Rutgers University School of Social Work (RUSSW) invites applications for an open rank tenure-track appointment to begin on or after September 1, 2024. This scholar will be part of the Addressing Health Equity in Age-Related Disorders (AHEAD) cluster hire initiative. This multidisciplinary initiative seeks to advance knowledge of neurodegenerative disorders, treatments, and technology solutions, promote quality of life among individuals, families, and communities, and develop a deep understanding of the social, racial, and ethnic health disparities associated with the onset and treatments of neurodegenerative disorders to map a path towards health equity. It is expected that the success of the AHEAD cluster will inform later activities addressing other age-related chronic diseases (e.g., atherosclerotic heart disease, cancers, and foundational metabolic disorders). Moreover, the AHEAD cluster will complement the Rutgers Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Research Center (RUADRC), a clinically driven center that is part of the Rutgers Brain Health Institute primarily aimed at identifying the underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease through novel in vivo and human-derived in vitro models as well new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. The AHEAD cluster will emphasize the societal role and what factors lead to age-related health disparities specific to neurodegeneration, with interweaved expertise across engineering, kinesiology and health, cell biology and neuroscience, and social work to connect the cluster efforts to RUADRC. We seek a scholar dedicated to advancing excellence in research, teaching, and engagement with a focus on equity in aging, neurocognitive diversity, and mental health in middle and later life. The scholar also will join the RUSSW Hub for Aging Collaboration as a core faculty member.

The AHEAD Cluster is supported by funds from the . These appointments are intended to advance Rutgers's goals toward building diversity, equity, and inclusive (DEI) excellence on our campuses. Diversity refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender and gender identity, age, religion, language, disability status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, geographic region, and more. In addition to this position, the cluster initiative includes recruitment for positions in the ), the and (School of Arts and Sciences) Sciences, , and the .Faculty who join RUSSW will have the opportunity to work in one of the most diverse states in the nation and with a student body that represents a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, and identities. Our faculty is an open and collegial group, with a commitment to the success of our pre-tenure faculty and to continued development of faculty at all ranks. To support these efforts, the Faculty Diversity Collaborative in the Office of University Equity and Inclusion provides individualized and targeted supports along the faculty life cycle to increase faculty engagement, ensure effective and inclusive mentoring, expand networking opportunities, and develop leadership skills to foster a sense of belonging and professional growth for diverse faculty in the academy.

RUSSW is committed to advancing diversity in all areas, including scholarship, instruction, and engagement at all levels. In their cover letter, candidates should address their contributions to DEI, current interests or activities, and/or future goals to promote a climate that values DEI. The cover letter should also include a research statement detailing how the applicant's research interests align with AHEAD. Along with this cover letter, applicants should submit a curriculum vitae, list of references, and at least one writing sample. Formal review of applicants will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Curriculum Vitae, letter of application (with cover letter), list of references, and at least one writing sample are required. The search committee is chaired by Dr. Patricia Findley, .

Applicants should hold a Ph.D. in Social Work or a closely related field. A Master of Social Work and social work practice experience is also preferred, preferably in aging, healthcare, and dementia.Applicants should have strong methodological training, demonstrated research productivity, potential for publication in high-impact journals, and excellent teaching and communication skills. Prior experience with community-engaged research is also preferred. Faculty members are expected to maintain an extramurally funded research agenda, teach in the programs of the School (BASW, MSW, DSW, and Ph.D.), supervise Ph.D. students, and engage in service to foster the missions of RUSSW and the University.

RUSSW, ranks #16 among MSW programs in the nation, is among the largest and most diverse social work programs in the United States, offering BASW, MSW, DSW, and Ph.D. degrees to over 2,000 students across three campuses in Camden (Philadelphia metropolitan area), Newark (New York metropolitan area), and New Brunswick, which is the flagship campus and where RUSSW is headquartered. The School's externally funded portfolio exceeds $60 million. RUSSW has several strong research centers, including the Center on Research for Ending Violence, the Center for Prevention Science, the Center for Gambling Studies, the Center for Leadership and Management, the Hub for Aging Collaboration, and the Institute for Families.

Founded in 1766, Rutgers is the eighth-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States, and a major research university. Rutgers is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a federation of 62 leading research universities in the US and Canada, and the Big Ten Academic Alliance, an academic consortium of Big 10 universities that collectively engage in over $10 billion funded research each year. The abolitionist and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth was enslaved as a young person by relatives of Rutgers first president. For more information about this history, please visit:

.

Outside the School, there are rich opportunities for collaboration with other professional schools at Rutgers, including the Schools of Public Health, Communication and Information, Management and Labor Relations, Criminal Justice, the Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research, and the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, to name but a few.

New Jersey offers a wide range of communities in which to visit, easy access to major cities on the East Coast and Washington, DC, and a great quality of life.

Applicants should apply online with their curriculum vitae, letter of application/cover letter and list of references.

RUSSW operates on the Rutgers-New Brunswick (headquartered), Rutgers-Camden and Rutgers-Newark campuses in New Jersey.