Assistant/Associate Professor

Posting Details

Posting Summary

Logo Posting Number FAC00115PO26 Advertised Title Assistant/Associate Professor Campus Columbia College/Division Arnold School of Public Health Department ASPH Health Promotion, Education and Behavior Advertised Salary Range Salary commensurate with qualifications. Location of Vacancy Part/Full Time Full Time Hours per Week 37.5 Position Category Full-time Equivalent (FTE) Basis 9 months Work County Richland Tenure Information Tenure-Track/Tenured Job Search Category Faculty

About USC

About University of South Carolina

From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, the University of South Carolina system is transforming the lives of South Carolinians through the impact of our eight institutions and 20 locations throughout the state. More than 50,000 students are enrolled at one of eight institutions, including the research campus in Columbia and comprehensive four-year universities in Aiken, Upstate and Beaufort. In addition, our Palmetto College campuses in Salkehatchie, Union, Lancaster and Sumter enable students to earn associate or bachelor's degrees through a combination of in-person, online or blended learning. All of our system institutions place strong emphasis on service - helping to build healthier, more educated communities in South Carolina and beyond.

Veterans' Preference Statement

The University of South Carolina is committed to equal opportunity and proudly values the skills and experience military veterans bring to our workforce. Across South Carolina, we are making veterans a priority for employment and recognize their vital contributions to our state and our communities.

Benefits for FTE Positions

The University of South Carolina (USC), through the State of SC and Public Employee Benefit Authority (PEBA), offers state employees a valuable benefits package, including health and life insurance, generous paid leave and retirement programs. To learn more about USC benefits, access the "Working at USC" section on the Applicant Portal at https://uscjobs.sc.edu.

Position Description

Advertised Job Summary

Tenure-Track Assistant or Associate Professor in Food is Medicine

The Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior (HPEB) at the University of South Carolina (USC) Arnold School of Public Health invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor. This is a 9-month position.

We seek a scholar whose research focuses on Food is Medicine, broadly defined as the integration of food- and nutrition-based interventions into health care and community settings to prevent, manage, or treat diet-related chronic disease and improve population health. Areas of interest may include, but are not limited to, medically tailored meals or groceries, produce prescription programs, nutrition screening and referral systems, food insecurity interventions, nutrition incentive programs, community-clinical linkages, or policies and payment models that support the integration of nutrition services into health care.

The successful candidate will complement and expand existing departmental expertise in nutrition, healthy eating, behavioral interventions, implementation science, health economics, health communication, community-engaged research, global health, and health equity. We are particularly interested in candidates whose work addresses the implementation, evaluation, dissemination, or scaling of Food is Medicine programs and policies in real-world settings. Research that generates knowledge to help address the needs of rural, underserved, or historically marginalized populations, including communities in South Carolina and the broader Southeastern United States, is especially relevant to this position.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain a robust, extramurally funded program of Food is Medicine research; publish findings in peer-reviewed outlets; contribute to undergraduate and graduate teaching in both in-person and online formats; and mentor master's and doctoral students. The candidate will also be expected to collaborate across disciplines and with community, health care, governmental, and other external partners to develop, evaluate, implement, and scale effective Food is Medicine programs and policies.

The Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior emphasizes both impactful research and meaningful community engagement. Faculty members examine how policy, environmental, institutional, health care, community, and individual factors influence health and work collaboratively to reduce health disparities and improve health outcomes for all. HPEB faculty members conduct research in areas including nutrition and healthy eating, implementation science, community-based research, health communication, global health, health services use, chronic disease prevention, and the translation of interventions into practice and policy. This position will strengthen the Department's capacity to advance Food is Medicine research and develop collaborations among health care systems, community organizations, public agencies, food and nutrition assistance programs, and other partners.

USC provides a rich interdisciplinary environment, with faculty across the Arnold School of Public Health and campus contributing to initiatives such as the Global Health Initiative, Nutrition Consortium, Prevention Research Center, Office for the Study of Aging, Consortium for Latino Health Studies, Big Data Health Science Center, and SmartState Centers. Opportunities also exist to collaborate with health care systems, state agencies, community-based organizations, and other partners throughout South Carolina and the Southeast. The University has been designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a "doctoral institution with highest research activity" and a "community-engaged institution."

The Department offers two undergraduate minors, including one in Nutrition and Food Systems, master's programs including an MPH and online professional MPH, a doctoral PhD program, and graduate certificates in aging, global health, and health communication. Department faculty also contribute to teaching in the Arnold School's undergraduate degree programs.

USC is located in Columbia, South Carolina, a vibrant capital city offering abundant cultural, educational, and recreational opportunities. Columbia enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine annually and provides ready access to beaches, lakes, rivers, and mountains. The city hosts historical and cultural attractions, festivals, performing arts and sporting events, parks, and outdoor recreation, including Congaree National Park and 50,000-acre Lake Murray.

Required Education and Experience

• Applicants should have a doctoral degree in public health, nutrition, behavioral or social science, health services research, implementation science, or a closely related field by the start date of employment.
• For the rank of Assistant Professor, applicants must demonstrate strong potential for scholarly productivity, excellence in teaching and mentoring, and success in establishing an externally funded research program.
• Applicants for the rank of Associate Professor must have a strong record of funded research and scholarship, along with at least five years of experience as an effective instructor, mentor, and researcher by the start date of employment.

Preferred Qualifications

Posting Detail Information

Desired Start Date 08/16/2027 Job Open Date 09/16/2026 Job Close Date Open Until Filled Yes Special Instructions to Applicant

Applicants should submit: (1) a letter of application; (2) a teaching philosophy; (3) a research statement; (4) a curriculum vitae; and (5) contact information for three references. Questions may be directed to Brie Turner-McGrievy, PhD, MS, RD, Department Chair, at brie@sc.edu. Review of applications will begin October 16, 2026, and will continue until the position is filled. The anticipated start date is August 16, 2027.

Positions are advertised for a minimum of forty-five (45) days on our job website. After forty-five (45) days, positions can be closed at the discretion of the department at any time. This position is open until filled. This employment site is updated on a regular basis. The length of the recruitment and screening process may vary from position to position, depending upon a variety of factors. Should review of your qualifications result in a decision to pursue your candidacy, you will be contacted by phone or email.

The University of South Carolina offers a valuable benefits package including but not limited to:

• Health and Life Insurance
• Retirement Programs
• Paid Tuition
• Dependent Scholarships
• Annual Leave
• Sick Leave
• 13 Paid Holidays (including an extended December holiday)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Professional Development Opportunities

Click here to learn more about why you should work at USC.

Quicklink for Posting https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/213090 EEO Statement

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• List of References and Contact Information
• Teaching Statement
• Research Statement

Optional Documents