"Physical Therapy Assistant or Associate Professor"

Job Details

The Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina (USC) is inviting applications for a tenure-track position in our Physical Therapy Program at the rank of Assistant Professor to begin August 2026. Highly qualified applicants may be considered for Associate Professor. The successful candidate will have, or be able to develop, collaborative multi-disciplinary, translational research programs with a focus on rehabilitation and function which complement or enhance research within the Program, Department, and across the Arnold School of Public Health (ASPH).

The successful candidate will have an earned terminal doctoral degree by the beginning date of employment (August 16, 2026) in a rehabilitation related field. Applicants for the Assistant Professor rank must demonstrate potential for an outstanding record of research accomplishments, publications, extramural funding, and the ability to teach within the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program by the beginning date of employment. Applicants wishing to be considered for the rank of Associate Professor must have a strong record of scholarship and funded research, with at least 5 years of experience as an effective instructor, student mentor, and researcher by the beginning date of employment.

The DPT program at the University of South Carolina (www.sph.sc.edu/dpt) is a fully-accredited program that is housed within the nationally recognized Department of Exercise Science in the Arnold School of Public Health (www.sph.sc.edu). The small class size of 30 students allows faculty to creatively use a wide variety of learning approaches while also allowing substantial time for scholarly activity. The Department offers degrees at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral level with programs in exercise science, athletic training, and physical therapy. The PhD program is consistently one of the top ranked programs in the US, and USC is among the top sport science universities in the US and the world. The department currently serves approximately 1200 undergraduates and over 280 graduate students across all programs.

USC is a research-intensive University and has been designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral institution with highest research activity. USC has also been designated a community engaged institution, making it one of few public universities to earn both the top-tier research classification and the community engagement classification from Carnegie. Faculty members in the Department have established relationships with University Athletics, PRISMA Health, the Columbia VA Medical Center, US Special Operations Command, and numerous community partners and schools. The Department, School, and University also have excellent facilities to conduct everything from basic science and molecular work to applied interventions. Faculty members in the Department have access to well-equipped wet labs, a Clinical Exercise Research Center, the McCausland Center for Brain Imaging, and the state-of-the art Sport Science Lab.

The university is in Columbia, South Carolina, the state capital, and the center of a metropolitan area that is home to over 800,000 residents. The low cost of living in the Columbia metropolitan area, coupled with abundant recreational, cultural, and educational opportunities provides the opportunity for an excellent quality of life. Filled with historic homes and charming, diverse neighborhoods, Columbia is a city on the rise, noted by Thrillist website as one of eight cities with the cool appeal of Nashville or Portland. Jogging and walking paths line the downtown and riverfront greenway, with parks scattered throughout the rest of the city. The popularity of downtown living has sparked the growth of independent restaurants, coffee houses, wine bars, breweries, galleries, boutiques, and street fairs. Other Columbia highlights include: the Columbia Museum of Art with continuous high-profile traveling exhibits; the Nickelodeon art house cinema; the South Carolina State Museum with its planetarium, observatory, and 4-D movie theatre; the nationally recognized Riverbanks Zoo and Garden; and Lake Murray. Columbia has a lively local music scene as well as national entertainment tours that visit the Colonial Life Arena. Known for its college athletics teams as a member of the SEC, the city also hosts a minor league baseball team, the Columbia Fireflies. Centrally located, Columbia is two hours from the South Carolina coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

USC strives to create an inclusive, diverse community that facilitates our commitment to the communities that we serve. We seek opportunities to recruit, retain and promote individuals from traditionally underrepresented populations to further this vision. Our commitment to community engagement at the ASPH and University at-large is reflected by many programs and partnerships across campus.

The University of South Carolina offers a robust benefits package described at: http://www.sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/human_resources/benefits/index.php

How to apply: Complete applications will include: 1) cover letter detailing how the applicant’s experience and interests meet the requirements and responsibilities of the position, 2) curriculum vitae, 3) a research statement, 4) a teaching statement, and 5) contact information for three professional references. To apply for the position, submit your application at the following link: https://uscjobs.sc.edu/postings/196073. Submit the complete application electronically (PDF format preferred). For more information about the position, applicants should contact Jill Stewart, PT, PhD, Search Committee Chair, at jcstewar@mailbox.sc.edu. All finalists will be required to submit official transcripts from degree granting institution(s). Review of applications will begin on November 15, 2025 and will continue until the position is filled.

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender (including transgender), gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDs status, military status, national origin, pregnancy (false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, childbirth, recovery therefrom or related medical conditions, breastfeeding), race, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other bases under federal, state, local law, or regulations.