INTRODUCTION 

The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut invites applications for a faculty position (tenure-track or in-residence faculty at the Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor rank) in innovation and entrepreneurship, focusing on human or animal dietary supplements and functional food ingredients, including nutraceuticals, for the prevention of diseases and improvement of health. The successful candidate will be a team leader and team player, working collaboratively with other faculty at UConn in developing and directing a highly innovative and entrepreneurial applied/translational research program in the aforementioned areas. The candidate is expected to demonstrate previous success in transitioning scientific research and discoveries to the market for economic development, including prior entrepreneurial activities such as successful patent application and licensing research, and acquiring venture capital for technology commercialization and startup company formation. In addition, the candidate is expected to work with entrepreneurs, investors, and industry partners to generate funds in support of his/her research as well as seeking federal funding such as SBIR and STIR grants. Additional responsibilities include developing innovative undergraduate/graduate courses encompassing candidate’s discipline, innovation and entrepreneurship, and mentoring faculty in entrepreneurial skills.

The College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources has implemented a Strategic Vision to guide the development and focus of our teaching, research, and extension programs in the years 2020-2025. An essential component of that Strategic Vision is a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion through teaching, research, and extension and addressing structural racism by broadening participation and integrating culturally-sustaining approaches in all College activities. The candidate hired in this position will be part of a cluster hire of multiple innovation and entrepreneurship faculty appointments at UConn aimed at making significant progress to establishing UConn as a hub of entrepreneurship through his/her area of expertise. The candidate hired will also be expected to contribute to one or more of the CAHNR’s strategic initiatives:  

• Ensuring a vibrant agricultural industry and sustainable food supply   
• Enhancing health and well-being locally, nationally, and globally   
• Fostering sustainable landscapes across urban-rural interfaces   
• Advancing adaptation and resilience in a changing climate  
• Dismantling structural racism and fostering environments that advance racial equity, inclusion, and belonging by advocating for anti-racist policies, practices, and norms 

The CAHNR Strategic Vision provides additional information on the strategic initiatives and their related areas of emphasis.  

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• An earned doctorate or equivalent foreign degree in Nutritional Science, Food Science, Animal Science, Poultry Science or a related field by the time of appointment.
• Excellence in teaching, research, and scholarship appropriate to rank. Consideration of appointment and rank (tenure-track or in-residence and assistant, associate, full professor) will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
  • Assistant Professor – A successful record of scholarly productivity
  • Associate Professor – Substantial contribution to the advancement of knowledge in their field
  • Professor – Superior ability as a capable, mature teacher, and recognized scholar
• Demonstrated potential for establishing an independent, extramurally funded research program in the applicant’s area of expertise.
• Established potential in technology commercialization and entrepreneurship.
• Demonstrable ability to teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
• Effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated record of promoting diversity in research, teaching or entrepreneurial programs. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Proven success in establishing industry-academia collaboration, technology licensing and commercialization, and venture capital development and start-up company formation.
• Experience in building successful interdisciplinary collaborative teams.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching courses and/or leading programs in technology innovation and entrepreneurship. 
• Demonstrated excellence in mentoring student/faculty entrepreneurs. 
• Excellence in public communication and engagement.
• Excellence in research in the applicant’s area of expertise, as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and success in securing research funding.

APPOINTMENT TERMS 

This is a full-time, 9-month position with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2022. The successful candidate’s primary appointment will be at the Storrs campus, and the academic home department will depend on the applicant’s field of expertise. Salary, faculty rank, and appointment as In-Residence or tenure-track will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and in line with the University Bylaws section XIV. 

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.

TO APPLY 

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/20450 and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter specifying the rank for which the candidate wishes to apply, summarizing how his/her qualifications and experience meet the position requirements (maximum two pages).
• Curriculum vitae.
• Names and contact information for at least three references.

For the statements below please include how your professional accomplishments in research/teaching/extension outreach will contribute to the College’s success in achieving its Strategic Vision.

• A statement of research scholarship/interests and how your professional accomplishments in research will contribute to the college’s success in achieving its Strategic Vision (maximum one page).
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship statement summarizing how candidate’s innovative research and entrepreneurial experience will form the basis of his/her academic career, especially in launching a successful entrepreneurial program at UConn (maximum two pages). 
• Teaching statement summarizing teaching philosophy, teaching experience, and commitment to effective learning concepts for new course development in innovation and entrepreneurship (maximum one page).
• Statement on experience and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion including broadening participation, integrating culturally-sustaining approaches in instruction and research, promoting equity through scholarship and community engagement, and pedagogical techniques to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, etc. (maximum one page).

Only applications submitted through Academic Jobs Online will be accepted. Evaluation of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

For further information, please contact the search committee chair: Dr. Kumar Venkitanarayanan at kumar.venkitanarayanan@uconn.edu 

At the University of Connecticut, our commitment to excellence is complemented by our commitment to building a culturally diverse community.

This position will be filled subject the budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.