marked by passion and persistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life. For more information, visit www.usm.edu.

As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer/Americans with Disabilities Act institution, The University of Southern Mississippi encourages minorities, women, veterans and persons with disabilities to apply.