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Associate or Full Professor of Behavioral Science, Department of Public Health Sciences

Position overview

Salary range: The salary range for this position is $128,800-$263,800 . This position includes membership in the Health Sciences Compensation Plan (https://aadocs.ucdavis.edu/policies/apm/apm-670.pdf).

Application Window

Open date: March 14, 2025

Next review date: Monday, Apr 14, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Mar 13, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

University of California, Davis
Full Time, Associate or Full Professor of Behavioral Science
Department of Public Health Sciences

The University of California, Davis, School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences invites applications for a faculty position at the Associate or Full Professor level with expertise in cancer prevention behavioral science.

Successful candidates are expected to establish an independent, extramurally funded research program on the discovery, development, testing, implementation and evaluation of interventions in cancer prevention and control. This can include a track record of conducting impactful research to promote healthy lifestyles, help people modify their health behavior to prevent and reduce cancer incidence, mortality and morbidity. The successful candidate is also expected to lead and develop methods for investigating cancer-relevant prevention behaviors in populations and in sub-groups at risk for developing specific cancers. Research approaches may include mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative research) to better understand how health behavior leads to the development of cancer and impacts cancer survivorship including health-related quality of life, as well as identifying viable targets for cancer prevention through behavioral and health education interventions. Successful candidates will complement existing research strengths in the UC Davis Department of Public Health Sciences and the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center in one of many thematic areas such as HPV vaccine uptake, energy balance and physical activity, obesity, diet/nutrition, tobacco cessation and treatment, environmental risk factors, alcohol use, cancer screening, genetic counseling and testing for hereditary cancer susceptibility, development of prevention practice guidelines, and interventions to reduce barriers to cancer care delivery. Candidates are expected to expand and strengthen interdisciplinary, collaborative research with scientists from other disciplines including basic science, clinical research, and population sciences and focus research on high-risk, underserved and minority populations in the cancer center catchment area wherever possible.

The position will be located within the Department of Public Health Sciences. The mission of the Department of Public Health Sciences is to improve the health of people through population-based approaches by developing and evaluating educational programs, conducting epidemiologic research, engaging in public service, and developing policy and other translational outcomes. The Department covers a broad area of public health domains with a focus on health promotion and disease and injury prevention, occupational and environmental health, cancer, health care policy, aging, ethical issues, reproductive, women’s, children’s, rural, minority, immigrant, and global health.

The position involves close collaboration with the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, a matrix organization under the aegis of UC Davis and UC Davis Health. It is the only NCI-Designated Cancer Center located in the Central Valley of Northern California and thus is best positioned to address the cancer burden of one of the nation’s most productive agricultural regions. The center’s members are organized into five programs (Molecular Oncology, Comparative Oncology, Cancer Therapeutics, Biomedical Technology, and Population Sciences and Health Disparities), supported by eight shared resources including the Biostatistics Shared Resource. The center uses its transdisciplinary, translational, and transformative research to address and reduce the cancer burden in its highly diverse 19-county catchment area and beyond.

Among other responsibilities, the faculty member hired for this position will:
• Strengthen the Public Health Sciences Department’s cancer prevention behavioral science expertise and promote interdisciplinary collaboration
• Develop and teach courses in public health for MPH and PhD students
• Establish a research agenda and obtain extramural funding to foster the development of an emphasis in focused areas of cancer prevention behavioral science
• Conceive, prepare, and submit grant and contract proposals to support her/his research agenda
• Participate in limited-service activities including committee appointments, public or community service
• Work cooperatively and collegially within a diverse environment.

Candidates will also participate in professional activities at local, state, regional, and national levels including disseminating knowledge through peer-reviewed publications, participation in and presentation at interdisciplinary and scientific meetings, and professional academic outreach and engagement.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Applicants must possess a doctoral degree.

Research experience and a publication track record.

Experience teaching at the university level.

Ability to work cooperatively and collegially within a diverse environment.

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

Candidates with a Ph.D. in health behavior, health education or health promotion, and have a track record of extramural peer-reviewed funding are preferred.

Experience with extramurally funded projects documented by publications is preferred.

Preference will be given to candidates with strong written and verbal communication abilities.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research

  • Statement of Teaching

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested.

  • Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07027

Help contact: slystewart@ucdavis.edu

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy.

For the University of California's Affirmative Action Policy, please visit: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4010393/PPSM-20

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. UC Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment demonstrated through a variety of resources and programs available to academics, staff, and students. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of UC Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can best be fully realized by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values, which are included in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision, our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement. UC Davis is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers a plethora of resources on their website, and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (HEDI) has outlined similar goals in their "Anti-Racism and DEI Action Plan.” There are a plethora of links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our Administration, Diversity and Inclusion, Rankings, Locations, Native American Land Acknowledgement, Sustainability, Visiting UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Campus Safety.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

2024 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Diversity 2024 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Women

Job location

Davis, CA