"Assistant Professor, Food and Consumer Behavior in Retail, Hospitality & Tourism Management Position"

The Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management (RHTM), in the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences (CEHHS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) seeks applications for a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management. This position will be part of a cluster hire that will strengthen the University of Tennessee’s ability to develop a national reputation in the area of food and nutrition security, using a food systems perspective.

The cluster will include six faculty in the home units of Nutrition or Public Health; Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management; Agricultural and Resource Economics; Food Science; and Family and Consumer Sciences. Faculty hired as part of this cluster will collaboratively work across the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) and University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) campuses, using a team science approach, in building a strategic plan that emphasizes enhancing collaboration and impact by creating an interdisciplinary, translational human health and wellness identity at UT in food and nutrition security. This strategic plan will include a focus on interdisciplinary academic programming and scholarship. Within the area of scholarship, this cluster hire will help lead the University of Tennessee in building a research enterprise that includes community-engaged scholarship and research that enhances population representativeness. The focus of this position in the Department of Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management will be household food acquisition and consumption behavior with implications for food retailer behavior and household food security or health, as well as topics related to community food availability.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: An earned doctorate in retail, hospitality, or a closely related field; Excellent communication skills; Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS: Demonstrated experience in productive interdisciplinary collaborations and experience in a team science environment.

Screening of applications will begin on September 1, 2025 and continue until the position is filled. The start date for the position is August 2026. To apply, submit the following materials: (1) a letter detailing your interest in the position, (2) a current curriculum vitae, and (3) three letters of reference through the Interfolio link at https://apply.interfolio.com/170683. Direct any questions regarding the position to Dr. Jason Carpenter, Search Committee Chair, Department of Retail, Hospitality & Tourism Management.