Assoc/Full Prof. & Director of Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory
Position Overview
The Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences in the University of Kansas, School of Education and Human Sciences is seeking a candidate for a tenured Associate or Full Professor in Exercise Science. The candidate will also serve as the Director of the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory. The candidate will be responsible for teaching in the undergraduate and/or graduate degree program. This is a 9-month appointment, full-time, position starting August 18, 2025. Rank of appointment will be determined based on the selected applicant’s scholarly and teaching record.
KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.
The University of Kansas is a major educational and research institution with 29,000 students on five campuses, 2,600 faculty members, and service centers throughout the state. The main campus is in Lawrence, a vibrant, thriving community of more than 90,000 that is just 40 miles west of Greater Kansas City and 20 miles from the state capital. KU, a member of the Association of American Universities, consistently earns excellent ratings for its academic programs from U.S. News and World Report. It has also committed itself to expanding its innovative research and commercialization programs.
The Department of Health, Sport, & Exercise Sciences (HSES) at the University of Kansas has multiple research laboratories available to conduct sport science research. These include the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory (an Innovation Hub of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance), the Applied Physiology Laboratory, the Neuro-mechanics Laboratory, and the Cardiovascular Autonomic Laboratory. In addition, the Metabolic & Body composition Laboratory and the Exercise & Human Performance Laboratory are located on the Edwards campus in the Kansas City metro area. Additional collaborative opportunities exist with the Sports Medicine and Performance Center at the University of Kansas Health System.
The Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences offers a broad range of academic programs in exercise science, community health, physical education, and sport management. These programs - at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels - prepare practitioners, administrators, researchers, faculty members, and leaders for all levels of education.
The School of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Kansas, home to the Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, is one of the premier institutions in the preparation of practitioners and leaders in education and related human service fields. The School is committed to leading the way in providing academic excellence in teaching and learning, research and scholarly pursuits, and service. The School is ranked eleventh among public institutions for its graduate programs by U.S News and World Report, with the Department of Special Education ranked #1.
The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.
KU’s excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other’s success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things.
The University of Kansas is a major educational and research institution with 29,000 students on five campuses, 2,600 faculty members, and service centers throughout the state. The main campus is in Lawrence, a vibrant, thriving community of more than 90,000 that is just 40 miles west of Greater Kansas City and 20 miles from the state capital. KU, a member of the Association of American Universities, consistently earns excellent ratings for its academic programs from U.S. News and World Report. It has also committed itself to expanding its innovative research and commercialization programs.
The Department of Health, Sport, & Exercise Sciences (HSES) at the University of Kansas has multiple research laboratories available to conduct sport science research. These include the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory (an Innovation Hub of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance), the Applied Physiology Laboratory, the Neuro-mechanics Laboratory, and the Cardiovascular Autonomic Laboratory. In addition, the Metabolic & Body composition Laboratory and the Exercise & Human Performance Laboratory are located on the Edwards campus in the Kansas City metro area. Additional collaborative opportunities exist with the Sports Medicine and Performance Center at the University of Kansas Health System.
The Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences offers a broad range of academic programs in exercise science, community health, physical education, and sport management. These programs - at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels - prepare practitioners, administrators, researchers, faculty members, and leaders for all levels of education.
The School of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Kansas, home to the Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, is one of the premier institutions in the preparation of practitioners and leaders in education and related human service fields. The School is committed to leading the way in providing academic excellence in teaching and learning, research and scholarly pursuits, and service. The School is ranked eleventh among public institutions for its graduate programs by U.S News and World Report, with the Department of Special Education ranked #1.
The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.
Job Description
The successful applicant will also assume the role of Director of the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory (JAPL), an Innovation Hub of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance (Home – Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance). This lab has a long history of applying the “application of scientific theory to sport, or the study of sport using scientific methods of inquiry in the field of human performance, athletic endeavor, and sporting competition… for the specific purpose of maximizing performance in sporting competition. Sport science activities do this by converting data into valuable information that can then be used to support decision making and influence outcomes.” (French and Ronda, eds., NSCA’s Essentials of Sports Science, Human Kinetics, Champaign, IL 2022, p.xv). The activities of this lab intersect with the demands of scientific inquiry and the agility necessary in today’s sporting world. As such, the mission of the lab is to understand elite sports performance and the journey to achieve full potential. Activities have included a close working relationship with KU Athletics, international sports organizations (i.e., national and Olympic teams, professional organizations), collaborations with numerous academic institutions, and affiliations with private sector organizations. The future Director will supervise the well-equipped present facility, and is expected to embrace the current line of research being performed, as well as present new opportunities for the laboratory to prosper in its mission. More detailed information about the JAPL can be found at Jayhawk Athletic Performance Lab | Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences.
