Assistant Professor - Exercise Psychology

The University of Georgia, chartered in 1785, is the birthplace of public higher education in America and the state’s flagship university. Ranked among the top 20 public universities by U.S. News & World Report, UGA’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta. The university enrolls over 41,000 students across 19 schools and colleges, including a newly established School of Medicine.

About the Department

The Department of Kinesiology has 31 full-time faculty members and offers B.S., M.S., M.S.A.T., and Ph.D. programs in exercise science, athletic training, sport management, and health and physical education. Faculty are nationally and internationally recognized for scholarly accomplishments, teaching excellence, and professional service. The department provides robust support for research, including start-up funding, internal grants, lab space, grant-writing workshops, and existing equipment. Kinesiology faculty have a strong track record of securing extramural funding, offering an ideal mentorship environment for junior faculty. The Exercise Science Program now offers a Ph.D. in Human Movement Science, enabling recruitment and mentorship of doctoral students.

The Mary Frances Early College of Education (MFE COE), one of the nation’s largest colleges of education, ranks in the top ten nationally for Elementary Education and Curriculum and Instruction. The college emphasizes interdisciplinary research, program development, and community partnerships, with approximately 40% of its students at the graduate level. Shared research resources at UGA include the Bioimaging Research Center, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Institute for Artificial Intelligence, fostering cutting-edge scholarship and collaboration.

Athens is known for its vibrant music, art, and food scenes, as well as its proximity to Atlanta. More information about the department can be found at www.coe.uga.edu/kinesiology.

About the Role

The Department of Kinesiology at the University of Georgia invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Exercise Psychology, beginning Fall 2027. The successful candidate will engage in high-quality research, instruction, and service.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a rigorous research program addressing important and novel exercise psychology-related problems
• Seek extramural funding to support research
• Provide high-quality instruction to undergraduate and/or graduate students
• Mentor undergraduate and/or graduate students in research
• Provide high-quality service to the University, state of Georgia, and the field of Kinesiology

Requirements

• Earned doctorate (PhD or equivalent) in kinesiology or a related field
• One or more years of postdoctoral training or equivalent research-related employment (e.g., faculty, industry) as of August 2027

Qualifications

• Degree program emphasis on psychological aspects of physical activity, exercise, and/or sport
• Demonstrated ability or potential to develop an outstanding research program, evidenced by a strong research record, including first/senior-authored peer-reviewed publications, extramural funding, and conference presentations
• Established record of teaching undergraduate and/or graduate kinesiology courses with evidence of teaching excellence

Applications received by September 21, 2026, are assured full consideration. Questions may be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Julianne Schmidt, at schmidtj@uga.edu.