"Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences"

Position Details

Position Information

Posting Number: F00436P

Classification Title: Assistant Professor

Position Title: Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences

GSU Information

Georgia State University is a national model for innovation and opening opportunities for all, among the top five most innovative by U.S. News & World Report, ranked 1st among public universities in undergraduate teaching, the number 1 nonprofit university to award bachelor’s degrees to African American students, 4th in the country for its first-year student experience, and highly ranked for enabling the social and economic mobility of its students. Among the most diverse universities in the nation, Georgia State opens global perspectives as the number 1 U.S. public university sending African American students to study abroad.

A regional gateway to higher education, the five suburban Perimeter College campuses provide more than 30 associate degree pathways. The downtown Atlanta campus offers more than 250 degree programs in 100 fields of study at the undergraduate, graduate and first-professional degree levels.

With five university-wide research centers and numerous centers and institutes at the college and school levels, Georgia State’s interdisciplinary, dynamic and productive research enterprises address major health and societal challenges. It is one of only 146 universities with an R1 designation from the Carnegie Foundation, an honor reserved for the nation’s most active research institutions. Outgoing research expenditures have doubled in the last decade and topped $1.2 billion over the last six years, an indication of the University’s rapid research growth.

Georgia State is vital to the regional economy, with a more than $2.9 billion economic impact, and is also a vital part of Atlanta’s vibrant arts and entertainment community, with highly regarded programs in music, art, creative writing and film, the Rialto Center for the Arts, and the Creative Media Industries Institute that contributes to innovation and the workforce for interactive media and media entrepreneurship.

General information on faculty roles and responsibilities can be obtained from the Faculty Handbook https://faculty.gsu.edu/faculty-handbook/ and the Office of Faculty Affairs website https://faculty.gsu.edu/. All faculty at Georgia State are, as part of their essential job duties, expected to: (1) be physically present on-campus as needed to contribute to Georgia State’s in-person educational experience, and (2) be able to teach in each of the following instructional modalities – in-person, online, or blended/hybrid – as determined by their Department Chair or Dean.

Department: Health Policy & Behavioral Sci

College: School of Public Health

Campus: Atlanta

Position Type: Full Time Faculty

Posting Type: Internal/External

About the Department

Located in the heart of Atlanta at one of the America’s most innovative and diverse research universities, the Georgia State University School of Public Health (SPH) educates practitioners and thought leaders while engaging in research and outreach that addresses urgent health challenges and promotes health for all. The Georgia State SPH offers a range of CEPH-accredited degree programs, from a bachelor’s degree in public health to an MPH in six concentrations, a PhD in four concentrations and a DrPH program for professionals in the field. Our research and community engagement have been funded with nearly $13 million in external funding in ‘FY 25, with areas of emphasis that include disability, violence prevention, mental health, maternal and child health, tobacco control, alcohol and substance use, infectious disease modeling, and environmental health, among others. The school’s Vision 2027 Strategic Plan is guiding its continued growth and work to solve contemporary and emerging health issues through education, research and community engagement. To learn more about the Georgia State SPH, visit publichealth.gsu.edu/about.

The Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences (HPBS) strives to improve health for all through teaching, research, and community engagement. With nearly 30 faculty members, HPBS empowers students to make a difference for individuals and communities. Our faculty bring expertise in areas that include health promotion, intervention development, implementation science, public health policy, health management and health economics. They apply their research-based expertise to areas such as maternal and child health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, tobacco, alcohol and other substance use, mental health, and violence prevention.

Position Description

The Department of Health Policy and Behavioral Sciences in the School of Public Health at Georgia State University invites applications for a 9-month tenure-track faculty position at the Assistant Professor level, starting in Fall 2026. The successful candidate will develop and maintain an active and productive program of research and actively engage in collaborative work with other researchers in the field. Candidates should demonstrate evidence of scholarly accomplishments, including publications and the potential for securing extramural research funding. Candidates should also have relevant experience that demonstrates potential for success in graduate-level teaching and mentoring. Teaching assignments will depend on the expertise and interests of the candidate as well as departmental priorities. The successful candidate is expected to conduct outstanding research, teach courses primarily to graduate students in Public Health (e.g., MPH and PhD students), mentor graduate students, and contribute to service initiatives in the department, university, and profession.

Required Education

Doctorate in Public Health, or a related discipline and demonstrate strong methodological training; expertise in health policy, health behavior, or health services research; and a commitment to community-engaged scholarship.

Preferred Qualifications/Experience

The Department welcomes applications from scholars across all fields related to health policy and behavioral sciences, with particular encouragement for candidates whose research addresses homelessness and its impact on health. The ideal candidate will hold a doctorate in Public Health or a related discipline and demonstrate strong methodological training; expertise in health policy, health behavior, or health services research; and a commitment to community-engaged scholarship. We especially encourage applicants with experience in areas such as policy analysis, implementation science, community-based participatory research, mixed-methods research, program evaluation, intervention development, dissemination science, and qualitative or quantitative approaches to advancing health equity. Excellent oral and written communication skills are essential. Candidates must also demonstrate a willingness and ability to contribute to the University and the profession through service activities.

Pre-Employment Requirements: A criminal background check is required.

Salary: TBD

Search Chair Contact info: Dr. Collins Airhihenbuwa, cairhihenbuwa@gsu.edu

Departmental contact for assistance: Theresa Malihi, tmalihi@gsu.edu

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies: 1

Desired Start Date: 08/01/2026

Open Date: 11/10/2025

Review of Applications Begins: 01/05/2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Special Instructions Summary

Review of applications is ongoing and will continue until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applicants who submit all materials by December 31, 2025. Complete applications should include:

1. A cover letter (two single-spaced pages or less) that addresses your interest in the position, teaching experience, and professional accomplishments.
2. A statement of research interests and accomplishments (two single-spaced pages or less).
3. A curriculum vitae.
4. Up to three representative publications (published or submitted manuscripts).
5. The names and contact information for three references. Note: References will only be contacted at the final stages of the selection process, and the candidate will be first notified.

Apply at: https://facultycareers.gsu.edu/postings/6409