Assistant Professor in Native American Nutrition and Food Systems

Job Details

This position will be a nine-month, tenure-track appointment involving research and teaching that supports the mission of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition. The appointee is expected to develop a strong extramurally funded research program that investigates the relationship between diet, lifestyle and health of Native American individuals, urban and/or tribal communities. The research program should be representative of the diversity of tribal communities in Minnesota. Expectations include leadership in organizing nutrition and food-related scholarly and community events, such as the Conference on Native American Nutrition. The appointee is expected to develop and maintain strong and respectful relationships with tribal communities and develop collaborations with other investigators within the Department, the College, and the University, such as the Academic Health Center, the Extension Department for Family, Health and Wellbeing, and the School of Public Health. Teaching responsibilities include a minimum of 6 semester credits at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. Advising will include undergraduate, M.S. and Ph.D. students.

Qualifications

Required: Earned doctorate in nutrition, food science, food systems, public health or a related field, with training and experience in community-based participatory research in nutrition, public health, or food systems; demonstrated experience working closely with Native American and/or Alaska Natives on issues related to nutrition, public health, and the food system; strong motivation to build a research program with Minnesota tribal communities; evidence of strong research and administration skills; published research on this topic in peer reviewed scholarly journals; strong communication and interpersonal skills; and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Preferred: Post-doctoral research experience related to Native American nutrition and food systems; demonstrated understanding of Native American research and evaluation methods and the importance of culture to these efforts; evidence of ability to acquire extramural funding including experience in grant writing and managing grants; evidence of ability to work independently and in collaboration with interdisciplinary team members; demonstrated leadership of large teams and mentorship of students; and potential for effective classroom teaching of appropriate nutrition, food science and/or food systems courses.

Application Process

Apply on-line via the University of Minnesota Employment System at http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/employment/. The Job Opening ID for this position is 373696.

Applications must include the following: (1) cover letter; (2) detailed CV/resume; (3) statement describing your vision on inclusive undergraduate and graduate education that meets the needs of 21st century employers and society; (4) statement describing your research philosophy and the relevance of your research to constituents and stakeholders; (5) graduate transcripts; and (6) names and contact information for three professional references (reference letters should only be provided upon request). Combine all parts of the application (i.e., letter, CV, statements, etc.) into a single document before uploading.

For questions or inquiries about the position, please contact the chair of the search committee, Dr. Mindy Kurzer (mkurzer@umn.edu).

Review of applications will begin in the coming month and continues until the position is filled. We invite you to visit our website at http://fscn.cfans.umn.edu.