Assistant Professor - Chemistry for Sustainable/Healthy Foods

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. Position 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. Applications received by October 25, 202 6 will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to live within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY. Relocation assistance may be provided. Finalists for this position will be asked to sign an affidavit that they have not been found to have violated employer policies at their previous institution(s). Consistent with Cornell's practice, appointments to academic positions require candidates to disclose relevant information about their prior employment including whether they have been found to have violated institutional or employer policies related to or governing unlawful discrimination and harassment, academic and research misconduct, or financial misconduct. In compliance with New York's Pay Transparency Law, the annual base salary range is $90,000 - $135,000 when hired at assistant professor rank. This pay range represents base pay (for a 9-month appointment). Cornell University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. 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. Pay Range: Refer to Posting Language Pay Ranges: The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria: Prior relevant work or industry experience. Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position. Academic Discipline Unique applicable skills. Employment Assistance: Notice to Applicants: EEO Statement: Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, 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. Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law. 2026-10-01