Assistant Professor of Aging, Health, and Public Policy

To promote a longer and healthier lifespan, the La Follette School of Public Affairs seeks a cutting-edge Assistant Professor to examine how U.S. public policy and regulatory choices interact with and extend key measures of aging and longevity.

The school is open with regards to the specific area and approach. However, we are particularly interested in a scholar who uses population-based data and methods to examine how the social and/or biological hallmarks of aging, including innovative biomarkers of aging, intersect with public policy across the life course to affect health and longevity. Alternatively, we are also particularly interested in a public policy scholar who studies the regulation and/or economic impact of emerging therapies and biomedical advances designed to improve health span, including, for example, supplements/drugs, gene therapies, and neural implants. This includes the study of government and/or private regulation surrounding biomedical advances in aging, and/or how these emerging technologies will affect law, the economy, population demographics, inequality, healthcare delivery, and healthcare costs. Overall, our goal is to identify a scholar who primarily focuses on U.S. domestic public policy.

The successful candidate will advance the educational mission of the College of Letters & Science that values, prioritizes, and actualizes evidence-based and student-centered teaching and (undergraduate student) mentoring. They will contribute to an environment that fosters engagement and a sense of belonging for faculty, staff, students and members of the broader community.

The selected candidate will conduct productive research, be a committed teacher, and welcome being part of an interdisciplinary department dedicated to promoting good public policy. Teaching will involve core graduate and undergraduate courses in public affairs or international public affairs, as well as upper-level electives. We are especially interested in a scholar who will contribute core classes to the school's growing undergraduate program and is prepared to teach PA 201: Introduction to Health Policy in the United States. We anticipate that the selected candidate will participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with research centers and other departments, schools and colleges as is fitting for the position.

The successful candidate, as a member of the College of L&S, will proactively contribute to, support, and advance the college's commitment to excellence among all aspects of their teaching, mentoring, research, and service.

La Follette's new faculty member will be integrated into a larger group of newly recruited and existing faculty across the campus who are also focused on research dedicated to promoting a longer and healthier lifespan, which is called the RISE-THRIVE initiative.

As part of UW-Madison's RISE-THRIVE initiative, the College of Letters & Science is making a bold, interdisciplinary investment in research and teaching that advances our understanding of health, disease, well-being, and resilience for individuals and their communities. By exploring the social, economic, technological, historical, environmental, behavioral, and public policy factors that shape health outcomes, L&S RISE-THRIVE researchers advance innovative solutions to such urgent societal challenges as healthy aging, chronic disease, mental health, social marginalization, and rural and urban health-all of which enhances lives and communities in Wisconsin and beyond.

The La Follette School is a highly ranked school of public policy, and one of many highly ranked social science units at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The University is consistently ranked among the top universities in terms of success in federally funded research grants and is highly supportive of an interdisciplinary approach to scholarship.

This faculty position is part of the Wisconsin Research, Innovation and Scholarly Excellence (RISE) Initiative. Through accelerated and strategic faculty hiring, research infrastructure enhancement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and increased student and educational opportunities, RISE addresses complex societal challenges of importance to the state, nation and world. Building on UW-Madison's strengths, RISE expands the University's successful track record of connecting with communities and industry on collaborative solutions.

Over the next three academic years, UW-Madison will substantially increase current hiring levels, bringing 150 new RISE faculty to campus. Candidates hired through RISE will join a community of scholars working across disciplines, schools and colleges on research, teaching and outreach endeavors. The community will engage regularly in venues such as seminar series and colloquia to share ongoing projects and identify opportunities to work together. The University will support the community, facilitating access to research infrastructure, and funding to support broad and rich collaboration. Further information regarding RISE can be found at: https://rise.wisc.edu/

Situated at the heart of UW-Madison, the College of Letters & Science (L&S) serves as home to 39 academic departments and numerous research centers, including the Center for Demography and Ecology, the Center for Demography of Health and Aging, and the Center for Healthy Minds. By hiring up to seven faculty researchers as part of UW-Madison's RISE-THRIVE initiative, the College seeks to further bolster its expertise and capacity to serve as a dynamic hub for interdisciplinary and collaborative health research-one that integrates quantitative, qualitative, and community-engaged forms of research and brings this mixed-methods approach to bear on the complexities of health, disease, well-being and resilience, and aging. L&S researchers explore the social, economic, historical, environmental, and behavioral factors that shape health outcomes, while advancing knowledge in genomics, epigenetics, and demography as well as driving innovation in health policy and technology-all for the goal of fostering healthier lives and healthier communities.

The successful applicant will be responsible for ensuring eligibility for employment in the United States on or before the effective date of the appointment. University sponsorship is not available for this position.

Madison is the state's capitol city and is well known for offering a small town feel in a medium-sized city. It is a great place to raise a family and offers an ideal combination of natural beauty, stimulating cultural events, outstanding schools and outdoor recreation.

The selected candidate will conduct productive research, be a committed teacher, and welcome being part of an interdisciplinary department dedicated to promoting good public policy. Teaching will involve core graduate and undergraduate courses in public affairs or international public affairs, as well as upper-level electives. We are especially interested in a scholar who will contribute core classes to the school's growing undergraduate program and is prepared to teach PA 201: Introduction to Health Policy in the United States. We anticipate that the selected candidate will participate in interdisciplinary and collaborative efforts with research centers and other departments, schools and colleges as is fitting for the position.

COLLEGE OF LETTERS AND SCIENCE/LA FOLLETTE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Negotiable - Academic (9 Months)

Applicants should demonstrate excellence and productivity in research and a commitment to teaching. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience fostering or the ability to foster teaching, learning, mentoring, departmental, and research environment where all can thrive. Candidates should also demonstrate potential for interdisciplinary collaboration across departments and with various research centers. For example, the successful candidate would have the opportunity to affiliate with UW-Madison's interdisciplinary Center for Demography of Health and Aging (CDHA), which, through the integration of research, training, and teaching, aims to increase the understanding of social and behavioral processes related to health and aging. Affiliates benefit from the Center's shared resources, such as seminars and special events, grant administration supports, and access to a secure data enclave.

N/A

Ph.D. Required in Public Policy, Public Administration, Economics, Sociology, Political Science, Gerontology, Public Health, Law, or a related field by the start date of position.

Apply online at "Jobs at UW" (http://jobs.wisc.edu). Applications must be received through UW- Madison's online application system. Applications submitted outside of this system will not be considered. Click the "Apply Now" button to start the application process. Applicants should submit the following 3 items:

1. a letter of application,

2. curriculum vitae,

3. a teaching and mentoring statement,

Applicants who move forward in the process will receive an email requesting the names and contact information for three references; each reference will each receive an electronic link through which they can upload a signed letter of reference. For full consideration, all materials must be received no later than 11:59pm on October 24, 2025. Applications will be accepted until position is filled. Please note that applicants will be evaluated based upon submitted application materials and therefore should speak to and include evidence of their qualifications. Application materials must clearly demonstrate the applicant's dedication to excellence in student-centered teaching and mentoring. Additionally, materials should showcase the applicant's ability to purposefully plan their teaching practices, evidenced through goals, action plans, reflection, and related documentation. This portion of the application materials must be created by the applicant and may include supporting letters. It cannot be only in the form of letters and testimony by others.

Anne Oyamada, Department Administrator

oyamada@lafollette.wisc.edu

608-263-2409

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.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

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, click here.

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