Assistant Professor

Drexel NIH FIRST Assistant Professor Tenure Track positions in Health Disparities

The Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP) invites applications from early-stage investigators for a tenure track Assistant Professor position, as part of the inaugural NIH-funded Drexel FIRST (Faculty Institutional Research for Sustainable Transformation) Program in collaboration with the Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health.

The FIRST Program is a novel NIH initiative to enhance inclusive excellence in health disparities research and support career development and retention of early-stage investigators with a strong focus on developing independent research. Inclusive excellence refers to a culture that establishes and sustains scientific environments that cultivate and benefit from a full range of talents and involves the recruitment of a critical mass of early-career faculty with commitment to principles of inclusive excellence.

The Drexel FIRST program will establish a robust, transformative and sustainable program to support diverse early career scientists engaged in health disparities research spanning population science to intervention research. Diversity refers to candidates from groups identified as underrepresented in the biomedical, clinical, behavioral, and social sciences (described in NOT-OD-20-031 ; https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-20-031.html), such as racial and ethnic minorities, those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, individuals with disabilities, and women.

We seek clinical scientists or other researchers in nursing, health sciences, counseling, creative arts therapies, and/or rehabilitation science, who have demonstrated the potential to generate, innovative research related to health disparities broadly defined and whose research addresses one of 3 pillars of health disparities research: Detecting (defining/measuring health disparities); Understanding (identifying determinants of health disparities); and/or Reducing health disparities (interventions, policies, evaluation, translation) in cross-cutting thematic areas of aging, chronic disease, and/or environmental determinants). This is a tenure track appointment with a primary appointment in a Department in CNHP with the possibility of a secondary or courtesy appointment in the Dornsife School of Public Health or other units in Drexel University. Positions will have 75% protected research time for the first 3 years of the appointment.

The Drexel FIRST program will provide extensive mentorship, sponsorship, faculty development and support resources. Through this grant, CNHP and Drexel University strive to build and nurture an institutional culture where inclusiveness across race, gender, sexual orientation, age, social class, immigrant status and ability, is a core value and where differences are respected. We view diversity and inclusion as critical to our mission, our work and the advancement of science.

Qualifications . We encourage applications from candidates in any discipline (Nursing, Counseling, Health Science, Rehabilitation) whose work broadly advances clinical research, behavioral, social and intervention science, and addresses social justice, and racial equity. Candidates should have earned a doctorate degree (PhD, ScD, DSW or equivalent) in a social science, nursing or a health profession discipline, including but not limited to human development, community health, environmental health, global health, nursing care, counseling, or gerontology among others. Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to conducting rigorous, high-level research with potential for NIH funding, including the production of scholarly publications; have a track-record for, or show the potential to receive external funding; and have a strong, documented commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The College of Nursing and Health Professions (CNHP) develops leaders in interprofessional nursing and health profession education, research and clinical practice with the vision of promoting “health and wellness for everyone, everywhere.” Its top ranked programs also include award-winning and nationally recognized clinical practices serving Philadelphia communities and families. Grounded in the principle of health equity, CNHP is committed to antiracism, and experiential learning and integrating understandings of structural and social determinants of health in pedagogy, research and clinical practice. In August 2022, CNHP will be relocating to a state-of-the-science newly constructed building, Drexel’s Health Sciences Building, on Drexel’s West Philadelphia campus which will house its educational and research activities as well as exciting research laboratories including its Bionutritional Core, Fall Balance Laboratory, Virtual Reality Laboratory, Simulation Laboratory and Food Laboratory, and its Cell₂Society research network and AgeWell Collaboratory which engage others University-wide and community partners.

Drexel University is an academically comprehensive and globally engaged private research university, Drexel is dedicated to advancing generating knowledge and applying it to address society’s big challenges. Students receive a valuable, rigorous, experiential education. The University’s goal to become “the most civically engaged university in America” drives its work with the City of Philadelphia and diverse community partners. The city of Philadelphia is known for its arts and culture and is home to Fairmount Park, the largest landscaped urban park in the world. Philadelphia is a city of neighborhoods and ranked as the fifth most walkable major city in the United States. It is also rich with history and diverse cultures.

The Drexel First initiative is a collaboration between CNHP and the Dornsife School of Public Health (DSPH) which is a top ranked public health program in Philadelphia, ranked among the top 25 programs nationwide. Founded on the principle of health as a human right, DSPH focuses on many public health areas but has a special commitment to improving health in cities, eliminating health inequities, and translating evidence into action. DSPH also has a unique commitment to public health practice and experiential learning and has various research centers such as the Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements and Population Health Equity.

Application Instructions

We are especially interested in qualified candidates in nursing, health science or a health profession who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of CNHP specifically and our academic community overall. Interested candidates should submit a cover letter describing experience and goals as relevant to the research themes of Drexel FIRST, a curriculum vitae, and, in a separate document, describe their commitment/personal experience/philosophy in relation to diversity and inclusive excellence (in teaching/mentoring, practice/service, and/or research) to Drexel Careers , Position No.499344. Confidential informal queries to Dean Gitlin ( CNHPdean@drexel.edu ) are welcome. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning September 1, 2022. Applications will be accepted until a successful candidate has been identified. It is anticipated the position will begin September 1, 2023, or sooner.

Drexel University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and encourages applications from women, members of minority groups, disabled individuals and veterans.

Advertised:Aug 17 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:Oct 17 2022 Eastern Daylight Time