Employment Opportunities
Professor of Human Development and Director of the Prevention Research Center
Position posted May 23, 2011
Department of Human Development and Family Studies
College of Health and Human Development
The Pennsylvania State University
AA Search Number: 023-103
Job Vacancy Number: 34103
The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) and the College of Health and Human Development at The Pennsylvania State University invite applications for a position as Professor and Director of the Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development. The Director will also hold the C. Eugene Bennett Professorship in Prevention Science. HDFS and the Prevention Research Center have an exceptional record of contributions in research, training and outreach in areas of prevention science. We are looking for a senior faculty member to continue this tradition by providing leadership in developing new and innovative programs of research in prevention science, as well as for innovative training at the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral level. To be successful in this role, the Director must have a strong research portfolio with demonstrated ability to create and foster productive interdisciplinary collaborations. As a member of the HDFS Department, this person will also teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students. An earned doctorate in the behavioral or social sciences is required.
The Department of Human Development and Family Studies focuses on individual development from infancy through old age, on family structure and dynamics, on the impact of social/cultural contexts on development and family functioning, and on the design and evaluation of interventions to promote development. A strong research and training program in developmental and prevention methodology is integrated into the Departmentâs research and education activities. The Department's multidisciplinary faculty provides strong expertise in developmental, clinical, community, and health psychology, human development and family studies, policy analysis, developmental neuroscience, sociology, demography, education, and methodology.
The Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development (PRC; www.prevention.psu.edu), a prominent interdisciplinary research center in the College of Health and Human Development, was established in 1998 to foster research focused on longitudinal, developmental aspects of risk and prevention. Research conducted in the Center examines how families, schools, and communities (social service, youth groups, faith-based organizations, governments), can work together to promote healthy lifestyles for children, youth, and families. It also develops clinical trials of innovative models to promote competence and prevent maladaptive outcomes for children, families, and communities, and conducts rigorous research on the translation and dissemination of effective prevention programs in community settings. The Center provides research seminars on prevention science for faculty and graduate students, and coordinates an NIH-supported training program with the Penn State Methodology Center to foster the integration of prevention and statistical methodology. The Center also supports Bennett Faculty Scholars, Graduate Prevention Fellows, and conferences. The PRC currently supports over 50 full-time research and administrative staff and approximately 20 graduate students from across the university. Over 20 tenure-track faculty from various departments and colleges are actively engaged in PRC research. An endowment provides consistent and ongoing support for some of the PRC activities.
The College of Health and Human Development enrolls approximately 4200 undergraduates and 350 full-time graduate students at University Park. The College of Health and Human Development includes eight academic units and several research centers and service units. For more information about the College, visit: www.hhdev.psu.edu.
Founded in 1855, Penn State is one of the most comprehensive public institutions in the nation with approximately 44,000 students enrolled at University Park, the administrative and research hub of the university. The University and surrounding community enjoy a lively performing arts calendar, an array of intercollegiate sports, on-campus child care, and superb public schools.
Review of applications and nominations will begin as early as July 1, 2011, and will continue to be accepted until the position is filled. For more information about the position, please contact Doug Coatsworth at jdc15@psu.edu, or Linda Collins at lmc8@psu.edu. Penn State recognizes and is supportive of dual career situations. Interested parties should send cover letter, curriculum vitae and supporting information (e.g., reprints, preprints, letters from three references) to:
Prevention Search Committee
211 Henderson Building South
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity and the diversity of its workforce.
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