Open Rank Professor of Health, Exercise and Sport Studies at Denison University

The Department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Studies (HESS) at Denison University invites applications from qualified exercise scientists and/or physiologists to fill an open rank, tenure-track position starting in fall 2026. Candidates must have completed a PhD in exercise science, kinesiology, human physiology, or a related field by the start date (in August 2026) as a requirement for this position (ABD will be considered as Instructor until Ph.D. is obtained). Rank and an accelerated tenure review timeline for currently-tenured faculty will be determined during the hiring process.

We are seeking candidates who are enthusiastic about teaching at the undergraduate level and committed to continually refining and growing their pedagogy. The successful candidate will be expected to teach undergraduate courses in Applied Anatomy with lab, Foundations of Health and Exercise Science, and Exercise Physiology, as well as other courses according to the candidate’s area of specialty (such as kinesiology, nutrition, or motor learning and control). Teaching load is five courses per year. The department and institution provide mentoring programs and support for teaching, including programs offered by the Center for Learning and Teaching.

A successful candidate will also demonstrate the potential to run a successful research program at our institution in the field of health and exercise science (this could include, but is not limited to, research in exercise physiology, motor learning and control, or nutrition). Denison is dedicated to research as an important part of the intellectual lives of our faculty and students. As such, the research program should provide opportunities for undergraduate students to be involved in original research. Likewise, Denison provides substantial research support, including an annual professional development account, eligibility for Denison University Research Foundation grant applications, stipends for supervising summer-research students (who are supported by funding through the Lisska Center for Intellectual Engagement), a one-semester pre-tenure teaching leave contingent upon performance, regular post-tenure sabbatical leaves, and dedicated research space. Start-up funding for research is available and negotiable, depending on the candidate's research plans and needs. Please note, the research program may involve human subjects or animal models, but only non-mammalian and non-avian species can be housed on campus.

The Department of Health, Exercise, and Sport Studies, a thriving and vibrant program with 30-40 graduates per year, is an academic community in which students receive ongoing professional mentorship and engagement throughout the undergraduate experience. Our objective is to facilitate an intellectual environment that considers the inseparable roles of human movement, health, and sport as fundamental parts of the human experience. The department values collaboration among our students and faculty, as well as other disciplines on campus, such as Physics, Neuroscience, Biology, Global Health, and Data Analytics. Faculty are expected to actively contribute to service activities outside of the classroom and laboratory at the level of the department, institution, and larger community.

Denison seeks candidates who will contribute to a vibrant academic community characterized by open inquiry, robust debate, and mutual respect. We value faculty who design learning environments that actively engage students in examining questions from multiple, and sometimes competing, perspectives. Our classrooms aim to foster critical thinking, intellectual curiosity, and the capacity to engage constructively across lines of difference, including differences in political or ideological commitments.

Denison University is a highly selective and nationally ranked, residential liberal arts college located in Granville, OH, 25 miles east of the Columbus metropolitan area (population 1.8 mil, home of The Ohio State University). Granville also offers an excellent public school system and easy access to outdoor activities. The HESS department is tied closely to the Athletics division with access to the state-of-the-art Mitchell Center, which includes Olympic pool, exceptional fitness center, indoor tracks and courts for use by athletes and community members. Classrooms and lab space are embedded within the facility.

A Ph.D. by August 2026 (ABD acceptable); evidence of potential for excellence in teaching within our department; evidence of potential to run a successful research program at our institution; meets other criteria in the job description.

Applicants should submit electronic application materials online at https://apply.interfolio.com/172229 including: a cover letter addressing the candidate’s motivation and potential that will enable them to successfully contribute to the high standards of teaching, scholarship, and service that are expected of Denison faculty; separate statements addressing the candidate’s: 1) teaching philosophy including the ability to contribute to our curriculum, and 2) research interests and plans for research at Denison; curriculum vitae; copies of transcripts (graduate and undergraduate); three letters of recommendation (submitted by recommenders). Applications that are completed by October 13, 2025 will receive full consideration, with review continuing until the position is filled.