Career Center

The University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Division of Environmental Health Sciences (EnHS), in collaboration with the Translational Center for Resuscitative Trauma Care (TCRTC) in the School of Medicine is seeking to fill one or more 100% Assistant/Associate/Full Professor (tenure track) positions in Injury and Violence Prevention and Control.

The School of Public Health is committed to anti-racism and anti-oppression in our mission and operations. In pursuit of this goal, we consider an individual’s record working with students and colleagues from historically marginalized backgrounds and experience identifying and eliminating systemic barriers to academic success. Because the SPH and the Division seek to increase the diversity of its workforce, we particularly encourage applications from those who belong to groups that have been historically underrepresented in our discipline, including those who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color, those with disabilities, and those from LGBTQIA+ communities.

This position will build on the existing strengths of the EnHS Division, the School of Public Health, the TCRTC and the School of Medicine. EnHS has a well-established research and training program in injury and violence prevention that has been in existence for more than 40 years, with research spanning both unintentional and intentional (violence-related) injuries. With expertise in occupational health, EnHS also houses the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, a NIOSH-funded training program that includes training programs in occupational injury as well as industrial hygiene, occupational and environmental epidemiology, occupational and environmental medicine, occupational and environmental health nursing, and occupational safety. The TCRTC was established in 2022 as a multidisciplinary, translational research center housed in the School of Medicine to develop and evaluate innovative, effective acute trauma care from point of injury through early post-injury in austere, low resource, rural, and emergency care settings.

Injury and Violence are a leading cause of death and disability in the US and across the globe. For ages 1-44 years, injuries and violence account for more life-years lost than cancer and cardiovascular diseases combined. There are also stark disparities in injuries and violence, resulting in marginalized populations with increased yet unaddressed risks. Major contributors to the global burden of injury and violence include transport related injuries, falls, occupational injuries, overdoses and poisonings, self-harm, and interpersonal violence.  The resulting mortality, morbidity, and disability place a serious financial burden individuals, health care systems, employers, and national economies with costs exceeding 4 trillion dollars per year in the United States. Injuries and violence are preventable and while great strides have been made in reducing the occurrence of injury considerable efforts are needed to develop and evaluate injury prevention mechanisms and policies to prevent injuries and violence and reduce their sequelae. Effective trauma care systems have made marked impacts on reducing mortality, morbidity, and disability, yet the adequacy of these systems is highly variable across the US and the globe and developing approaches, training, and policies to improve trauma systems remains a critical need. Addressing the challenge requires injury and violence prevention and control specialists working with other disciplines to apply cutting-edge research and translation efforts.

We are seeking candidates with research experience in injury and violence prevention and control who will develop independent and collaborative scholarly activities that leverage their expertise with other disciplines. We anticipate the successful candidate will integrate trauma system and other public health data resources in the development of innovative research that advances the injury and violence prevention and control mission of the Division of Environmental Health Sciences and TCRTC. The successful candidate will have opportunities for collaboration with a multidisciplinary faculty in Environmental Health Sciences and the TCRTC, as well other divisions and centers in the School of Public Health, School of Medicine, and across the university, including, but not limited to, investigators who are experts in epidemiology, biostatistics, engineering, transportation research, exposure analyses, epigenetics, psychology, and public policy.  

Duties:

Research Activities:

The successful candidate is expected to develop a strong independent and sustainable funded program in injury prevention and control. The Division of Environmental Health Sciences has a multidisciplinary faculty conducting research in the broad areas of exposure assessment, health effects, injury (unintentional and intentional), and policy development, affording opportunities for collaboration across a broad range of environmental health, including occupational health and safety. The applicant is encouraged to develop research collaborations with colleagues within the Division and across the University.

Teaching Activities:

The Division of Environmental Health Sciences offers graduate-level training leading to MPH, MS and PhD degrees, and undergraduate training as part of a public health minor degree. The applicant will be expected to contribute to the teaching program and advise and mentor a diverse group of Masters' and Doctoral level students in the program.

Outreach Activities:

Numerous opportunities are available for outreach to the community. We especially value collaborating with underserved communities. There is also an expectation that the successful candidate will contribute to the mission of the University of Minnesota through service to the university. 

SALARY:

Commensurate with experience and qualifications

START DATE:

The expected start date will depend on the availability of the selected candidate.

Required Qualifications:

PhD or equivalent degree, with extensive knowledge and experience in injury and violence prevention and control research and practice. A strong background in injury and violence epidemiology and experience in applied analysis and modeling is essential. The ability to develop an independent and sustainable scholarly research program, teach in the classroom and mentor graduate students, and participate in outreach and service is required. Successful applicants will also contribute collaboratively to multidisciplinary efforts as part of their scholarly work. A strong, demonstrated record in preparing successful research grants, publishing in quality peer-reviewed journals, and presentations in relevant professional meetings is necessary. Candidates at the associate and full professor level are expected to demonstrate sustained and established success in funded scholarly activities.

We are seeking outstanding candidates with strong collaborative and interpersonal skills, along with effective oral and written communication skills that are essential for the purpose of: 1) working effectively in a transdisciplinary team environment; 2) developing and submitting timely, cutting-edge research proposals; 3) conducting and analyzing critical studies; 4) publishing articles in professional journals; 5) conveying study results and recommendations to decision makers; 6) developing and presenting relevant courses and seminars.

Successful candidates will have opportunities to collaborate with ongoing research and educational training programs related to injury prevention and public health at the University of Minnesota. This includes work with a diverse group from multiple colleges and centers within the University, including the: Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety Education and Research Center; Regional Injury Prevention Research Center; Center for Violence Prevention and Control; Upper Midwest Center for Agricultural Safety and Health; and The HumanFIRST [Human Factors Interdisciplinary Research in Simulation and Transportation] Program, the Center for Transportation Studies, and the Humphrey Institute for Public Policy.

Preferred Qualifications:

This position will be aligned with activities of the Injury and Violence Epidemiology and Prevention Program the Midwest Center for Occupational Health and Safety, and TCRTC. Experience with injury prevention and control in working populations is highly desirable. Knowledge of systems related to injury prevention and control, such as transportation data systems, trauma systems and health-related insurance (e.g., workers' compensation, health, and disability), will be beneficial in developing transdisciplinary scholarly work. Experience working with diverse populations is preferred.  

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