Assistant Associate Professor

USF Child & Family Studies; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & life insurance

Retirement plan options

Employee tuition for self and depend-

Generous leave and employee discounts

Job summary

USF is seeking a research‑intensive faculty member for the Marriage and Family Therapy Program within the Department of Child and Family Studies. The role emphasizes advancing scholarship on individuals, couples, families and communities while contributing to graduate education and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The ideal candidate will meet COAMFTE Core Faculty qualifications and may contribute to clinical education and supervision as appropriate, with a focus on research growth and program

Qualifications

• Earned doctorate (or ABD with degree conferred prior to appointment) in Marriage and Family Therapy, Family Science, Human Development & Family Science, or related discipline.
• Active research agenda with potential for sustained scholarly productivity and external funding.
• Eligibility for appointment at Assistant or Associate Professor at USF.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain an active program of research and scholarly productivity.
• Teach graduate courses in the Marriage and Family Therapy curriculum and related offerings.
• Mentor graduate students through research, theses, and professional development.
• Engage in departmental, college, university, and professional service activities.
• Support accreditation standards and clinical education aligned with qualifications.

Skills

Research planning

Graduate teaching

Mentorship

Interdisciplinary collaboration

External funding

Education

Doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy or related field

Job description

The successful candidate will contribute to the continued growth and excellence of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program through research, teaching, graduate student mentorship, and service. The department seeks applicants whose scholarship advances the understanding of individuals, couples, families, and communities through systemic, relational, developmental, behavioral health, prevention, or family science perspectives. Candidates should demonstrate the potential to establish and maintain an active program of research, contribute to graduate education, collaborate across disciplines, and support the mission of the Department of Child and Family Studies.

Applicants from Marriage and Family Therapy, Family Science, Human Development and Family Science, Family Studies, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, or closely related disciplines are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to candidates whose expertise complements the educational mission of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program and who demonstrate the ability to contribute to graduate education, scholarly productivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Candidates who meet COAMFTE Core Faculty qualifications or possess experience in accredited Marriage and Family Therapy programs are especially encouraged to apply.

The Department seeks a faculty member who will contribute to the continued growth of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program by strengthening its research enterprise, expanding graduate student research opportunities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing scholarship that promotes the health and well‑being of individuals, couples, families, and communities.

View a short video to learn more about the Department of Child and Family Studies https://youtu.be/AzADyo_ZLIU

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will contribute to the continued growth and excellence of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program through research, teaching, graduate student mentorship, and service. The department seeks applicants whose scholarship advances the understanding of individuals, couples, families, and communities through systemic, relational, developmental, behavioral health, prevention, or family science perspectives. Candidates should demonstrate the potential to establish and maintain an active program of research, contribute to graduate education, collaborate across disciplines, and support the mission of the Department of Child and Family Studies.

Applicants from Marriage and Family Therapy, Family Science, Human Development and Family Science, Family Studies, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, or closely related disciplines are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to candidates whose expertise complements the educational mission of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program and who demonstrate the ability to contribute to graduate education, scholarly productivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Candidates who meet COAMFTE Core Faculty qualifications or possess experience in accredited Marriage and Family Therapy programs are especially encouraged to apply.

The Department seeks a faculty member who will contribute to the continued growth of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program by strengthening its research enterprise, expanding graduate student research opportunities, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and advancing scholarship that promotes the health and well‑being of individuals, couples, families, and communities.

View a short video to learn more about the Department of Child and Family Studies https://youtu.be/AzADyo_ZLIU

Essential Functions

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Develop and maintain an active program of research and scholarly productivity consistent with expectations for a faculty member at a Research 1 university.
• Pursue external funding opportunities that support research, graduate education, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Teach graduate courses in both Fall and Spring semesters within the Marriage and Family Therapy curriculum or other departmental offerings aligned with the candidate's area of expertise.
• Mentor graduate students through research, thesis supervision, and professional development.
• Participate in departmental, college, university, and professional service activities.
• Support the mission and accreditation standards of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, including clinical education and supervision when appropriate to the candidate's qualifications.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate (or ABD with degree conferred prior to appointment) in Marriage and Family Therapy, Family Science, Human Development and Family Science, Family Studies, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, Public Health, or a closely related discipline.
• Evidence of an active research agenda with the potential for sustained scholarly productivity leading to external funding.
• Eligibility for appointment at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor at the University of South Florida.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Established record of peer-reviewed scholarship focused on couples, families, relationships, behavioral health, prevention, resilience, human development, or family science.
• Experience obtaining or pursuing externally funded research.
• Experience with undergraduate and/or graduate-level teaching.
• Eligibility to serve as COAMFTE Core Faculty.
• Licensed or eligible to be licensed in the state of Florida (LMFT or equivalent)

Position open until filled. Review of applications will begin on October 15, 2026

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first‑class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu .

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.This job description does not constitute an employment contract.