The School of Public Health at the University of Washington (UW) seeks one or two full-time, tenure-eligible faculty with a research focus on the impacts of racism, discrimination and other social inequalities on health. These positions would be in the Department of Health Services and/or the Department of Epidemiology at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank and based on a 12 month service period with an anticipated start date in fall 2018. The interests and qualifications of the successful candidate will determine in which department (Health Services or Epidemiology) the candidate will be primarily appointed. A joint or adjunct appointment may be considered with other UW departments or affiliated institutions.

 

The successful candidate is expected to lead scholarship around issues of racism, social justice and health, and will include a prominent role in a Center for Anti-Racism and Community Health focused on these themes. Few schools of public health are dedicated to tackling issues of race and social justice in a concerted manner, with community partners, and using rigorous methods across a variety of disciplines. We anticipate the successful candidate to lead efforts in conducting such research while also remaining committed to developing a cadre of public health advocates, practitioners and researchers equipped to identify and challenge systems and structures of racism and oppression. Importantly, the candidate must also be dedicated to building the pipeline of future scholars interested in defining and disrupting systems of structural racism and recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty.

 

We are looking for individuals with a DrPH or PhD degree or equivalent in public health or a related discipline, including but not limited to health services, epidemiology, health behavior, health policy, anthropology, cultural studies, ethnic studies, gender studies, demography, economics, geography, political science, social work, and sociology. We are especially interested in candidates with scholarly work around racism and related constructs as they impact health of populations nationally and globally.

 

Faculty members in the School of Public Health are expected to: (a) conduct an independent research program that complements Department, School, and University research initiatives and programs, (b) participate in collaborative research programs as appropriate to his/her interests, (c) teach in their department's educational programs, and (d) mentor undergraduate, Masters and PhD students.

 

Applicants for this position should have research interests focused on populations in the United States and globally whose health status is impacted by social and structural inequities, such as racial and ethnic minorities, immigrant populations and people with lower socioeconomic status. More specifically, we are interested in candidates with the following skills:

 

• Strong and visionary leadership skills.
• Strong methodologic skills, including quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods research approaches.
• Experience working in collaborative interdisciplinary research teams.
• Ability to establish and maintain research ties to underserved communities.
• Potential to generate external funding for research.
• Experience in teaching, mentoring, and diversity and equity issues in higher education. This includes the ability or potential to involve undergraduate and graduate students in faculty-directed research and/or mentor diverse undergraduate and graduate students in independent research.
• Other involvement in anti-racism activities, particularly with community groups.

 

Environment

 

The School of Public Health at the UW was established in 1970 (http://sph.washington.edu/about/) and consistently ranked in the top ten schools of public health in the nation. With five academic departments (Biostatistics, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Epidemiology, Global Health, and Health Services), four interdisciplinary programs (Health Administration, Maternal and Child Health, Nutritional Sciences, and Public Health Genetics), a strong undergraduate program (offering a public health major, global health minor, and degrees in Environmental Health, Health Informatics and Health Information Management),  and over 40 centers and institutes, the School is committed to excellence in research, teaching and service.  Collaboration and multi-disciplinary research is the norm.

 

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to lead and develop the new Center for Anti-Racism and Community Health. In addition, affiliations with several centers throughout the School of Public Health, including the Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Center for Health Innovation and Policy Science, Center for Obesity Research, Health Promotion Research Center, Latino Center for Health, and Northwest Center for Public Health Practice, among others are possible. At the University, the Center for Communication, Differences and Equity, Center for Studies in Ecology and Demography, Indigenous Wellness Research Institute, and the West Coast Poverty Center bring together diverse faculty to support research and build collaborations. In addition, faculty from American Ethnic Studies, Anthropology, Sociology, and others represent an interdisciplinary group of renowned scholars with a long history of collaboration with the School of Public Health. There are also opportunities for collaboration with other Seattle-area health research institutions (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, Seattle Children's Hospital, and a VA national Health Services Research and Development Center of Innovation). The President of the UW has recently launched the Population Health Initiative which aims to bring faculty from across the University together to address challenges in human health, social and economic equity and environmental resilience. In addition, the Race and Equity Initiative was launched by President Cauce in the spring of 2015 to directly confront bias and racism at the individual, institutional and systemic levels. 

 

Seattle has been cited as one of the country’s most livable and literate cities. The Cascade and Olympic Mountains offer a picturesque setting along with Puget Sound beaches and waterways. Seattle boasts innumerable recreational opportunities and the temperate climate allows for year-round outdoor activities. Headquartered in Seattle are companies such as Amazon, Costco, Expedia, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nordstrom, REI, Starbucks, and T-Mobile, among others. Racial/ethnic minorities comprise 34% of Seattle’s population with an increasing Asian population (14%), followed by Latinos and Blacks (both 7%), and those self-identified by two or more races (5.6%).    

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

 

The UW School of Public Health and all its affiliated departments and interdisciplinary programs are committed to a diverse academic community. Racial/ethnic minority faculty at the University of Washington comprised approximately 25% of the 4,249 faculty as of academic year 2016-17, representing an increase by 18% since academic year 2007-08. We view diversity, equity and inclusion as essential and welcome applications from faculty who have demonstrated research, training and service experience in this area. For more information, please see the following website: http://www.washington.edu/diversity.

 

The UW is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. Applicants who meet the qualifications receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information. UW faculty members engage in teaching, research and service.

 

 

How to Apply

 

To be considered for this position, please submit the following:

 

• A letter of interest describing your research interests and teaching and leadership experience
• A diversity statement that describes your experience related to diversity, inclusion and equity, as well as your potential to contribute to our diversity mission and commitment to being an anti-racist institution
• Curriculum Vitae
• Names and contact information for four references

 

Review of applications will begin April 15, 2018. The position is open until filled.

 

Send application materials via email to:  sphhires@uw.edu