Asst. Research Professor & Associate Director

The Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors (CARE) at the University of Kansas invites applications for a full-time, 12-month Assistant Research Professor who will serve as Associate Director of CARE. This permanent, endowment-funded position will develop a nationally recognized research program in eating disorders, while playing a central leadership role within a large, well-resourced research center.

The Assistant or Associate Director will co-lead CARE's mission alongside the Center Director and Area Director, contribute to strategic growth, develop an independent line of funded research, supervise staff and trainees, and serve as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator on intramural and extramural grants. This position is ideally suited for a motivated researcher who values collaboration, mentorship, infrastructure support, and translational impact.

KU's excellence is a result of the rich tapestry of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds of our faculty, staff, students, and colleagues from across our nation and the globe. At KU, we invest in continuous learning and growth by creating a climate where people engage in respectful dialogue and debate and support each other's success. We foster a culture of care where each person is seen, heard and valued. When people feel a true sense of belonging, we believe they are better able to reach their full potential and achieve remarkable things. The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the U.S. by the effective date of the appointment.

About CARE
CARE is a multidisciplinary research center focused on eating-disorder detection, prevention, assessment, and intervention across the lifespan, with active projects spanning college health, military and veteran populations, perinatal individuals, and community samples. The center houses multiple ongoing clinical trials, large longitudinal datasets, and federally funded projects, and maintains strong partnerships with campus units, local healthcare systems, and industry collaborators.

CARE has a robust research infrastructure, including:

• A dedicated center accountant overseeing all grant finances
• A full-time administrative associate
• A full-time biostatistician
• Three full-time research coordinators and one part-time coordinator
• A large team of graduate and undergraduate trainees
• A standing contract with ExpiWell for EMA and mHealth intervention development
• Multiple existing datasets and active studies that support rapid productivity
• CARE is supported by two large, dedicated research spaces on campus that comfortably house our full research team and provide beautiful, purpose-designed environments for clinical trials, assessment and data entry, team conferencing, and staff break space.

Research Environment at KU & LSI
The Life Span Institute is a nationally recognized interdisciplinary research institute that provides a highly supportive environment for junior faculty, including:

• Strong pre-award and post-award grant support
• Centralized infrastructure for proposal development, compliance, and reporting
• Extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration across psychology, medicine, public health, data science, and engineering
• A collegial academic culture that values mentorship, transparency, and work-life integration

KU is an R1 public research university with a long tradition of excellence in clinical and translational research and a deep commitment to fostering an environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Research (50%)

• Develop and maintain an independent, externally funded research program in eating disorders
• Serve as PI and Co-I on intramural and extramural grants (e.g., NIH, DoD, foundations)
• Lead publications, presentations, and dissemination activities
• Contribute to CARE's strategic research portfolio and collaborative grant initiatives
• Utilize existing CARE datasets and infrastructure to accelerate productivity
• Support the implementation and evaluation of administrative and research programs
• Advise senior leadership on program performance, staffing needs, and process improvements
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and external partners to advance center priorities

Supervision & Leadership (30%)

• Provide clinical supervision for research-based assessments
• Provide clinical supervision of intervention trials, including CBT-based treatments
• Supervise staff or student employees, as needed, fostering a collaborative work environment
• Mentor undergraduate students
• Provide oversight of specific projects, initiatives, or operational areas, incurring alignment with center and institutional goals
• Monitor compliance, data reporting, and budgetary processes within assigned areas
• Contribute to strategic planning, accreditation efforts, and institutional reporting

Service to Profession and Center (10%)

• Review manuscripts and grants
• Serve on CARE, LSI, and University of Kansas committees
• Contribute to professional service aligned with expertise and career stage

Direct Clinical Services (10%)

• Provide clinical services within CARE-affiliated clinical trials
• Deliver treatment in trials developed by CARE or initiated by the faculty member
• Maintain ethical and professional clinical standards consistent with licensure requirements

Position Requirements:

• This position is located at the University of Kansas - Lawrence campus.
• Hybrid work options may be considered based on project needs and supervisor approval.
• Kansas licensure and PSYPACT licensure will be required within the first two years of employment. supervision from Dr. Kelsie Forbush or another licenses psychologist is available for candidates who are not yet license-eligible at time of hire.

Applicants should submit:

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2. Cover letter describing research interests, career goals, and fit with CARE
3. Statement of Research (maximum 2 pages, single-spaced)
4. Contact information for three professional references

Application review will begin February 23, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The start date is flexible, with the earliest start date in Spring 2026 and the latest start date in Fall 2026.

Dr. Kelsie Forbush
kforbush@ku.edu

Commensurate with Experience

Monday February 23, 2026

Saturday August 1, 2026