DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION

Chair Professor / Professor / Associate Professor / Assistant Professor in Food Safety / Future Food Technology / Food Materials / Microbiomes and Health / Functional Food under Strategic Hiring Scheme (Ref. 260311019)

With over 85 years of rich heritage, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has evolved alongside society and made pivotal contributions to the development of Hong Kong, the Nation and the world. The University pursues world-class excellence in education, research and knowledge transfer to nurture socially responsible professionals and leaders, as well as to drive impactful research and innovation. PolyU will strive to continually excel as an innovative world-class university that makes a positive impact on society, living up to the University’s motto: “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”.

Ranked among the top 100 universities globally by well-known ranking organisations such as Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE) and U.S. News & World Report, PolyU offers a wide range of world-class educational and research programmes in seven faculties and three independent schools. PolyU has furthermore achieved commendable results in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 – it is ranked in the global top 30 for seven subjects, is first in Hong Kong for three subjects, and is in the global top 100 for 26 subjects. For further details about the University, please visit PolyU’s website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/.

The Department of Food Science and Nutrition is a multi-disciplinary department established from 1 January 2023 under the Faculty of Science. With the unique standing in Hong Kong and the commitment to quality teaching, research excellence and knowledge transfer, the Department is envisioned to develop all-rounded graduates with professional qualifications, and promote interdisciplinary research with positive societal impacts. The Department’s key research pillars are Food Safety, Food Technology, Human Nutrition and Chinese Medicine. Currently, there are about 21 academic and teaching staff and 13 Research Assistant Professors in the Department. Please visit the website at http://www.polyu.edu.hk/fsn/ for more information about the Department.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is an international city located strategically at the heart of Asia and is the gateway to the Chinese Mainland, with excellent transport links to major international cities.

The Department is seeking highly motivated and suitably qualified individuals with research expertise in Food Safety / Future Food Technology / Food Materials / Microbiomes and Health / Functional Food.

To boost the leadership and impact of PolyU’s research work in areas of significant societal needs and strategic importance, the Strategic Hiring Scheme is introduced to recruit faculty members at all levels and outstanding scholars are invited to join the University under the Strategic Hiring Scheme. Appointees recruited under the Strategic Hiring Scheme should have conducted / led world-leading research that is commensurate with the stage of their academic career.

Duties

The appointees will be required to:

1. teach at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in related disciplines;
2. conduct impactful research that leads to publications in high-quality refereed journals and external grants, generates meaningful societal impact, and addresses pressing real-world challenges;
3. undertake research, programme/curriculum development and administration;
4. supervise student projects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels;
5. engage in industrial and scholarly research/consultancy activities;
6. undertake academic and departmental administrative duties; and
7. perform any other duties as assigned by the Head of Department or his/her delegates.

Qualifications

Applicants should have:

1. a PhD degree in Food Science / Technology / Safety and Nutrition or a related field;
2. a strong commitment to excellence in teaching and research, with demonstrated experience in the application of innovative approaches, including but not limited to advancements in food science, technology, safety or nutrition;
3. strong records of high-quality research, publications and scholarship in Food Science / Technology / Safety and Nutrition or related areas;
4. good networking ability and excellent potential to become a world-leading scholar;
5. excellent communication skills and the ability to use English as the medium of instruction; and
6. strong interdisciplinary research vision that promotes collaboration and synergy with our existing faculty.

Applicants for appointment at the Chair Professor level should have an outstanding record of global leadership and research achievement in the community, in addition to substantial years of relevant post-qualification experience.

Applicants for appointment at the Professor or Associate Professor level should have a substantial number of years of experience and an excellent record of relevant academic and/or research achievement in the specified field. Applicants with less experience will be considered for appointment at the level of Assistant Professor.

Conditions of Service

A highly competitive remuneration package will be offered. Appointees under the Strategic Hiring Scheme will be offered a start-up grant of not less than HK$3 million to support research activities (including the admission of PhD students, purchasing of equipment, and hiring of research staff) in the initial three years. Initial appointment for Assistant Professor will be on a fixed-term gratuity-bearing contract. Re-engagement thereafter is subject to mutual agreement. An appropriate term will be provided for appointment at Associate Professor / Professor / Chair Professor levels. For general information on terms and conditions for appointment of academic staff in the University, please visit the website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hro/docdrive/careers/doc/Prof.pdf.

Application

Please submit an application through PolyU’s career website (https://jobs.polyu.edu.hk/academic). Consideration of applications will commence on 25 March 2026 until the positions are filled. The University’s Personal Information Collection Statement for recruitment can be found at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/en/hro/careers/pics_for_recruitment/.

PolyU is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to fostering an environment that embraces diversity and demonstrates inclusion of people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and experiences where all members of the University are treated with fairness, dignity and respect. To learn more about the University’s “Statement on Equal Opportunities, Diversity, and Inclusion”, please visit our website at https://www.polyu.edu.hk/hro/equal_opportunities_diversity_and_inclusion/*.