Assistant Professor, Violence Against Women Cluster

The Opportunity

The University of Central Florida (UCF) has established several interdisciplinary faculty research clusters to strengthen its academic offerings and research mission. In support of this effort, we are recruiting faculty who have a scholarly focus on one or more areas of interpersonal violence for a 9 month tenure-earning assistant professor position within the Violence Against Women Cluster. To learn more about the Violence Against Women Cluster, please visit our home page by clicking on the following link: https://www.ucf.edu/research/violence-against-women/.

This is an interdisciplinary position that will be expected to strengthen both the cluster and a chosen tenure home department and may include a combination of joint appointments. Potential tenure home departments are Population Health, Counselor Education, Sociology, Social Work, Global Health and Informatics, Public Administration, Anthropology, Health Sciences, Legal Studies and Politics, Security and International Affairs. In the cover letter, applicants should specify one or two departments as potential tenure homes. Both individual/interdisciplinary infrastructure and startup support will be provided with this new position. This position has an anticipated start date of August 8, 2026.

The ideal candidate will have potential for funding and scholarship focused on aspects of interpersonal violence prevention, intervention, and response. They will have a research impact as reflected in high-quality publications and the potential to develop a well-funded research program. We welcome applications from individuals whose work includes a focus on the following forms of interpersonal violence – domestic or dating violence, stalking, sexual violence, childhood exposure to violence, and elder abuse – and at least one other topic including but not limited to social determinants of health; global contexts; physical and mental health correlates, and consequences; families and children; male victims; perpetration and use of violence; human trafficking; social welfare, victim services; healthcare and healthcare systems' responses ; community-based interventions; primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention; technology; humanmade or natural disasters; economics; and/or macro level policy and interventions. All relevant methodological and technical areas will be considered. We are looking for a team player who can help bring together current UCF efforts in addressing and eradicating interpersonal violence.

UCF is one of the nation’s largest universities with a diverse student body of more than 70,000 students and has grown substantially in size, quality, and reputation.

The Carnegie Foundation has classified UCF as an R1 Doctoral University for its high research activity and community engagement. This past fiscal year, UCF brought in research funding near $229 million. For the fifth consecutive year, UCF has been recognized among the nation’s most innovative universities according to U.S. News & World Report while Kiplinger’s and The Princeton Review have ranked UCF as one of the nation’s best values for a college education.

UCF is an economic engine, attracting and supporting industries vital to the region’s future while providing students with real-world experiences that help them succeed after graduation. UCF’s Orlando location also puts it at the center of the Florida High Tech Corridor. The corridor has an excellent industrial base that includes software, defense, space, simulation and training, and a world-renowned entertainment industry. Adjacent to UCF is a thriving research park that conducts over $2 billion in funded research, hosting more than 100 high-technology companies and UCF’s School of Modeling, Simulation, and Training. UCF also has an accredited medical school which was established in 2006 and is a neighbor to the VA, Nemours, and the UCF Lake Nona Medical Center.

UCF's students represent all 50 states and over 120 countries. The UCF main campus is in a centralized location that is 30 minutes to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando and 60 minutes to the beach. UCF has 16 sports teams, including football, soccer/futbol, tennis, volleyball, golf, and more. Great weather, easy access to the seashore, one of the largest convention centers in the nation, and one of the world’s best airports are just a few features that make Orlando an ideal location. We encourage you to learn more about UCF at the following link: http://www.ucf.edu/faculty.

Minimum Qualifications:

A Ph.D. or other doctoral degree, or foreign degree equivalent from an accredited institution in an area appropriate to the cluster at the time of appointment.

The selected candidate must also have potential for high-impact research related to one or more topics of interpersonal violence listed above relative to their rank and demonstrated by a strong scholarly and/or funding record or pending portfolio.

Preferred Qualifications:

A history of working with teams, especially teams that span multiple disciplines, is a strongly preferred qualification.

A demonstrated record of scholarship in more than one area of interpersonal violence as noted above is a strongly preferred qualification.

A demonstrated record of funding or pending portfolio.

Additional Application Materials Required:

UCF requires all applications and supporting documents to be submitted electronically through the Human Resources employment opportunities website, https://www.ucf.edu/jobs/. 

In addition to the online application, interested candidates MUST attach the following five materials to their application in order to be considered:

1) A Cover Letter

In the cover letter candidates must address their background in research and scholarship in the area of interpersonal violence and identify the department(s) for their potential tenure home and any joint appointments they would desire (if applicable). Applicants should highlight their interdisciplinary approach to research on interpersonal violence.

2) Curriculum Vitae

3) Teaching Statement

4) Research Statement

5) Contact information for three professional references, including email address.

The selected candidate will be required to submit official transcripts (and, as applicable, U.S. degree equivalency evaluations) documenting the conferral of their qualifying academic credentials.

NOTE: Please have all five documents listed above ready when applying so they can be submitted at that time. The curriculum vitae should be submitted in the resume spot. The other four application documents (cover letter, research statement, teaching statement, and contact information for three references) should be submitted where it says “Upload any additional application requirements listed in the job posting”. Please be sure to submit all five application documents, as incomplete applications cannot be considered. Once the online submission process is finalized, the system does not allow applicants to submit additional documents later.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to: Dr. Jacqueline Woerner, at Jacqueline.woerner@ucf.edu.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

N/A

Job Close Date:

10/15/25

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program. 

• Paid time off, including annual (12-month faculty) and sick time off and paid holidays.

• Retirement savings options. 

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions. 

• Education assistance.

• Flexible work environment. 

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions:

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela.

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

Department

Work Schedule

Type of Appointment

Expected Salary

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.  

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer. 

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.