Associate Professor in Nutritional Physiology

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut invites applications for a full-time (9-month appointment, 50% research and 50% teaching), tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant/Associate Professor. The anticipated start date is August 23, 2023. 

The Department of Nutritional Sciences is one of eight academic units within the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR) and offers instructional programs leading to B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Nutritional Sciences, an online M.S. degree in Personalized Nutrition, and an online Graduate Certificate in Precision Nutrition. Research programs include molecular and biochemical mechanisms of nutrient action and metabolism, bioactive food components and prevention of chronic diseases, clinical nutrition, community-based research, particularly with at-risk populations, and nanotechnology for biodelivery of bioactive components in food. Therefore, excellent collaborative opportunities exist for integrated research. Personalized/Precision Nutrition is one of the strategic areas of the Department of Nutritional Sciences ( https://nusc.uconn.edu/strategic-plan/ ). A faculty hired in Nutritional Physiology will be expected to provide expertise to support teaching and research in this area. The Department of Nutritional Sciences has exceptional opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations with investigators, particularly in STEM disciplines, at UConn Storrs and UConn Health. For further information, please visit the Department website ( http://www.nusc.uconn.edu/ ).

CAHNR has developed and implemented a Strategic Vision to guide the development and focus of our teaching, research, and extension programs in the years 2020-2025. Faculty hired for this position will be expected to make significant contributions in their area of expertise, contributing to the advancement of one or more of the CAHNR’s five strategic priorities. 

• Ensuring a vibrant agricultural industry and sustainable food supply
• Enhancing health and well-being locally, nationally, and globally
• Designing sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces
• Advancing resilience and adaptation in a changing climate
• Dismantling structural racism and fostering environments that advance racial equity, inclusion, and belonging by advocating for anti-racist policies, practices, and norms

The CAHNR Strategic Vision ( https://cahnr.uconn.edu/visionandvalues/ ) provides additional information on the strategic initiatives and their related areas of emphasis. 

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Establish a nationally recognized and federally funded research program; produce high-quality publications; collaborate with interdisciplinary research and outreach teams; teach undergraduate and graduate courses in areas of medical nutrition therapy/clinical nutrition, nutrition for exercise and sport, or nutritional assessment; advise undergraduate and graduate students; and provide academic and professional service. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. or equivalent in nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, or closely related discipline.
• Proven research productivity.
• Demonstrated potential for establishing an independent, extramurally-funded research program in nutritional physiology/metabolism (for applicants at the rank of Assistant Professor) or evidence of extramural support for research and other scholarly activities, including teaching and service (for applicants at the rank of Associate Professor) regarding the role of nutrition in regulating metabolic outcomes to improve health and performance.
• Ability to teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students.
• Effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting diversity.
• Postdoctoral or equivalent research experience. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Research emphasis on protein or carbohydrate utilization in clinically relevant populations or healthy active men and women across the lifespan.
• Experience in conducting human nutrition intervention studies.
• Demonstrated technical experience in tissue and whole body macronutrient utilization, energy balance and body composition assessment, nutrient signaling, and molecular biology laboratory techniques.
• Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist (RDN) credential.
• Ability to synergize with faculty of the Department of Nutritional Sciences and facilitate interdisciplinary interactions with other University investigators, including those at UConn Health.
• Commitment to contributing to the College’s Strategic Vision. 

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2023. The successful candidate’s academic appointment will be at the Storrs campus. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. A start-up package for research is available.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

To Apply

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online  https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/23102  and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter ,
• Curriculum vitae ,
• Brief statements (maximum two pages each) of:
• Research and scholarship statement  (innovative concepts that will form the basis of academic career, experience in proposal development, mentorship of graduate students, etc.);
• Teaching statement (including teaching philosophy, teaching experience, commitment to effective learning, concepts for new course development, etc.);
• Experience and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion statement  (including broadening participation, integrating culturally-sustaining approaches in instruction and research, promoting equity through scholarship and community engagement, and pedagogical techniques to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, etc.);
• For the statements above please include how your professional accomplishments in research/teaching/extension outreach will contribute to the College’s success in achieving its  Strategic Vision .
• Names and contact information for  at least three references.

Evaluation of applicants will begin immediately. For full consideration, applications and supporting materials should be received by February 15, 2023. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. For more information regarding the Department of Nutritional Sciences, please visit the Department's website at  https://nusc.uconn.edu/ .

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

This position will be filled subject the budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at  http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp .

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.