Faculty Position Available:

Assistant Professor

Chemistry for Sustainable Foods & Chemical Food Safety

Department of Food Science, Cornell University

Position:          Assistant Professor, Tenure-track

Location:          Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-5701, USA.

The academic home for this position is the Department of Food Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

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 in one of the following areas of research:

Chemistry for Sustainable Foods: Appropriate research areas may include but are not limited to: Chemistry of sustainably sourced food components (flavor, color, nutritive and bioactive compounds) which can promote health while ensuring a palatable food supply; developing state-of-the-art physicochemical tools for characterization of novel sustainable food components; computational studies of key chemical reactions in foods, and extending shelf-life and reducing food waste through mechanistic studies of chemical changes during food processing and storage. 

Chemical Food Safety: Appropriate research areas may include but are not limited to: Development and utilization of rapid, inexpensive, and/or in situ sensors for real-time detection of chemical hazards e.g., allergens, heavy metals, or mycotoxins during manufacturing and throughout the food chain; toxicological studies, risk modeling, sampling and exposure assessments; novel analytical and/or computational approaches to detect adulteration of raw materials or finished products; and chemical hazard mitigation strategies.

Teaching and mentoring: The candidate will be expected to develop and teach a general education course related to food science and at least one more food chemistry course that benefits our undergraduate and graduate students. Participation in other related courses is also expected. The incumbent will be expected to develop an externally funded research program, advise undergraduate students, and mentor Master and Ph.D. students.

Position Responsibilities

This position has a balanced effort between research (50%) and teaching (50%) on a 9-month academic year basis. A mentoring program for new faculty provides guidance and assistance.

Service to the Department: The candidate will be expected to 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.

Applications and Starting Date: The anticipated starting date is July 2025 or as negotiated.  Qualified applicants should submit 1) a cover letter briefly summarizing background, qualifications, and interest in the position; 2) a curriculum vitae; 3) a research statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 4) a teaching statement outlining experience, interests, and goals, 5) a statement supporting diverse communities (this can be a stand-alone document (preferred) or the information can be embedded in other parts of the application materials) outlining how, through research, teaching, service. mentoring, extension, and/or outreach, the candidate has and will contribute to support Cornell’s historical mission of “any person … any study” 6) copies of four relevant publications; and 7) names and contact information for four references. Materials should be submitted online to: https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/28978.

Applications received by December 31 , 2024, will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.  

Please forward questions to the search chair (Alireza Abbaspourrad, alireza@cornell.edu)  or the search administrator (Patti Wojcik, pmw27@cornell.edu).  

Assistant Professor: $90,000 - $130,000

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. We work across disciplines to tackle the challenges of our time through world-renowned research, education, and outreach. The questions we probe and the answers we seek focus on three overlapping concerns: We believe that achieving next-generation scientific breakthroughs requires an understanding of the world’s complex, interlocking systems. We believe that access to nutritious food and a healthy environment is a fundamental human right. We believe that ensuring a prosperous global future depends on the ability to support local people and communities everywhere. By working in and across multiple scientific areas, CALS can address challenges and opportunities of the greatest relevance, here in New York, across the nation, and around the world.

Cornell University seeks to meet the needs of dual career couples, has a Dual Career program, and is a member of the Upstate New York Higher Education Recruitment Consortium to assist with dual career searches including positions available in higher education in the upstate New York area.

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.

Cornell’s regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college’s campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.