Assistant Professor - Substance Use and Biobehavioral Health

Assistant Professor - Substance Use and Biobehavioral
Health

Requisition ID: 2026-10815

of Openings: 1

Location: US-UT-Logan

Category: Faculty

Position Type: Benefited Full-Time

Job Classification: Faculty

College: EEJ Coll of Educ Hlth & Human Sci

Department: Human Development & Family Studies

Advertised Salary: Commensurate with education and
experience, plus excellent benefits.

Overview

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) at
Utah State University seeks candidates for a tenure-track Assistant
Professor with expertise in substance use and addiction care
utilizing biobehavioral perspectives (e.g., social determinants of
health, intervention and prevention science, behavioral
neuroscience). We seek a researcher with a strong record of
scholarship examining substance use or addiction care in the
context of human development and/or family relations. Preference
will be given to candidates whose research addresses the social and
contextual factors associated with health-related outcomes and
behaviors broadly conceived, including substance (mis)use and abuse
(e.g., alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, opioids), and substance use
disorders and their care.

The position is located on USU's main campus in Logan, Utah. This
position is not eligible for remote work.

This is a tenure-track, nine-month academic year position
anticipated to begin in August 2027. Review of applications will
begin November 13, 2026 and will continue until the position is
filled.

Inquiries may be directed to the search committee chair, Dr.
Spencer Bradshaw (435-797-7456 or spencer.bradshaw@usu.edu).

Responsibilities

• Conduct and disseminate research (e.g., establish a research

program, publish in peer-reviewed journals).

• Generate external funding to support your research program

(e.g., via government institutions, private foundations, or
regional/local agencies).

• Teach graduate and/or undergraduate classes within areas of

expertise and specialization or department needs (including
didactic/classroom instruction and potentially applied
supervision).

• Mentor doctoral students within the HDFS department (e.g.,

chair dissertation committees, direct a research lab that involves
graduate students, support students in progressing toward
graduation).

• Contribute service to the department, college, university, and

profession.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Studies, Biobehavioral

Health, or related field.

• Evidence of excellence in the ability to conduct and

disseminate impactful research on substance use and health-related
outcomes.

• Evidence of the ability or potential to effectively teach and

mentor students.

• Outstanding oral, written, and interpersonal communication and

ability to work well in a team setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A research program that complements existing departmental

expertise, while fostering collaborations across individual,
relational, community, and/or public health domains throughout the
college.

• A translational research program bridging basic and applied

areas of substance use, addictions, and care.

• Have interest in and ability to teach courses at the

undergraduate and graduate level in substance use and care in
context, social determinants of health, intervention and health
promotion, or prevention science.

• Demonstrated potential to engage undergraduate and graduate

students in research, professional, clinical, community-engaged, or
other experiential opportunities that support their academic and
career development.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

• Curriculum vitae to be uploaded at the beginning of your

application in the Candidate Profile under "Resume/CV"

• Cover letter highlighting fit with minimum and preferred

qualifications to be uploaded at the beginning of your application
in the Candidate Profile under "Documents 1-10"

• Up to three examples of scholarly work to be uploaded at the

beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under
"Documents 1-10"

• Names and contact information for at least three (3)

professional references to be entered in the Candidate Profile

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.*

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with education and experience, plus excellent
benefits.

ADA

Employees typically work indoors and are protected from weather
and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature
changes.

College/Department Highlights

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies
(HDFS) is one of eight departments and three distinguished
centers in the Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health,
& Human Sciences. The department has 30 faculty members, over
300 undergraduate majors, and over 40 graduate students. The HDFS
department is committed to supporting innovative problem-focused
research, transformative and work-force ready educational
experiences, and state-of-the-art clinical training. HDFS faculty
are dynamic and collaborative interdisciplinary scholars possessing
a broad range of expertise across content and contexts. Our work is
impact-focused, drawing on and contributing to the USU land-grant
mission, bolstered by our connections with USU Extension. Faculty,
staff, and students are committed to understanding, communicating,
and implementing research, education, and practice, showcasing how
HDFS supports the health and well-being of individuals, families,
and communities in Utah and beyond. Faculty joining the department
during this period of growth will have opportunities to help shape
new research collaborations, academic programs, and training
initiatives while contributing to established programs with strong
records of student mentorship, research productivity, and
professional impact.

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education, Health, and
Human Sciences is dedicated to excellence in research,
teaching, and service activities that advance education, improve
health and well-being, and elevate human potential across the
lifespan. The college is home to eight academic departments with
approximately 200 faculty who are engaged in innovative research
and impactful, student-focused graduate and undergraduate
education. The college is consistently ranked by US News and World
Report as one of the top Graduate Colleges of Education in the
country, ranking among the top 30 public institutions of higher
education in 2026 and 1st in the state of Utah since 2000. The
college's programs and outreach missions are strengthened by an
on-campus elementary laboratory school and five stand-alone
centers, including the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for
Clinical Excellence, Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
Research Center, Center for the School of the Future,
Institute for Disability Research, Policy, &
Practice, and National Center for Hearing Assessment
& Management. Faculty, students, and staff within the
college collaborate with a broad range of community partners to
facilitate community-engaged research and provide transformative
experiential learning opportunities. Through dedicated teaching,
innovative research, and meaningful engagement the Emma Eccles
Jones College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences advances
education, health, and well-being, enriching the lives of
individuals, families, and communities throughout Utah.

University Highlights

As Utah's student-centered, land-grant research university, Utah
State University expands opportunity and strengthens communities
across the state through learning, discovery, extension, and
engagement. Founded in 1888, USU now holds two Carnegie
distinctions: R1 status for very high research activity and the
Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Its innovative
research and scholarship is grounded in reciprocal partnerships
with local, regional, and global communities, advancing knowledge
and serving the public good across Utah, the nation, and the world.
With over 50 world-class research facilities and the nation's
second-oldest undergraduate research program, USU prepares students
to become active, civically engaged leaders who can address
critical societal challenges.

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at
locations throughout the state. Utah State's 30
locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential
campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide
campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU
educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries.
For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns,
serving every county in the state.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud
member of the Pac-12 Conference, which it joined July 1, 2026. The
Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by
capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in
2025-26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This
tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232
student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community,
where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours,
with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all
individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where
diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to
recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will
champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach,
and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community
and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and
be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when
it named Utah State the best employer in
Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU.

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support
careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally,
USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation
for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable
accommodation for a disability, contact the university's ADA
coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at 435-797-0122 or
hr@usu.edu.

*updated 10/26

To apply, visit https://careers-usu.icims.com/jobs/10815/assistant-professor---substance-use-and-biobehavioral-health/job?in_iframe=1

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and
employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate
discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color,
religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual
orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected
veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title
IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not
discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in
employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination
based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic
information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability,
status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by
University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

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offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without
regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability,
national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender
identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide
reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access
to qualified persons with disabilities.

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and
federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

The following office has been designated to handle inquiries
regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing
regulations and/or USU's non-discrimination policies:

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

Old Main Room 405

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan UT 84322

titleix@usu.edu

(435) 797-1266

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit
crtix.usu.edu or contact:

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| OCR.Denver@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 | OCR@ed.gov

*updated 08/2026

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