Position: Assistant/Associate Professor of Agricultural and Resource Economics
Joint appointment with Department of Nutrition or Public Health, depending on candidate qualifications
(9-month tenure-track)
This position will be part of a cluster hire that will strengthen the University of Tennessee’s ability to develop a national reputation in the area of food and nutrition security, using a food systems perspective. The cluster will include six faculty in the home units of Nutrition or Public Health; Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management; Nursing; Agricultural and Resource Economics; Food Science; and Family and Consumer Sciences. Faculty hired as part of this cluster will collaboratively work across the University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) and University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA) campuses, using a team science approach, in building a strategic plan that emphasizes enhancing collaboration and impact by creating an interdisciplinary, translational human health and wellness identity at UT in food and nutrition security. This strategic plan will include a focus on interdisciplinary academic programming and scholarship. Within the area of scholarship, this cluster hire will help lead the University of Tennessee in building an equitable and inclusive research enterprise that supports a diverse and inclusive workforce, community-engaged scholarship, and research that enhances population representativeness. UTK is Tennessee’s flagship land grant university and is currently in the midst of unprecedented growth in enrollment, with approximately 35,000 enrolled students. The University is also a Carnegie Foundation Research (R1) University with the highest research activity and has achieved a Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.
Subject: Food and nutrition security. The focus of this position will be household food acquisition and consumption behavior with implications for food retailer behavior and household food security or health, as well as topics related to community food availability.
Duties: The successful candidate will be expected to: 1) lead and/or participate in interdisciplinary academic and research programming focusing on household food acquisition and consumption behavior with implications for food retailer behavior and household food security or health; 2) lead and/or participate in the acquirement of extramural funding to support the interdisciplinary research program; 3) publish in high quality disciplinary and multidisciplinary journals; 4) teach one to two graduate or undergraduate courses; 5) mentor MS/PhD students; and 6) participate in service activities of the Cluster, Departments, College, University, and profession. Administrative and cluster leadership responsibilities will be part of the position depending on the applicant’s level of experience and career stage.
Qualifications: Ph.D., or ABD with an expected completion date before August 1, 2025, in agricultural economics, economics, or closely related field; excellent communication skills; ability to work in interdisciplinary teams. The successful candidate must meet the qualifications for being an assistant or associate professor within UTK’s faculty handbook (https://tiny.utk.edu/rank). Candidates with demonstrated experience in productive interdisciplinary collaborations and experience in team science are preferred. The Knoxville campus of the University of Tennessee is seeking candidates who have the ability to contribute in meaningful ways to the diversity and intercultural goals of the University.
Start Date and Salary: The expected start date is August 1, 2025. An earlier starting date will be considered. Starting salary is commensurate with experience, and the granting of tenure upon appointment will be based on qualifications. The University of Tennessee has a competitive benefits package, and 9-month tenure-track faculty are eligible for summer salary. The start-up package for the position is designed to support the launch of the cluster hire.
Application: To apply, please submit a letter detailing your interest in the position, a curriculum vitae, official transcripts, and three letters of reference through http://apply.interfolio.com/14892.
Direct any questions regarding the position to Dr. Margarita Velandia, Search Committee Chair, Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics, mvelandia@utk.edu, 865-974-7409.
Screening of applicants will begin September 1, 2024, and continue until the position is filled.