Assistant Professor, Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science

The Opportunity

The School of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences (SKRS) in the College of Health Professions and Sciences (CHPS) at the University of Central Florida (UCF) invites applications for a 9-month, tenure-earning assistant professor. This position is located at the UCF main campus with an expected start date in August 2027. The ideal candidate will have expertise in exercise physiology and rehabilitation science. We seek an innovative and collaborative scientist whose interdisciplinary and translational research advances human health, mobility, and performance.

As one of the nation’s largest public research universities and Florida’s designated Space University, UCF provides a strong environment for research addressing complex challenges at the intersection of exercise physiology, rehabilitation science, aging, aerospace health, and precision medicine. The successful candidate will join the Institute of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation Science (IEPRS), which supports collaborative research to improve human function across the lifespan and translate scientific findings into clinical and community applications.

UCF’s growing aerospace health network includes the College of Medicine’s Microgravity & Aerospace Medicine Research Workgroup, which brings together investigators from medicine, engineering, psychology, kinesiology, and the space sector. This network provides distinctive opportunities to study human health and performance in extreme environments and apply space medicine findings to health challenges on Earth.

The successful candidate will establish an externally funded research program that aligns with the School’s strategic priorities and advances methods to assess, optimize, or restore human function. Applicants with expertise in exercise physiology, rehabilitation science, healthy aging, neurological, musculoskeletal, or cardiometabolic rehabilitation, wearable and digital health technologies, aerospace health and human performance, biomechanics, neuromuscular physiology, movement science, or related fields are encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue competitive federal funding and develop partnerships with industry and health care organizations that support research translation and implementation.

SKRS supports a highly collaborative research culture. IEPRS faculty regularly collaborate with nationally recognized programs in Athletic Training and Physical Therapy and with colleagues in the College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and Florida Space Institute. Faculty also work with regional health care systems, including AdventHealth, OrlandoHealth, as well as industry partners and community organizations. These relationships provide access to interdisciplinary expertise and clinical and community research settings. Established partnerships with the LIFE Institute and Legacy Pointe offer additional opportunities for community-engaged and translational research focused on healthy aging, mobility, and functional independence.

IEPRS provides several thousand square feet of dedicated research space and advanced infrastructure for research in neuromuscular physiology, human performance, exercise physiology, biomechanics, cardiovascular physiology, rehabilitation science, and wearable and digital health technologies. These resources, together with graduate student support, clinical partnerships, and collaborative research networks, provide a strong foundation for developing a productive and externally funded research program.

Responsibilities include establishing and sustaining an active research program; securing external funding; mentoring undergraduate and graduate students; teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the candidate’s area of expertise; and providing service to the school, college, university, and profession.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. degree in exercise physiology, kinesiology, rehabilitation science, integrative physiology, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, movement science, or a closely related discipline from an accredited institution at the time of application.

• Evidence of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications and grant activity (e.g., applying for external funding).

• Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students.

Preferred Qualifications:

• At least two years of experience as a faculty member or postdoctoral researcher, or a combination of these roles, with evidence of success conducting independent or collaborative research in exercise physiology, rehabilitation science, or a related discipline.

• Demonstrated success in securing, or strong potential to secure, competitive federal o