"College of Nursing - Assistant Professor - Food and Nutrition Security - Fall 2026"

The College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) is seeking a nurse scientist for a 9-month full-time tenure-track Assistant Professor faculty position to start on August 1, 2026. This position will be part of a Food and Nutrition Security Cluster Initiative designed to enhance UTK’s national footprint in food and nutrition security from a food-systems perspective, including dietary approaches to health. The cluster initiative includes faculty in the Departments of Nutrition; Public Health; Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management; Agricultural and Resource Economics; Food Science; and Family and Consumer Sciences. The group of faculty in the cluster initiative will work across UTK and the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture to collaboratively develop a strategic plan that will focus on transdisciplinary, community-engaged and impactful research and scholarship that emphasizes population representativeness, supports a diverse and inclusive workforce, and interdisciplinary academic programing to enhance experiential training. For early career faculty, the cluster initiative also offers a unique framework for professional development and mentorship within a rich transdisciplinary environment. Review of applications will begin September 15, 2025.

We are nurse scientists, health sciences scholars, expert educators, and passionate staff deeply committed to making substantial contributions to improving regional, national, and global health and health care, attracting the best and brightest students. With a longstanding tradition of excellence in nursing education, research, and clinical practice, we are proud to be a guiding force in healthcare education. By offering cutting-edge academic programs, supporting impactful research, and forging strong community partnerships, we prepare healthcare professionals who deliver high-quality, culturally responsive care in a diverse and ever-changing world. Come join the Vol Nurse Family. Details on the College of Nursing Programs are available at https://nursing.utk.edu/

Highlights: Competitive salary and benefits with a generous start-up package including relocation stipend and protected scholarship time for the first 2 years. Scholarship and grant-writing support from the College’s Office of Research and Scholarship and the University’s Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development. Interprofessional training and research opportunities specific to the Food and Nutrition Security Cluster Initiative. Resources and support from the National Hartford Centers for Gerontological Nursing Excellence. State-of-the-art, accredited Health Innovation Technology and Simulation Lab run in collaboration with the Tickle College of Engineering. Research collaborations with the University of Tennessee Medical Center, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Cherokee Health Systems, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

About the Position: The ideal candidate for this position has a collaborative mindset and prioritizes working with colleagues to realize shared research and educational achievements, including large-scale proposals, joint publications, and new transdisciplinary curricular programming. This unique opportunity may include joint appointments in other participating departments. As Tennessee’s flagship, land-grant institution, UTK is particularly interested in recruiting faculty candidates who are deeply connected to the organizations and communities in which their work will have translational impact, as well as those who will promote an atmosphere where all members of the university community feel welcome and can thrive.

Required Qualifications: A PhD or equivalent degree in nursing, nutrition, public health, or related field by the time of appointment. Evidence of research in health disparities associated with food and nutrition insecurity. Interest and commitment to contributing nursing expertise to the goals of the Food and Nutrition Security Cluster Initiative using a team-science approach. Research and scholarship that focuses on the influence of food and nutrition security on health and management of chronic conditions. Eligibility for RN license in Tennessee.

Interested applicants must submit: A cover letter to address why this position is of interest and their vision for this position. Curriculum vitae that includes research funding and publications, teaching experiences, honors, awards, employment, education, and certifications. A statement of professional goals highlighting (i) teaching and mentoring; (ii) research, including both disciplinary and transdisciplinary, as well as underlining research leadership initiatives; and (iii) collaboration and alignment with the University of Tennessee’s Food and Nutrition Security Cluster Initiative cluster. In addition, candidates may describe how they would help promote students’ access to and inclusion in their teaching and research. Contact information for three to five references. Reference letters will be requested for applicants invited for an interview.