Outreach-Focused Assistant Professor in Community Nutrition and Food Security Position Available In Knox, Tennessee

Outreach-Focused Assistant Professor in Community Nutrition and Food Security
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
in Knoxville, TN

Apply Now Type:

Full-Time

Posted:

06/23/2025

Category:

Nutrition and Dietetics; +1

Food Science Description:

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), invites applications for a 12-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor position in Community Nutrition with a focus on Outreach and Food Insecurity. This position is part of the University of Tennessee. Knoxville’s (UTK’s) ambitious Food and Nutrition Security Cluster Hire Initiative, a strategic, interdisciplinary effort to enhance the university’s leadership in addressing food and nutrition insecurity through transdisciplinary research, outreach, and academic programming. This new faculty member will join a cohort of six scholars across departments-including Nutrition, Public Health, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Nursing, Food Science, and Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management-working collaboratively to address food system challenges and promote food security in Tennessee and beyond. The successful candidate will hold their primary appointment in the Department of Extension Family & Consumer Sciences and engage in robust collaborations with the UT Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) at UTIA. This position is designed for a scholar who is passionate about bridging academic research with real-world impact, particularly in communities facing high levels of food insecurity. Position Responsibilities
Lead community-based outreach efforts aimed at reducing food insecurity, with emphasis on underserved and rural populations through Tennessee through the University of Tennessee Extension outreach efforts.
Develop and implement applied, community-engaged research focused on food access, dietary quality, and nutrition-related health disparities.
Collaborate across disciplines and institutions within the Food and Nutrition Security Cluster, contributing to a collective vision and shared initiatives.
Secure extramural funding as principal investigator or co-investigator from federal (e.g., USDA, NIH, CDC), state, and private sources.
Provide training and technical support to Extension professionals, local agencies, and nonprofits in developing evidence-based nutrition education and food access programming.
Plan, develop and implement research-based adult and youth Extension programs addressing food access, diet quality, and nutrition-related disparities.
Develop and maintain expertise in nutrition by publishing peer-reviewed journal articles/Extension publications, attending and presenting at professional meetings and belonging to relevant professional organizations.
Mentor graduate students and support experiential learning and service-learning opportunities in community nutrition.
Engage in service to the department, college, university, and broader community, including contributing to the UTIA’s and UTK’s goals related to scholarship quality, impact, and public engagement. Food and Nutrition Security Cluster Initiative Overview This position is one of six new faculty lines created as part of UTK’s Food and Nutrition Security Cluster Hire Initiative, an innovative investment in transdisciplinary solutions to food insecurity. Faculty hired under this initiative will:
Collaborate across UTK and UTIA to develop integrated research and outreach programs.
Contribute to strategic planning that builds a cohesive identity for UTK in food and nutrition security scholarship.
Advance community-engaged, inclusive research that reflects the lived experiences of diverse populations.
Support the development of interdisciplinary academic programs and experiential training opportunities for students.
Cluster faculty will be expected to actively engage with each other, attend regular meetings, and participate in shared grant submissions, cross-departmental initiatives, and public scholarship efforts.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications
Doctorate in Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Community Health, or a closely related field.
Experience with community-based research or outreach programming targeting food insecurity or dietary health.
Evidence of scholarly productivity, including peer-reviewed publications and presentations. Preferred Qualifications
Record of extramural funding or strong potential to secure funding from federal agencies, foundations, or state partners.
Experience in multidisciplinary collaborations, ideally involving Extension, public health, or social services.
Familiarity with community-based participatory research (CBPR), implementation science, or translational nutrition strategies.
Demonstrated ability to translate research into practice in community or policy settings. Appointment Details

Rank:

Assistant Professor (12-month, tenure-track)

Start Date:

Anticipated September 1, 2025

Primary Department:

Extension Family and Consumer Sciences

Collaborating Units:

Public Health, Agricultural and Resource Economics, Nursing, Food Science, and Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management Application Instructions:

Please submit your required application materials through this Interfolio system. For questions about the position, please contact Dr. Karen Franck, search committee chair: kfranck@utk.edu (865) 974-1448
The University of Tennessee does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability or veteran status in provision of educational programs and services or employment opportunities and benefits. This policy extends to both employment by and admission to the University. The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex or disability in its education programs and activities pursuant to the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)of 1990. Inquiries and charges of violation concerning Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, ADA or the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) or any of the other above referenced policies should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED), 1840 Melrose Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-3560, telephone (865) 974-2498 (V/TTY available) or 974-2440. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the UTK Office of Human Resources, 600 Henley Street, Knoxville, TN37996-4125.
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