Assistant Professor

Position Overview

The Department of Food Science at Cornell University invites candidates for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track assistant professor position to develop a research and teaching program related to Food Chemistry. While the department has identified several strategic areas of interest, listed below, exceptional candidates in Food Chemistry whose expertise lies outside the listed priority areas are also encouraged to apply.

Chemistry for Sustainable Foods

Appropriate research areas may include:

• Chemistry of sustainably sourced food components (flavor, color, nutritive and bioactive compounds) that promote human or animal health while ensuring a palatable and resilient food supply
• Strategies to extend shelf-life, reduce food waste, and enhance nutritional quality through mechanistic understanding of chemical changes during processing and storage

Foods for Health

Appropriate research areas may include:

• Food for health approaches, including mechanistic studies on how food components and bioactives influence physiological function, gut health, and the microbiome
• Development and application of state-of-the-art physicochemical and analytical tools for characterization of novel and functional food components
• Computational and systems-level approaches to understand key chemical and biochemical transformations in foods

Chemical Food Safety and Food Toxicology

Appropriate research areas may include:

• Development and utilization of rapid, inexpensive, and/or in situ sensors for real-time detection of chemical hazards (e.g., allergens, heavy metals, mycotoxins, and emerging contaminants) across the food system
• Food toxicology, including mechanistic and translational studies of dietary exposure to chemical hazards and their impacts on human and animal health
• Risk assessment, predictive modeling, sampling strategies, and exposure assessment for chemical contaminants in foods
• Novel analytical and/or computational approaches to detect adulteration of raw materials or finished products
• Strategies for mitigation, detoxification, or prevention of chemical hazards in food systems

Responsibilities

This position has a balanced effort between research (50%) and teaching (50%) on a 9-month academic year basis. A track-record of outstanding peer-reviewed scholarship is expected, as is excellence in and commitment to teaching, translation of knowledge, and advising and mentoring of students. We seek a colleague with an outstanding record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence at Cornell. A mentoring program for new faculty will provide guidance and assistance. Research (50%): The successful candidate will be expected to conduct an internationally recognized and externally funded research program in chemistry for sustainable/healthy foods. The applicant need not be from a food science background but should be willing to develop a program centered around food. Teaching (50%): The candidate will be expected to teach one undergraduate course per semester, and a third course every other year that could be a graduate seminar, or a course of equivalent effort. One undergraduate course is expected to be a general education course related to food science, and one is expected to be an upper-level food chemistry course. Specific courses taught may be adjusted based on departmental needs. The incumbent will be expected to advise undergraduate students and mentor Master’s and Ph.D. students. Service to the Department: The candidate will be expected to work collaboratively with the food science community, participate in faculty meetings, select committees, and related service work appropriate to faculty members.

Responsibilities

This position has a balanced effort between research (50%) and teaching (50%) on a 9-month academic year basis. A track-record of outstanding peer-reviewed scholarship is expected, as is excellence in and commitment to teaching, translation of knowledge, and advising and mentoring of students. We seek a colleague with an outstanding record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence at Cornell. A mentoring program for new faculty will provide guidance and assistance. Research (50%): The successful candidate will be expected to conduct an internationally recognized and externally funded research program in chemistry for sustainable/healthy foods. The applicant need not be from a food science background but should be willing to develop a program centered around food. Teaching (50%): The candidate will be expected to teach one undergraduate course per semester, and a third course every other year that could be a graduate seminar, or a course of equivalent effort. One undergraduate course is expected to be a general education course related to food science, and one is expected to be an upper-level food chemistry course. Specific courses taught may be adjusted based on departmental needs. The incumbent will be expected to advise undergraduate students and mentor Master’s and Ph.D. students. Service to the Department: The candidate will be expected to work collaboratively with the food science community, participate in faculty meetings, select committees, and related service work appropriate to faculty members.

Qualifications

A Ph.D. in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Chemistry, Material Science, Biochemistry, Nutrition or a related field is required. The ideal candidate will show promise of or have already developed a national and international reputation for their innovative scholarship.

Qualifications

A Ph.D. in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Chemistry, Material Science, Biochemistry, Nutrition or a related field is required. The ideal candidate will show promise of or have already developed a national and international reputation for their innovative scholarship.

Preferred Level of Education

PhD

Benefits Offered

Health insurance

Benefits Offered

Health insurance

Compensation/Salary

$90,000 - $135,000

Equal Employment Opportunity

The new faculty member will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary community on the main campus in Ithaca, New York. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League and Land-grant university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.