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Assistant Professor of Kinesiology – Ethics of Health & Performance Enhancement

Assistant Professor of Kinesiology – Ethics of Health & Performance Enhancement

The Department of Kinesiology at The Pennsylvania State University is seeking a full-time faculty member in the area of ethics of health and performance enhancement. Penn State is embarking on a transformative series of hires in ethics designed to ensure that Penn State becomes a leader in ethics informed interdisciplinary research and the integration of ethical literacy throughout the Penn State curriculum. This is one of twelve tenure-track appointments funded by the University to augment the Penn State mission in this important area. Faculty will be co-funded by the Department of Kinesiology and the Rock Ethics Institute (rockethics.psu.edu) where he/she will be hosted as affiliate faculty. This is a tenure-track position, beginning Fall 2015 at the assistant professor level.

The successful candidate is expected to provide an informed ethical perspective on physical performance enhancement and related health concerns in the domains of exercise, sport, and other physical activities. A focus on performance enhancement might include ethical analyses of performance interventions ranging from genetic engineering to pharmaceutical and dietary protocols, the development of appropriate policies and other standards for exercise-related health and well-being, and the identification of guidelines for activity safety across the lifespan, but particularly in youth sport and other children’s activity settings. The successful candidate will be expected to interact effectively with exercise physiologists, biomechanists, exercise psychologists, neuroscientists, and a variety of other health-related and motor performance-related researchers and instructors, as well as scholars in other parts of the University including, but not limited to, nutritional sciences, prevention science, child and adolescent development, and sport-related communication.

We are seeking candidates who will build on the Rock Ethics Institute’s tradition of excellence in collaborative, interdisciplinary ethics research and ethically informed decision support for significant societal issues, as well as their success in integrating ethics into the curriculum. We are looking for individuals who will be effective in working on and leading interdisciplinary teams that embed ethical analysis into research projects including decision support research, and who have experience and interest in integrating ethics in undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Faculty who are hired will be Affiliate Faculty in the Rock Ethics Institute and receive a one-course release for the first five years designed to enhance collaboration with faculty and students on existing ethics research and curricular initiatives as well as building new initiatives and programs in conjunction with the Institute’s mission. Requirements include a doctorate in philosophy, ethics, sport ethics, or a related field with evidence of interest and experience in the application of ethics to physical activity, health, safety, and human well-being.  Evidence of successful teaching experience is expected. Experience pursuing and securing external research funding is desired.

The Department of Kinesiology offers B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees and is part of the College of Health and Human Development. Our graduate program is currently ranked #1 by both the National Research Council and the National Academy of Kinesiology. The educational environment is enriched by the considerable breadth and diversity of faculty expertise and educational opportunities for students.

The Pennsylvania State University is the land grant institution of Pennsylvania. University Park is the largest of Penn State’s 24 campuses, with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 42,000 students and offering more than 150 programs of graduate study. University Park is located in Central Pennsylvania, adjacent to the municipality of State College, which enjoys high rankings for cultural opportunities, local schools, and quality of life.

Penn State values diversity in all forms and we encourage individuals of diverse backgrounds to apply. Review of applications will begin in October, 2014 and will continue until the position is filled.

To be considered, applicants must complete an on-line application and upload a cover letter (describing scholarly interests and qualification to include a statement of how the candidate’s work is relevant to the University and Rock vision and how such a position is likely to augment the candidate’s own  work), curriculum vita, and supporting information (e.g., reprints of three recent publications) along with the names and contact information for three professional references (e.g. addresses, email and telephone numbers).

Direct questions to: Lisa Guiser, Kinesiology Ethics Search Committee, 275 Recreation Building, Department of Kinesiology, Penn State, University Park, PA 16802. Phone: (814) 863-1163; e-mail: lxg7@psu.edu. Please indicate “Ethics Search – job # 53232” in subject line of email correspondence.

Apply to job 53232 at http://www.psu.jobs

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Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, disabled individuals, and other protected groups.