"Associate or Full Professor"

Position Summary

The Department of Food Science and Technology (FST) and Poultry Science (PS) at the University of Georgia (UGA) are recruiting for an Associate or Full Professor in Food Systems Innovation, which is expected to be supported by an endowment. To fill this role, we are seeking a highly motivated and creative individual to develop a Research and Extension program in the area of ingredients and food processing technologies related to meat and poultry products to enhance quality, processing efficiency, and value addition of meat and poultry products.

The successful candidate will be expected to develop and maintain an externally funded Research and Extension program and establish an internationally recognized program in the area of ingredients and food processing technologies related to meat and poultry products relevant to the local, national, and international food industry sector. Specific responsibilities include (but are not limited to): (1) obtaining extramural funds to support Research and Extension programs, (2) establishing a strong record of scholarly activity and peer-reviewed publications, (3) directing graduate (PhD and MS degree) students and postdoctoral associates, and (4) developing an Extension program to complement the currently existing FST and PS Extension programs and meet identified needs of stakeholders. The Extension program will include, but is not limited to, ingredient functionality in product development, including the impact of ingredients on the sensory (organoleptic) attributes of finished products, as well as the application and optimization of marination strategies in poultry and meat products. The candidate will be expected to actively participate in service activities in FST, PS, CAES, and UGA, including global programs. The University of Georgia recognizes and supports interdisciplinary programs. As such, the incumbent will be encouraged to collaborate with other faculty members across the Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, and Family and Consumer Sciences, as well as other colleges.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants must include: (1) a letter of application, (2) curriculum vitae, (3) a statement of research scholarship/interests articulating your plans and vision that will complement the current FST and PS faculty (maximum two pages), (4) an Extension/outreach statement that will complement the existing FST and PS Extension programs (maximum one page), and (5) names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of four professional references that the search committee may contact.

Inquiries about this position should be directed to Dr. VM Balasubramaniam “Bala” (VMBala@uga.edu). The selected candidate will be required to submit to a background investigation demonstrating eligibility for employment with UGA.

Review of applications will begin March 15, 2026, and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified.

Posting Details

Posting Number: F2651P
Working Title: Associate or Full Professor
Department: CAES-Food Science & Technology
Advertised Salary: Commensurate with Experience
Anticipated Start Date: 08/01/2026
Location of Vacancy: Athens Area

Minimum Qualifications: A completed PhD in Food Science or a related field is required.

Additional Requirements: To be considered for the rank of Associate or Full Professor, candidates should demonstrate clear and convincing evidence of emerging stature as a regional or national authority as appropriate for the position. To be eligible for tenure on appointment, candidates must be appointed as an Associate or Full Professor, have been tenured at a prior institution, and bring a demonstrably national reputation to the institution. Any request for tenure upon appointment must be approved before hire.

Desired Qualifications: The successful applicant will be a leading expert in poultry and/or meat science, including ingredient functionality, formulation strategies, and processing technologies aimed at improving product quality, yield, shelf life, safety, and sustainability. Their research focus should be complementary but distinct from the research conducted by our current faculty. We particularly seek candidates whose research is comprehensive, collaborative, and who apply systems approaches to address sustainability and profitability challenges. A strong track record of competitive, externally funded research with examples of leading large, multidisciplinary teams with support from industry consortia, commodity boards, or foundations relevant to meat and poultry systems. Demonstrated collaboration with industry partners, regulatory agencies, and commodity groups to advance applied research, technology transfer, and workforce development in meat and poultry processing is highly desirable. Strong knowledge of ingredient functionality, product formulation, and processing methods is necessary.

Candidates should demonstrate the ability to obtain external funding to support their research program, excellent oral and written competencies to facilitate communication of findings to an expansive set of stakeholders, the ability to build collaborative networks for extension and research efforts, strong interpersonal skills, and a willingness to work in transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams.

Required Documents:
1. Cover Letter
2. Resume/CV
3. Research Portfolio/Philosophy
4. Public Svc/Extension Philosophy
5. List of References with Contact Information