"Physical Therapy Assistant/Associate Professor"

Job Details

California State University, Fresno
College of Health and Human Services
Department of Physical Therapy
Fresno State DPT program

Physical Therapy Assistant or Associate Professor

Tenure Track

Fall 2026

The Department of Physical Therapy at California State University, Fresno invites applications for a full-time, 10-month tenure-track faculty position. The successful candidate will teach students in the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, conduct clinical and/or applied research, and engage in service-related activities. Specific teaching and research assignments will be based on the department's needs and the individual's expertise.

A terminal doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., or DSc) is preferred, though candidates holding a DPT with ABPTS specialization will also be given full consideration. Areas of priority include: Orthopedic, Neurologic, Cardiopulmonary, Acute Care, Pediatrics, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Gait/Biomechanics/Pathokinesiology, and possibly clinical instructing in one of the department’s on-campus clinics.

Our Students: Fresno State is recognized as both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American/Native American/Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). The University is committed to inclusive excellence, preparing graduates to serve California’s Central Valley and beyond. We seek candidates who are dedicated to teaching, mentoring, and supporting a diverse student population.

Qualifications:

Required Education

• Terminal doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D., DSc) or DPT with ABPTS specialization
• Applicants nearing completion of the doctorate (ABD) may be considered, but the doctoral degree must be completed by (Aug 1, 2026)

Required Experience:

• A minimum of one year of U.S. physical therapy practice experience with a terminal academic degree (PhD, Ed.D, DSc); or three years of full-time U.S. clinical experience with a DPT and ABPTS clinical specialty.
• Evidence of teaching or research in one or more of the following areas: Orthopedic, Neurologic, Cardiopulmonary, Acute Care, Pediatrics, or clinical instruction in an academic clinic setting, Prosthetics and Orthotics or Gait/Biomechanics/Pathokinesiology.
• Current, active physical therapy licensure in any U.S. jurisdiction and eligibility to obtain California licensure.

Preferred Experience:

• Three years of clinical experience in physical therapy practice with a terminal academic degree (PhD, Ed.D, DSc).
• Experience teaching using current methodologies, including online and hybrid environments, tablet-enhanced instruction, and flipped classroom methodologies, AI-conscious practices
• Evidence of experience attracting external funding;
• Active participation or leadership roles within the profession of Physical Therapy or relevant professional organizations;
• Leadership roles in a clinic or research setting.
• Record of community/professional service.

Application Procedures:

Priority consideration date: Friday, January 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time)
For full consideration, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit materials by this date.

Final closing date: Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time)

Applications submitted after January 30 will be reviewed only if the position has not yet been filled and interviews have not been scheduled. Note: All positions at Fresno State are subject to funding availability.

Interested candidates are encouraged to meet our faculty at the Education Leadership Conference (ELC), APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), and other relevant professional meetings. Please contact: Nupur Hajela (nhajela@mail.fresnostate.edu) regarding this.

Apply online at: https://careers.fresnostate.edu/

Attach the following:

1. A cover letter specifically addressing required education, experience, and preferred qualifications ( 2-3 pages)
2. A curriculum vitae
3. A list of three professional references.

Candidates invited for an on-campus visit must submit by mail/e-mail within the designated deadline. The Search Chair will send information and requests for these items:

1. Official transcripts from your doctoral program and
2. Three current letters of recommendation (dated within the last 12 months).

Committee Information and Search process:

Search Chair: Nupur Hajela, PT, DPT, PhD
Department of Physical Therapy
Email: nhajela@mail.fresnostate.edu
Phone: (559) 278-1509
Department Office: (559) 278-2625

About the Fresno State

California State University, Fresno is an engaged university. We focus on broadening students' intellectual horizons, fostering lifelong learning skills, developing the leaders of tomorrow, promoting community involvement, and instilling an appreciation of world cultures. We nurture cultural competence by celebrating the rich diversity of the campus community and welcoming the participation of all. Members of the University community work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Fresno State is committed and dedicated to creating a university known for its integrity, civility, equity, respect, and ethical behavior. In addition, Fresno State holds the prestigious R2 designation, recently redefined in the 2025 Carnegie Classification. During the 2023-24 academic year, Fresno State received more than 400 grants and contracts for a total of $78.3 million, setting a record in research funding for the sixth consecutive year. With strong doctoral programs and over $11 million in annual research expenditures, the university is advancing innovation and impact across the region and beyond.

The campus is ranked 2nd in the nation by Washington Monthly for tuition (and tax) dollars; ranked No. 30 for social mobility in U.S. News and World Report’s 2025 Best Colleges rankings; and received a 4.5-star rating on a 5-star scale in Money’s 2025 Best Colleges list.

Tenure-Track Faculty members gain a clear path to tenure through the University's Probationary Plan Process. For additional information, please visit: www.fresnostate.edu/academics/facultyaffairs/procedures/facultyrtp/. We value our commitment to the success of our faculty by providing services from the Center for Faculty Excellence to Research and Sponsored Programs.

Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Anticipated hiring range is $6,800-$7,100 per month for Assistant Professor (12 monthly payments per academic year). As a member of the 23-campus CSU System, we offer an extremely competitive benefits package.

About the College and Department:

The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) (www.fresnostate.edu/chhs/) is dedicated to improving the health and well-being of communities across the Central Valley and beyond. Through its seven academic departments and multiple community-based centers and clinics, the College prepares students for leadership and service in health and human service professions. With nationally accredited programs, a strong commitment to research, and a focus on culturally responsive care, CHHS provides rich opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation.

The Department of Physical Therapy at Fresno State has a well-established and respected Doctoral program. Our faculty members (Link) have diverse clinical and research expertise across the lifespan, including pediatric, adolescent, and aging populations of the culturally diverse Central Valley. Faculty research initiatives are broad and collaborative with faculty from across the University, including kinesiology, nursing, public health, engineering and communicative disorders. In addition to professional development funds, faculty have received both assigned time and research funding through Chancellor and Provost Awards.

The Department of Physical Therapy at Fresno State is equipped with state-of-the-art classrooms and laboratories that support both teaching and research. Two movement research laboratories house advanced technology for biomechanical investigation, including a Vicon Motion System, Bertec Split Treadmill, Noraxon EMG System, Zeno mat, and a CMI Humac Isokinetic Dynamometer. Additional resources include a GE Logiq Diagnostic Ultrasound unit; cardiopulmonary and physiological testing systems such as the TrueOne Metabolic Measurement System, Montara EKG Instrument and Treadmill, and Spirometer; and transcranial magnetic stimulation for brain stimulation research. For balance evaluation, intervention, and research, the department maintains three Bertec Balance Advantage systems and a NeuroCom Smart EquiTest.

The program also operates a state-of-the-art human anatomy laboratory where students perform dissections on human donors, providing essential hands-on learning in gross anatomy. Faculty and students have access to the College’s Human Performance Laboratory, housed in the Department of Kinesiology, and to the Department of Nursing’s Knorr Patient Simulation Lab. In addition, the program supports two on-site clinics, the Gait, Balance, and Mobility Center and the Musculoskeletal Care Clinic within the University Student Health Center, that offer unique opportunities for doctoral students to integrate classroom learning with patient care early in the curriculum.

Territorial Acknowledgement:

The Fresno State campus sits in the midst of the San Joaquin Valley, a valley rich in the traditions and representation of Native American peoples and cultures. We are grateful to be in the traditional homelands of the Yokuts and Mono peoples, whose diverse tribal communities share stewardship over this land.