Research Assistant Professor in Physical Therapy and Movement Sciences

Overview

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.

Location:

El Paso, TX.

The successful candidate will 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. Applicants with expertise in human-subjects research related to trauma, neurophysiology, neuroinflammation, neuroimaging, and/or neuromodulation are encouraged to apply. Candidates with complementary strengths in cellular and molecular models of neuroinflammation, including cell culture systems, in vitro screening of small molecules, and toxicity studies, are also encouraged particularly where such approaches inform human-relevant translation.

This position is embedded within externally funded research programs in the laboratories of Drs. Shashwati Geed and Alvaro N. Gurovich, with collaborative engagement across trauma-, vascular-, and behavior-focused investigators. The candidate will 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.

Job responsibilities focus primarily on scholarly activity (e.g., grant writing, manuscript publications, and conference presentations), with an anticipated appointment date in Spring 2026. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a productive research agenda, thrive in a collaborative interdisciplinary setting, and engage with research addressing trauma and health disparities in the border region and beyond. This position represents an opportunity to build on established and nationally competitive research programs while contributing to the development of new initiatives in trauma, inflammation, and neuroplasticity  hire is expected to co-lead multi-PI grant applications and contribute to the development of larger collaborative initiatives targeting NIH, DoD, VA, and NIDILRR funding mechanisms.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
:
Candidates are required to have:

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications Include

• Postdoctoral research training.
• 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.
• Experience conducting human-subjects, clinical, or mechanistic translational research related to trauma or neuroinflammation.
• Demonstrated record of or strong potential for securing external research funding.

The initial salary is negotiable and based on qualifications and experience. The position includes three years of guaranteed salary support, access to established research laboratories and collaborative infrastructure, and excellent fringe benefits.

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