Description
San Diego State University (SDSU) School of Public Health (SPH) seeks to hire a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, with a focus on social epidemiology and/or health disparities research, to begin in Fall 2021. Primary appointment will be within the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The successful candidate for this full-time, academic year, state-supported position will possess a doctoral degree in epidemiology or other closely related field. Preference will be given to candidates with training and expertise in social epidemiology and/or health disparities research and use of observational epidemiologic research methods and/or methods that leverage community engagement. The range and complexity of health disparities have evolved, with the current COVID-19 pandemic shining a light on disparities in health care access, social determinants and structural inequalities in health. Strong candidates will have active research programs that involve the identification of the nature and extent of disparities, examining underlying driving factors for racial, ethnic and socioeconomic disparities, development and implementation of interventions and/or transdisciplinary research, community engagement, and knowledge translation. The ideal candidate will bring a strong quantitative background, including use of modern epidemiologic analytic approaches such as propensity score matching, mediation analyses, and use of natural experiments and instrumental variables, or geospatial epidemiology to interrogate causal questions. The SPH’s strong commitment to disparities research includes the SDSU HealthLINK Center for Transdisciplinary Health Disparities Research and partnerships with numerous community-based organizations, the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, and others. In addition, an academic-practice dialogue is underway, with increased engagement in community-oriented research that is aimed at reducing underlying health inequities in San Diego’s racially diverse, neighborhood-centric, border-adjacent metropolitan area. This tenure-track faculty member will collaborate with other faculty and community health agencies on social epidemiological and health disparities research, elucidating mechanisms through which socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and other factors operate as risk factors for poor health and health disparities. This could include research on life course pathways, or contextual and neighborhood factors to uncover how social exposures interact with behavioral, environmental and structural risk and protective factors to lead to health outcomes.
The incumbent faculty member will support the undergraduate and graduate curriculum of the SPH and is expected to teach core or elective courses in the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics and develop and maintain an independent program of externally funded research. Additional responsibilities include course development, thesis and dissertation supervision, and field practice supervision. Salary and benefits are competitive and are commensurate with experience and academic preparation.
The SDSU SPH is ranked in the top 25 public health schools and programs in the nation and third in California. The SPH grants MPH degrees in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, Epidemiology, Biometry, Health Policy and Management, and Environmental Health; dual MPH/MA degrees in Latin American Studies and Epidemiology, Environmental Health or Health Promotion; dual MPH/MSW degrees in Health Policy and Management and Social Work, and PhD degrees in Health Behavior, Epidemiology and Global Health, and supports the core curriculum of the CEPH accredited SPH and the undergraduate public health major. See our website for more information.
We are seeking applicants with demonstrated experience in and/or commitment to teaching and working effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and members of underrepresented groups. Candidates must satisfy two or more of the eight Building on Inclusive Excellence (BIE) criteria. Candidates that meet BIE criteria: (a) are committed to engaging in service with underrepresented populations within the discipline, (b) have demonstrated knowledge of barriers for underrepresented students and faculty within the discipline, (c) have experience or have demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring underrepresented students, (d) have experience or have demonstrated commitment to integrating understanding of underrepresented populations and communities into research, (e) have experience in or have demonstrated commitment to extending knowledge of opportunities and challenges in achieving artistic/scholarly success to members of an underrepresented group, (f) have experience in or have demonstrated commitment to research that engages underrepresented communities, (g) have expertise or demonstrated commitment to developing expertise in cross-cultural communication and collaboration, and/or (h) have research interests that contribute to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education. Please indicate in your cover letter how you meet at least two or more of these criteria.
San Diego State University is the largest university in San Diego and the third largest in California. The highly diverse campus community has a student population of over 36,000 and approximately 5,849 faculty and staff. SDSU is currently designated as a Doctoral / Research-Intensive University by the Carnegie Foundation. Established in 1897, SDSU offers bachelor degrees in 84 areas, masters in 76 and doctorates in 21. See http://www.sdsu.edu for more information. SDSU is a large, diverse, urban university and Hispanic-Serving Institution with a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence. Our campus community is diverse in many ways, including race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, pregnancy, medical condition, and covered veteran status. We strive to build and sustain a welcoming environment for all.
Application Instructions
Interested candidates should apply via Interfolio at https://apply.interfolio.com/81209 with the following materials:
- Curriculum vitae
- 2-3 page letter describing epidemiology teaching experience and philosophy, and research interests
- 1-2 page statement describing, where applicable, how the applicant’s research, teaching and service addresses inclusion and promotes equity and diversity
- Names and contact information of three references (who will not be contacted without first informing the candidate).
Application review will begin January 1, 2021 and continue until the position is filled.
The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed before any candidate can be offered a position with the CSU. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.