Job Duties:
40% Research
Candidate will continue a focused line of research inquiry in (exercise physiology/sport science/human performance) while also directing the research mission of the JAPL. Candidate will continue to demonstrate sustained productivity through publications, sponsored projects/grants, papers and presentations for national and international academic and professional audiences, or sustained creative work recognized at the national or international level. The candidate will also seek external funding to support research activities and interests and develop collaborative relationships with faculty members within and outside of HSES, including various research centers at KU, KU Athletics, and at the University of Kansas Medical Center campus. Additionally, the candidate will direct student research including projects, theses and dissertations.
40% - Teaching
Successful candidate will teach six credit hours per semester (Fall and Spring) in the Exercise Science program at the University of Kansas. Anticipated course load is two face-to-face or hybrid (part online, part face-to-face) courses in the undergraduate or graduate program each semester. The specific courses will be determined based on program need. The candidate can also choose to use funds from the Wu Tsai budget to buy out of courses each year.
15% - Director of Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory
Candidate will serve as the Director of the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory (JAPL). The JAPL was established with funding from the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance and is supported by the Achievement and Assessment Institute at the University of Kansas. Candidate will oversee all staff, research assistants, and the budget of the JAPL.
5% - Other Service
The candidate will also contribute to the service mission of the HSES Department, School of Education and Human Sciences, and the University of Kansas.
Job Duties:
40% Research
Candidate will continue a focused line of research inquiry in (exercise physiology/sport science/human performance) while also directing the research mission of the JAPL. Candidate will continue to demonstrate sustained productivity through publications, sponsored projects/grants, papers and presentations for national and international academic and professional audiences, or sustained creative work recognized at the national or international level. The candidate will also seek external funding to support research activities and interests and develop collaborative relationships with faculty members within and outside of HSES, including various research centers at KU, KU Athletics, and at the University of Kansas Medical Center campus. Additionally, the candidate will direct student research including projects, theses and dissertations.
40% - Teaching
Successful candidate will teach six credit hours per semester (Fall and Spring) in the Exercise Science program at the University of Kansas. Anticipated course load is two face-to-face or hybrid (part online, part face-to-face) courses in the undergraduate or graduate program each semester. The specific courses will be determined based on program need. The candidate can also choose to use funds from the Wu Tsai budget to buy out of courses each year.
15% - Director of Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory
Candidate will serve as the Director of the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory (JAPL). The JAPL was established with funding from the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance and is supported by the Achievement and Assessment Institute at the University of Kansas. Candidate will oversee all staff, research assistants, and the budget of the JAPL.
5% - Other Service
The candidate will also contribute to the service mission of the HSES Department, School of Education and Human Sciences, and the University of Kansas.
Required Qualifications
Required Qualifications for rank of Associate Professor:
- Ph.D., Ed.D., or other terminal degree in Exercise Science or related field
- Established record of teaching excellence in Exercise Science commensurate to an associate professor with tenure.
- Demonstrated research success as shown through publications, portfolio, awards, research grants, or working papers commensurate to a tenured associate professor.
- Evidence of ability to teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels
- Evidence of strong written and oral communication skills.
- Evidence of mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students.
- Ph.D., Ed.D., or other terminal degree in Exercise Science or related field.
- Established record of teaching excellence in Exercise Science commensurate to a tenured full professor.
- Sustained, focused, record of research and scholarship through publications, portfolio, awards, research grants, or working papers that establishes candidates national/international reputation commensurate to a tenured full professor.
- Evidence of ability to teach courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels
- Evidence of strong written and oral communication skills.
- Evidence of mentoring both undergraduate and graduate students.
Additional Candidate Instructions
Review of applications will begin on January 15th, 2025. A complete application includes 1) a cover letter identifying professional interests and goals, 2) a curriculum vita, 3) a complete set of official graduate transcripts, 4) description of vision for growth of the Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory (no more than two double spaced pages); and 5) contact information for three professional references. If available, evidence of successful teaching should also be submitted.
Contact Information to Applicants
For questions about the search, please contact the Search Chair and Assistant Director of the JAPL, Dr. Quincy Johnson, at quincy.johnson@ku.edu. For questions about tenure and promotion expectations, please contact the HSES Department Chair, Dr. Jordan Bass, at jrbass@ku.edu.
Application Review Begins
Wednesday January 15, 2025
Anticipated Start Date
Monday August 18, 2025