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Job Category:
Faculty
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Associate Professor
Job Summary:
The Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking outstanding candidates for an Assistant or Associate Professor tenure-track faculty position in Occupational Therapy. Desirable candidates will be eligible for licensure as an occupational therapist in the state of Wisconsin and should demonstrate an ability to (a) secure extramural funding to support distinguished research in an area of occupational therapy or occupational science, (b) publish research in high-impact refereed journals, (c) provide exemplary graduate student training for Occupational Therapy doctoral students and PhD students, and (d) teach courses with an emphasis on graduate occupational therapy and kinesiology courses (MS & PhD).
Anticipated Start Date: August 17th, 2026
The Occupational Therapy program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a fully accredited, top-ranked program, offering an entry-level clinical doctorate (OTD) to top-tier students. Since 1943, UW-Madison has trained excellent practitioners, managers, thought leaders, and scholars who contribute to the flourishing of the profession and society. A few of our illustrious alumni include two Slagle lecturers, an AOTA president, and an AJOT editor. Our loyal alumni and local clinicians partner with the program to provide opportunities for clinical experience, networking, and professional growth. Distinctives of the program include a curriculum built on four threads: Practice, Research, Leadership, and Wellness. Tenure Track Research Faculty partner with Clinical Faculty to model intellectual curiosity, healthy collaboration, and respectful critique to equip OTD graduates to be confident consumers of research.
The Occupational Therapy Program is within the Department of Kinesiology. It is a multidisciplinary department that includes undergraduate programs in Kinesiology, Physical Education, and Health Promotion and Health Equity as well as nationally ranked graduate programs in Occupational Therapy, Kinesiology, and Athletic Training. Graduates of our Department have gone on to careers as some of the most prominent researchers, scholars, and leaders within their respective professions.
The Department of Kinesiology resides in the UW-Madison School of Education (SOE), which is regularly ranked as one of the top Schools of Education in the nation and is currently ranked as #1. The SOE is proud of the outstanding breadth of its programs, with departments in Education, Health, and the Arts. It views this broad range of programs as a tremendous strength.
The University of Wisconsin is rated 13th among U.S. public universities in the U.S. News and World Report, and 30th world-wide in the Center for World University Ratings. The University’s longest and proudest tradition is the Wisconsin Idea; we believe that our work should serve our state and those residing beyond the boundaries of campus to improve their lives. This century-old guiding principle applies to our academics, research, and outreach. Not surprisingly, we rank first in the number of Peace Corps volunteers.
Madison is consistently selected as one of the best places to live and top 20 safest cities in the U.S. It promotes active living, being designated a Platinum Bicycle Friendly Community & Gold Walk Friendly Community. Madison has around 270 parks and 15,000 acres of lakes for sailing, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming and stand-up paddle boarding. It has a lively arts and culture scene with outstanding museums, arts and music venues, festivals, restaurants and sporting events.
Key Job Responsibilities:
Mentor/advise graduate and undergraduate students.
Pursue extramural funding to support research.
Publish research in high-impact refereed scientific journals.
Participate in faculty governance and other service to the department, university, and profession.
Participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts within the Department of Kinesiology, with other departments, schools, and colleges on campus.
Teach graduate courses within the Department of Kinesiology.
Build and maintain community collaborations to enhance translational research and promote real-world impact.
Department:
School of Education / Department of Kinesiology
Compensation:
Negotiable Academic (9-months)
Commensurate with qualifications and experience. This position offers a comprehensive benefits package, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund.
Required Qualifications:
Expertise in occupational therapy and occupational science or an associated discipline that studies occupation.
Eligibility for or current licensure as an occupational therapist in the State of Wisconsin.
For applicants at the Assistant Professor level - evidence of established scholarship with potential for international significance and potential for securing extramural funding.
For applicants at the Associate Professor level - evidence of scholarship with international significance and a record of securing extramural funding.
Record of publication in high-quality refereed scientific journals.
Evidence of successful teaching experience at the university level.
Candidates should have completed a PhD in Occupational Therapy, Occupational Science and/or related fields before the start date of the position.
Preferred Qualifications:
Post-doctoral research experience
Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining community partnerships or collaborations that enhance research, teaching, and/or service.
Evidence of successful mentoring of students, trainees, or early career professionals.
Education:
PhD in Occupational Therapy, Occupational Science and/or related fields (e.g. Rehabilitation Science; Psychology; Public Health; Health Behavior and Health Promotion). Earned doctorate by August 2026
How to Apply:
Please complete the online application at jobs.wisc.edu and follow the instructions. From the job posting you can begin by either selecting "I am a current employee" or "I am not a current employee" in the upper right corner of the page.
You will be asked to create a profile and upload the following documents: (a) letter of interest with a description of current and future research, as well as relevant teaching experience, (b) curriculum vitae, and (c) two samples of scholarly writing. Applicants will be asked provide references during the recruitment process.
To ensure consideration, application materials must be received by January 18, 2025. This position will remain open, and applications may be considered, until the position is filled.
Contact Information:
Brittany Travers
btravers@wisc.edu
608-263-0282
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
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