Assistant or Associate Professor in Sensory Science

Position Description

The Division of Food, Nutrition, and Exercise Sciences (FNES) invites applications for a tenure-track (9-month) position at the level of Assistant or Associate Professor. This unique interdisciplinary position is funded through the College of Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources (CAFNR). As the University of Missouri is an AAU Research I institution, and one of the most comprehensive universities in the nation, the hire will be expected to demonstrate a level of research scholarship commensurate with an R1, AAU flagship university. The position is offered as a nine-month position with a split appointment between teaching and research. A competitive startup package, excellent facilities, and ample opportunities for collaboration across campus and the state underscore the attractive nature of this position.

Research Responsibilities

The scholarly discipline should include the sensory sciences, with an emphasis on neurosciences or behavioral psychology. In addition, the hire’s scholarship must align with the new fermentations laboratory (wine/enology program) and the meat science laboratory (Animal/Meat Science).

Potential areas of research may focus on food analyses and new product development, traditional qualitative and quantitative sensory evaluation techniques, as well as consumer testing, human feeding studies, sensory science connecting neuroscience or choice behavior, measurements of physiologic responses to food, fMRI and other imaging modalities, bioinformatics, and precision food and nutrition – all aimed at developing a robust, collaborative, externally-funded research program surrounding food, nutrition and human health. Additional areas of research interest range from ingestive behavior to the microbiome, metabolomics, and nutrigenomics, as well as the study of factors influencing satiation, meal termination, and overall food intake. The successful candidate will be expected to provide visionary leadership in food and nutrition research using cutting-edge approaches to investigate the health impacts of food components or dietary patterns from a human sensory perspective.

Teaching Responsibilities

Teaching duties are mainly in Food Science, with a focus on sensory science for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as developing new courses that bridge food science, nutrition, and/or other areas in health/biomedical sciences. The hire will implement an interdisciplinary curriculum crossing disciplines while maintaining a focus on advising and mentoring students in FNES.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: A Ph.D. degree in food science, nutrition, or related fields by the time of application.

Candidate Evaluation: Postdoctoral or other comparable research experience with a strong publication record is required. Evaluation of candidates will be based on a strong promise to obtain and sustain a nationally-funded research program, and excellent written and verbal communication skills for effective teaching and research.

Application Materials

Screening will begin April 15, 2026, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Applicants should submit: a letter of interest, current curriculum vitae, research statement, teaching philosophy and evaluations if any, names and contact information of three professional references, and educational transcripts via: http://hrs.missouri.edu/find-a-job/academic, Job ID 59068.

Specific inquiries regarding this position may be directed to the search committee chair, Professor Azlin Mustapha (mustaphaa@missouri.edu).