"Assistant/Associate Professor – Food Science Extension Specialist"

Position: 65% Extension, 30% Research, 5% Service (9-month academic year with summer supplement, Tenure Track)

Qualifications: The Department of Food Science and Technology at UGA is seeking a highly motivated and creative individual to develop an Extension and research program in the area of food safety with a focus on process engineering and the influence of product formulation. A Ph.D. in food science, food microbiology, food safety, food engineering, agricultural engineering, or a closely related field is required. Expertise in the food/beverage industry is highly desirable. The successful candidate will demonstrate: 1) a strong potential to secure external funding to support Extension and research efforts; 2) excellent oral and written communication skills; 3) proven capacity to engage constructively with colleagues and stakeholders; and 4) a commitment to collaborative, multidisciplinary work.

Responsibilities: The successful candidate will support and advance Georgia’s food and beverage industries through expertise in processing and preservation technologies and extension of science-based information to relevant stakeholders, and develop a complementary research program with the capacity to sustain itself through extramural funding. Expertise in areas such as packaging systems, ingredient technology, and regulatory compliance is highly desirable. This position will involve developing a nationally recognized Extension program that addresses the needs of Georgia’s established food industries and supports emerging food businesses. The program will include in-person and/or online workshops, applied and collaborative research addressing industry challenges, and partnerships with faculty in business and marketing to assist food entrepreneurs, including process approvals for manufactured foods. The University of Georgia values interdisciplinary collaboration, and the successful candidate will be encouraged to engage with faculty across the Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, and Family and Consumer Sciences as they build their Extension and research programs. Given the growth of food manufacturing in Georgia, this role offers significant engagement opportunities through Extension and research, and the expectation that the selected candidate will develop and deliver unique Extension programming, serve as a conduit between academia and industry when exploring scientific and technical innovations, and provide foundational food safety training (e.g., Preventive Controls, Better Process Control School) that drive industry success. Potential research areas include thermal and non-thermal processing, beverage production, fermentation, and packaging. For the rank of Assistant Professor, candidates do not need a minimum number of years in a lower rank unless the initial appointment was at the instructor level at the University of Georgia. To be considered at the rank of Associate Professor, candidates must have at least 5 full years in rank at the Assistant Professor level before the start date. Appointment, Promotion, & Tenure of Academic Rank Faculty can be found here: https://provost.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/appointment-promotion-tenure-guidelinesacademic-rank-faculty.pdf.

Applications: Applicants must submit: (1) a letter of application; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) graduate transcripts; (4) names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of four professional references that the search committee may contact; and (5) one-page summaries outlining their Extension and Research visions via https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/446734 in order to be considered for this position. Inquiries should be addressed to Dr. William Kerr (wlkerr@uga.edu). The selected candidate will be required to submit to a background investigation demonstrating eligibility for employment with the University.

Deadline: Applications received by November 1, 2025, will receive full consideration. Review of applications will continue until a suitable candidate is identified. The preferred start date is May 1, 2026. The University of Georgia is located in Athens, Georgia, 70 miles northeast of Atlanta (http://www.uga.edu/). The university, a land-grant/sea-grant university, is ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 edition of America’s Best Colleges. The university is recognized as a research-intensive and community-engaged institution by the Carnegie Foundation. The Department of Food Science and Technology (http://www.foodscience.caes.uga.edu/) is a unit of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Athens offers a rich cultural environment interconnected with the university and is perennially identified as one of America’s most livable cities (http://www.visitathensga.com/about-athens/).

The University of Georgia is an EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Institution. As such, we are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. We not only strongly encourage women, minorities and other diverse candidates to consider applying for this position, but we also maintain that all candidates should share our commitment to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).