Assistant/Associate Professor - Physical Therapy

Auburn University; Alabama; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Auburn University is hiring two twelve-month tenure-track faculty members at the Assistant/Associate Professor rank in the School of Kinesiology to support the growing Doctor of Physical Therapy program. Responsibilities include teaching, advising, and high-level research in alignment with our rural-health mission.

The DPT program was granted CAPTE candidacy in 2025, with initial accreditation planned for 2028.

Qualifications

• Ability to teach graduate-level courses in physical therapy.
• Evidence of scholarly activity related to Physical Therapy.
• Commitment to professional service and interprofessional education.

Responsibilities

• Engage in rigorous research resulting in scholarly publications.
• Teach entry-level DPT courses and participate in curriculum development.
• Advise and mentor graduate students; direct theses and dissertations.
• Participate in program planning and curricular changes.

Skills

Graduate teaching

Research in PT

Scholarly publications

Interpersonal skills

Extramural funding potential

PT licensure eligibility

Education

Terminal academic doctorate (PhD/EdD/DSc)

Job description

Overview

POSITION: Assistant/Associate Professor:

The Auburn University Physical Therapy (AUPT) Program in the School of Kinesiology seeks to hire two twelve-month tenure-track faculty members at the Assistant/Associate Professor rank with expertise in Physical Therapy (Anatomy, Orthopedics, Cardiorespiratory, Neurology, Pelvic Health) to begin in Spring/Summer 2027. These positions are a part of faculty members who will be hired at Auburn University and serve as the core faculty for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program. The program’s mission is to educate and train physical therapists emphasizing service among rural areas in Alabama and beyond.

The university’s commitment to excellence is outlined in the Auburn University Strategic Plan (https://ocm.auburn.edu/strategic_plan/). Review of applications will begin August 30th, 2026, and continue until the positions are filled.

If you are passionate about excellence and advocating for our communities, we invite you to apply to our developing DPT program. As a leader in the field, the School of Kinesiology has a long-standing commitment to creating an environment that welcomes individuals from all backgrounds, and we are dedicated to maintaining this culture as we build our DPT program. Housed in the school, the developing DPT program seeks contributions from those of different specialties who represent and advocate for the communities we serve. Auburn University is a land-grant university and houses the College of Nursing, Nutritional Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Speech-Language Pathology, Human Development and Family Science, and College of Veterinary Medicine. The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine also resides on the Auburn campus and actively partners with colleges across the university. Interprofessional education is a strong foundation at AUPT with faculty and students training together as an interprofessional team across the curriculum. In addition, AUPT will host a faculty practice teaching clinic for students and faculty to practice and treat many of our communities’ most vulnerable populations. The DPT program is home to a high-tech anatomy simulation lab, two state-of-the-art clinical classrooms, and a dedicated active learning studio/classroom. Our curriculum is grounded in our mission and designed to produce competent and compassionate clinical physical therapists and to improve the health and well-being of all individuals through evidence-based practice, innovation, and advocacy.

The DPT program was granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in May 2025. On our current timeline, the developing program will receive initial accreditation in the spring of 2028. The program has currently matriculated its first and second cohorts (classes of 2028 & 29) and is accepting applications for its third cohort to matriculate in summer 2027.

Responsibilities

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Engage in rigorous research resulting in scholarly publications, preferably peer-reviewed journal articles in prestigious outlets.
• Teach entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy courses in support of the program.
• Advise and mentor graduate students.
• Direct student research including projects, theses, and dissertations.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of curricular changes for the program and school.
• Provide institutional service as assigned by the department head and engage in professional service within the discipline.
• Participate in professional activities as needed to ensure the well-being of the program, school, and college.

The successful candidate must meet eligibility requirements for work in the United States at the time the appointment is scheduled to begin and continue working legally for the term of employment.

STARTING DATE: No earlier than January 1, 2027 and no later than May 16, 2027

SALARY: Competitive and commensurate with experience; excellent health benefits and retirement package.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Physical Therapist with terminal academic doctorate degree (e.g. PhD, EdD, DSc) at the time of employment.
• Licensed or eligible for PT licensure in Alabama at the time of employment.
• Experience or demonstrated potential to teach graduate courses.
• Record of research in Physical Therapy and contemporary scholarship, practice expertise and teaching experience in women’s health, cardio-pulmonary therapeutics, neurological rehabilitation, pediatrics with anatomy, biomechanics/kinesiology/ movement science, and/or applied neuroscience/electrophysiology practice environments, and other areas of contemporary expertise.
• Evidence of extramural support or of demonstrated potential to be successful in securing extramural support.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Scholarly publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Commitment to the values and priorities of the College of Education (College of Education Strategic Plan 2035 | College of Education)

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Post-doctoral training.
• History of extramural grant funding.
• Experience teaching in a DPT program.
• Board certification or exceptional clinical experience.
• Record of advising, engaging, and mentoring DPT and PhD students.
• Record of collaboration across the department, university, and/or the field of physical therapy higher education.
• Professional experience in the field of physical therapy higher education.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in physical therapy education program design activities (e.g., curriculum redesign, course design, administrative tasks).

Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

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Contract Type

Continuing

Why Work at Auburn?

• Life-Changing Impact:Our work changes lives through research, instruction, and outreach, making a lasting impact on our students, our communities, and the world.
• Culture of Excellence:We are committed to leveraging our strengths, resources, collaboration, and innovation as a top employer in higher education.
• We’re Here for You:Auburn offers generous benefits, educational opportunities, and a culture of support and work/life balance.
• Sweet Home Alabama:The Auburn/Opelika area offers southern charm, vibrant downtown scenes, top-ranked schools, and easy access to Atlanta, Birmingham, and the Gulf of Mexico beaches.
• A Place for Everyone:Auburn is committed to fostering an environment where all faculty, staff, and students are welcomed, valued, respected, and engaged.

Equal Opportunity Compliance Statement

It is our policy to provide equal employment and education opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable law. Please visit the Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance's website to learn more.