Assistant Professor in Families and Health in The Department of Family & Consumer Studies (FCS)

Posting Details

The University of Utah, an AA/EO employer, encourages applications from all qualified individuals, and provides reasonable accommodation to the known disabilities of applicants and employees. The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students, staff, faculty and patients from all backgrounds and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education, employment opportunities, and quality healthcare for historically underrepresented groups.

Position Information

Proposed Faculty Rank Assistant Professor Department 00136 - Family and Consumer Studies City Salt Lake City, UT Track Tenure Track New Position to Begin 07/01/2027 Details

The Department of Family & Consumer Studies (FCS) at the University of Utah invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Families and Health, beginning July 2027. Applicants must have a Ph.D. by the time of appointment. Candidates should have a strong record of research, teaching, and grantsmanship, commensurate with their career stage.

Qualifications: The successful candidate will be a scholar specializing in families and health, broadly defined, though expertise in families and health care or health policy is preferred. Examples of priority research areas for this position include: family influences on health care access, utilization, and experiences; family-centered health policy; family caregiving across the life course; family relationships and mental health; and the role of families in health literacy and medical decision-making. Teaching responsibilities for this position may include courses on families and health policy, social science and healthcare, child health care, and modern families, among other topics. Faculty also have opportunities to contribute to an interdisciplinary, health-focused undergraduate program within the College of Social & Behavioral Science.

Family & Consumer Studies is an interdisciplinary department with the mission to advance, communicate, and apply knowledge regarding human development and family well-being across the lifespan and within community and societal contexts. The faculty includes scholars from sociology, demography, psychology, family studies, human development, economics, and public policy, among others. The department offers an undergraduate major in Human Development & Family Studies that includes an optional Child Health Care emphasis, an M.S. in Human Development and Social Policy (HDSP), and a Ph.D. in HDSP, alongside undergraduate and graduate degrees in Financial Planning & Counseling. Additional undergraduate options include an Infant Mental Health Certificate, Certified Child Life Specialist curriculum, and an Early Childhood Education emphasis. Successful candidates will be committed to working in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment. The FCS department strives to create an academic and research environment in line with the University's foundational pillars: academic freedom, belonging of all people, campus safety, health and well-being, and sustainability. Information about the Department of Family & Consumer Studies can be found at http://www.fcs.utah.edu.

The University of Utah is a Carnegie R1 University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a member of the Big 12, and Utah's flagship university. Notable institutional resources include the Consortium for Families and Health Research, the Family Caregiving Collaborative, the Utah Population Database, the Wasatch Front Federal Statistical Research Data Center, the School of Medicine, the College of Health, the College of Nursing, and the Huntsman Cancer Institute. The University is located in beautiful Salt Lake City, which offers an outstanding quality of life in a major metropolitan area of 1.5 million residents, nestled in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains. Utah's great outdoors are close by, offering activities such as skiing, hiking, and mountain biking in the spectacular canyons surrounding the city. The cosmopolitan city offers theater and other arts, sports, entertainment, and nightlife. The area has received recognition for its light rail system, vibrant downtown, acclaimed public libraries, and growing cultural diversity.

Application procedure: Submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, research and teaching statements, a list of three references, and two writing samples or publications at https://utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/207694. Review of applications will begin September 22, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. For inquiries, please contact David Curtis, Search Committee Chair, at david.curtis@fcs.utah.edu.

EEO/Non-Discrimination Information

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

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.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah 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 Title IX (OEO). 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 https://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.

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Special Instructions for Candidates Open Date 08/25/2026 Close Date Open Until Filled Yes Requisition Number PRN01565CF Type Faculty

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B status)?
• Yes
• No

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Cover Letter
• Curriculum Vitae
• Teaching Statement
• Research Statement
• Writing Sample 1
• List of References
• Writing Sample 2

Optional Documents

• Historical Only - Do Not Use - See Description for More Information - Appropriate discharge document (such as DD-2214) - Veteran Only
• Historical Only - Do Not Use - See Document Description for More Information - Addendum to the University of Utah - Veteran Only
• Example of Research 1
• Example of Research 2