"Open Rank Professor, tenure track (Nutrigenomics)"

POSITION: The UNC Nutrition Research Institute (NRI) and the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are jointly seeking applications for up to 4 tenure track faculty members with expertise in nutrigenetic/nutrigenomic causes of metabolic and nutrition variation (including but not limited to: nutritionally relevant genetic polymorphisms, copy number variations and epigenetic (including non-coding RNA) mechanisms, microbiome-gene interactions, genes modulating circadian rhythms in metabolism). This position can begin June 1, 2023. The position is located at the UNC Chapel Hill Nutrition Research Institute located on the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis (near Charlotte, NC). These are tenure track appointments at the assistant, associate, or full professor level depending upon experience, research and scholarly accomplishments. The Department of Nutrition is part of the Gillings School of Global Public Health and the School of Medicine, and is ranked among the top 5 Nutrition departments in the country.

OVERVIEW: The Nutrition Research Institute seeks to identify the mechanisms underlying metabolic/nutritional variability using nutrigenomic and metabolomic methods and to apply this understanding so as to explain individual responses to nutrients and diet. We seek faculty members with a research program focused on the nutrigenetic/nutrigenomic causes of metabolic and nutrition variation (including, but not limited to: nutritionally relevant genetic polymorphisms, copy number variations and epigenetic (including non-coding RNA) mechanisms, microbiome-gene interactions, genes modulating circadian rhythms in metabolism). Investigators can use bench or epidemiologic methods, and might work in cells, animal models or humans. This grouping of faculty members will complement 15 faculty members who work at the Nutrition Research Institute and focus on why people differ in their metabolism and nutritional requirements and who use this understanding to develop the field of individualized nutrition (precision nutrition). A track record of competitive grant funding from the NIH (or equivalent) for research and relevant peer-reviewed publications in high quality journals is required. The Nutrition Research Institute will provide an annual commitment of "hard money." In addition, the Institute will provide start-up funding.

The Nutrition Research Institute is housed in a modern 125,000 sf facility with state of the art labs and equipment, outstanding core animal facility, and an outpatient human clinical facility. An instrumentation facility in microscopy, genomics and metabolomics, staffed by skilled scientists, will also be available to all Institute investigators.

The Nutrition Research Institute consists of 15 faculty members appointed in 3 departments with expertise in nutrition and metabolic variation. The Department of Nutrition consists of 60 interdisciplinary faculty members housed in the Gillings School of Global Public Health and the School of Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill. The Department provides a broad training curriculum in public health sciences and offers courses in the physiological, biochemical and behavioral aspects of nutrition and their applications in the health of human populations.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Specific responsibilities will include developing and/or maintaining a high quality research program with evidence of capacity to obtain external funding, some teaching responsibilities that will be negotiated with the Chair of the Department of Nutrition, advising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and participating in the Institute’s and Department’s service programs.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements: An earned doctorate in an appropriate discipline.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience: Candidates should demonstrate the ability to establish and collaborate in multidisciplinary, funded research programs, ability to publish in quality journals, as well as a clear track record of scholarly accomplishment and teaching capacity.

Special Instructions: Applicants must complete an online application at https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/249969 and should attach curriculum vitae, cover letter summarizing qualifications, and references. Applications from groupings of faculty members as well as from individuals will be considered in both the tenure and research track, though all applicants must apply individually. In your cover letter, specify that you are applying for the Nutrition Research Institute Nutrigenomics Cluster-Tenure Track faculty position. If applying as a group, please also note in cover letter.

Additional information about the Nutrition Research Institute can be found at www.uncnri.org. Additional information about the Department of Nutrition can be found at http://www.sph.unc.edu/nutr/.