Position Information

Position/Rank Assistant/Associate/Full Professor DOQ

Department 00196 - Health & Kinesiology

City Salt Lake City, UT

Track Tenure Track

New Position to Begin 01/01/2024 or TBD

Details

Tenure-Track Position(s) for Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Digital Health Applications in areas related to Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolic Health

The University of Utah is recruiting multiple faculty members to expand its research strength in digital health applications specifically related to physical activity, nutrition, diabetes, obesity, and metabolic health. Successful candidates will be embedded in a highly collaborative environment and thriving research area at the nexus of two interdisciplinary research initiatives, the Digital Health Initiative ( DHI ) and the Diabetes and Metabolism Research Center ( DMRC ).

Departments/Units recruiting for these positions include Biomedical Informatics; Family and Preventive Medicine; Health & Kinesiology; Internal Medicine (Divisions of Endocrinology; Epidemiology; and General Internal Medicine); Nutrition and Integrative Physiology; Population Health Sciences; and the College of Nursing. We particularly encourage applications from a broad and diverse range of faculty candidates interested in supporting diversity and inclusion within our research community, as well as those focused on advancing health equity and resolving existing inequities. Applications at all ranks (Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor) will be considered.

Successful candidates will have an outstanding record of research productivity on developing and/or implementing digital health interventions in the prevention or management of chronic diseases, with a focus on diabetes, obesity, or metabolic health.

Areas of interest could include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Population health approaches with digital methods for outreach and education focusing on advancing health equity (e.g., text messages, chatbots).

• mHealth methods for data collection on nutrition, weight, and physical activity.

• Digital approaches to educate patients, deliver interventions, and collect data.

• Clinic-based interventions, such as offering EHR -based weight loss coaching, access to the National Diabetes Prevention Program, and point of care clinical decision support.

• Virtual reality-based tools;

• Social Robotics;

• Playful health, gamification, games for health;

• Data visualization methods used as tools to make data more understandable.

• Digital and AI approaches to improving community engagement with diverse, underserved, and underrepresented communities.

• Digital and automated approaches to support the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based interventions.

Applicants with PhDs, MDs, or other Clinical Doctorates in a diverse array of disciplines (e.g., Nutrition, Psychology, Public Health, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Biomedical Informatics, Health Services Research, Implementation Science, Kinesiology) will be considered. The successful candidates will develop independent, extramurally-funded research programs and train and mentor graduate students. Dependent on department expectations, some additional teaching or clinical work may be expected.

Successful candidates will join a vibrant, diverse, and growing research community, with a strong commitment to building an inclusive research and teaching environment. New recruits will maintain a primary appointment in one of the participating academic departments, while having membership in the DMRC and DHI .

• The interdisciplinary DMRC strives to unify and enhance efforts of clinicians, researchers, and educators to catalyze innovative research relating to diabetes and metabolic health throughout Utah and the Mountain West. The center comprises more than 100 faculty across multiple schools, colleges, and departments and supports researchers through the recruitment of research-intensive faculty, distribution of pilot grants, organization of symposia and seminars, and management of training grants.

• DHI serves as a hub for advancing the development, research, and commercialization of transformative digital technologies for patients, their families, and their health care teams by cultivating a thriving research community of digital health researchers. DHI aims to validate technology in real-world clinical environments, create a software development core, and develop an infrastructure to accelerate the scalability and dissemination of digital health interventions. DHI also emphasizes the important role that gamification has in health and health care. Relevant areas include the intersection of digital health and gaming in therapeutics, adherence, engagement, and inclusion.

The successful candidates will also have access to outstanding research services (e.g. Utah Population Database, Clinical & Translational Science Institute), access to data from the University of Utah electronic health record, and the ability to leverage resources from the Driving Out Diabetes initiative, a strategic initiative to reduce the burden of diabetes and the associated medical comorbidities of physical inactivity, obesity and heart disease through clinical, research, and community engagement programs. Additionally, the University of Utah has a long, proud tradition in software innovation and development with available partners and resources, such as the Therapeutic Games and Apps Lab.

Location. Located in metropolitan Salt Lake City in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, the University of Utah is the state’s flagship research institution and emphasizes exceptional scholarship, quality teaching, and professional service. The university serves over 32,000 students from across the U.S. and the world with over 72 major subjects at the undergraduate level and more than 90 major fields of study at the graduate level, including law and medicine.

The University of Utah encourages an active, holistic lifestyle, innovation, and collaborative thinking to engage students, faculty, and business leaders. Salt Lake City is a vibrant, major metropolitan area, with a diverse, multicultural population of approximately one million residents, as well as numerous cultural and outdoor activities. This location offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation, with ten world-class ski resorts and five national parks within hours of the city. Patients treated at University of Utah Health Sciences Center travel from all areas of Utah and from the five nearby states of Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nevada and Arizona, resulting in one of the largest geographic catchment areas of any academic medical center in the United States. The Salt Lake City International Airport includes a Delta Airlines hub, with direct flights to most U.S. cities and direct international flights to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Mexico City. The Salt Lake City metropolitan area received international recognition for its new light rail system, foodie culture, downtown renewal, and increasing diversity. In 2017, U.S. News and World Report ranked Salt Lake City as the 10th best place to live in the nation.

Starting September 2023, applications will be reviewed as received and the positions will remain open until filled.

Contact: Emily Kay (emily.kay@hsc.utah.edu)

Please apply online at:https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/153305

Upload a cover letter, current CV, Research Statement (3-pages maximum) and a list of three or more references.

Salary commensurate with experience.

The University of Utah Health (U of U Health) is a patient focused center distinguished by collaboration, excellence, leadership, and respect. U of U Health is committed to building an inclusive environment that attracts a diverse team of talented faculty who are supported and enabled to do imaginative science.

EEO/Non-Discrimination Information

All qualified individuals are strongly encouraged to apply. Veterans’ preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

The University of Utah is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran’s status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action ( OEO /AA). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator’s office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at:

https://www.utah.edu/nondiscrimination/

Online reports may be submitted at oeo.utah.edu

Notice

The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“ URS ”). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS’ post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen and immunizations. https://safety.utah.edu/safetyreport This report includes statistics about criminal offenses, hate crimes, arrests and referrals for disciplinary action, and Violence Against Women Act offenses. They also provide information about safety and security-related services offered by the University of Utah. A paper copy can be obtained by request at the Department of Public Safety located at 1658 East 500 South.

Special Instructions for Candidates

Contact: Emily Kay (emily.kay@hsc.utah.edu)

Please apply online at:https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/153305

Upload a cover letter, current CV, Research Statement (3-pages maximum) and a list of three or more references.

Open Date 09/27/2023

Close Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Requisition Number PRN03383F

Type Faculty