Research Assistant Professor in Physical Therapy and Movement Sciences

About the role

The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) College of Health Sciences invites applications for a full-time Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy & Movement Sciences. This is a 12-month appointment with three years of guaranteed salary support, designed to be part of an interdisciplinary research program focused on trauma-induced neuroinflammation and maladaptive neuroplasticity.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to mechanistic and translational studies examining how physical and psychological trauma (e.g., traumatic brain injury, vascular insults, chronic stress, PTSD) initiate inflammatory cascades that disrupt adaptive brain plasticity.
• Work in an established translational research environment integrating biological markers, neurophysiological measures, and functional outcomes, supported by active collaborations with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) for multi-omic analyses (e.g., transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic profiling) and access to advanced computational infrastructure.
• Co-lead multi-PI grant applications and contribute to the development of larger collaborative initiatives targeting NIH, DoD, VA, and NIDILRR funding mechanisms.

Requirements

• PhD in neuroscience, rehabilitation science, vascular physiology, psychology, bioengineering, or a closely related field with relevance to neurotrauma, neuroinflammation, or neuroplasticity.
• A demonstrated record of scholarly/research activity and potential for securing external funding.
• Ability to contribute effectively to collaborative, interdisciplinary research programs.
• Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and students from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated record of or strong potential for securing external research funding.
• Experience conducting human-subjects, clinical, or mechanistic translational research related to trauma or neuroinflammation.
• Research expertise in one or more of the following: Human neurophysiology, including neuroimaging and/or neuromodulation (e.g., transcranial magnetic stimulation).
• Biomarker or omics-based approaches (e.g., transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic analyses).
• Cellular and molecular models of neuroinflammation, including cell culture systems, in vitro screening of small molecules, and toxicity study.

Skills

• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of relevant research methodologies and technologies.

Benefits

• Initial salary is negotiable and based on qualifications and experience.
• Three years of guaranteed salary support.
• Access to established research laboratories and collaborative infrastructure.
• Excellent fringe benefits.