Open Rank Faculty Position, 12 month, Biomechanics

POSITION SUMMARY: 

Core faculty in the Department of Physical Therapy are responsible for the delivery of the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curriculum, producing new research, and providing service to the Department, School, and University via advising, admissions interviews, committee service, and other service responsibilities designated by the Chair. Core faculty have a differential workload, meaning each faculty member is allotted varying amounts and responsibilities for teaching, scholarship, administration, service, and clinical practice.   

QUALIFICATIONS: 

Education 

• Earned DPT degree or masters/bachelors PT degree in combination with an academic doctorate in a related field (required) 

• Terminal academic doctorate (strongly preferred) 

Experience and training 

• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed scholarship appropriate to rank and a clearly articulated future research agenda (required). 

• Experience teaching biomechanics, movement science, their area of expertise, or related content in higher education; experience in health-professions or DPT education preferred. 

• Experience with human-movement technologies such as motion capture, force platforms, electromyography, instrumented treadmills, wearable sensors, pressure systems, modeling, or advanced signal/data analysis. 

• Evidence of effective student mentorship and interdisciplinary collaboration. 

• Evidence of external grant activity, industry collaboration, or a credible plan to develop externally supported scholarship (preferred; expectations commensurate with rank). 

• Physical therapist licensure or eligibility for licensure in North Carolina is preferred when aligned with the candidate's background but is not required for this biomechanics-focused search. 

Knowledge, skills, and abilities 

• Strong communication, teaching, collaboration, organization, and project-management skills. 

• Commitment to rigorous, reproducible, ethical research; laboratory safety; data stewardship; and effective mentorship. 

• Values teamwork, accountability, growth, respect, humility, and collegiality. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

Teaching 

• Provide primary or shared instruction in biomechanics, their area of expertise, related content in higher education, or specialty content based on expertise and curricular need. 

• Advise and mentor DPT students and contribute to team-taught courses, student research, and independent learning experiences. 

Scholarship and laboratory contribution 

• Establish or extend an active research program in human movement, rehabilitation, sports medicine, injury prevention, performance, or a related field. 

• Publish peer-reviewed scholarship, present at professional meetings, and pursue external funding and strategic partnerships. 

• Engage in student and faculty research and foster collaborations across Physical Therapy, Exercise Science, health sciences, athletics, engineering/data science partners, and external organizations as appropriate. 

• Support effective and sustainable use of biomechanics laboratory technology, including protocols, training, quality assurance, data management, equipment planning, and safety. 

Service and program contribution 

• Contribute to the mission, vision, goals, and continuous-improvement activities of the Department, School, and University. 

• Participate in faculty governance, admissions and recruitment activities, committee service, and program assessment as assigned. 

• Support program compliance, accurate documentation, and accreditation-related responsibilities within the faculty role. 

• Engage students in meaningful educational, research, clinical, and community experiences consistent with Department values. 

ACCOUNTABILITY: 

• Reports to the Department Chair and Program Director and performs assigned responsibilities across teaching, scholarship, administration/service, and related academic pillars independently. 

• Meets annual workload, teaching, scholarship, mentorship, and service expectations appropriate to rank and assigned role. 

• Collaborates with the Director of Research, laboratory personnel, course directors, and departmental and cross-campus partners.