1 opening for Associate/Full Professor
Nutrition and Health Inequalities Cluster Hire
Division of Nutritional Sciences

The Division of Nutritional Sciences (DNS) at Cornell University invites applications for a 9-month, full-salaried, tenured/tenure-track position at the rank of associate or full professor. We seek candidates with demonstrated research excellence in nutrition and health inequalities in the US with a focus in maternal and child nutrition, obesity, chronic disease, application of sociological, cultural and behavioral theory in nutrition interventions and evaluation, food insecurity, and/or other areas.

The successful candidate is expected to provide vision and leadership for the New York State Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (NYS EFNEP; 3^rd largest program in the US) delivered through the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) system, and for the Division’s Food and Nutrition Education in Communities program that includes NYS EFNEP as well as training and evaluation projects for the NYS Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed).  

The successful candidate should have demonstrated research excellence in nutrition and health inequalities in the US.  An interest in advancing the understanding of the connection between nutrition and human health in populations in low-income US community or public health settings, in the broadest sense, should be central to the candidate's research program. Commensurate with rank, research excellence should be demonstrated by an active, externally funded research program as well as by a substantial record of publication in recognized peer-reviewed journals. The successful candidate should have experience in and/or the potential to develop collaborations with other faculty who have broad interests in basic and applied aspects of food, nutrition, and/or public health.

Interest in teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level is required.

Candidates may have disciplinary expertise in nutrition, public health nutrition, community nutrition, nutrition intervention and policy, or related fields.  The qualifications of the candidate will determine the rank of the tenured/tenure-track appointment.

This position is part of a cluster hire in Nutrition and Health Inequalities.  The cluster of positions within the Division of Nutritional Sciences recognizes and highlights the key role of nutrition and health inequalities today and the importance of the relationship of factors in the social, cultural, economic, physical, policy, and information/technology environments to the health and nutritional well-being of human populations.

The Division of Nutritional Sciences

The Division of Nutritional Sciences (DNS) at Cornell University is among the largest academic units in the United States devoted to human nutrition and is distinguished by its multi‐disciplinary faculty. The scholarly activities of the Division, including research, education and extension/outreach, integrate knowledge across the physical, biological and social sciences to address important questions related to nutrition and health, food systems and behavior patterns, and social and institutional environments and governmental policies in relation to nutrition and human health. The multidisciplinary environment includes programmatic foci such as obesity and chronic disease, nutrition and global health, food systems for health and nutrition, precision nutrition and nutritional genomics, and maternal and child nutrition.  The mission of DNS is to support and contribute to advances in basic disciplines and to promote the health and well‐being of populations in the U.S. and globally. The DNS undergraduate program consists of four majors (~740 students in total) and a University-wide minor in Global Health; the Nutritional Sciences and Global and Public Health Sciences majors are offered in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Human Ecology while the Human Biology, Health and Society major is offered in the College of Human Ecology, and the concentration in Nutrition in the Biological Sciences Major is offered in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences. The Division of Nutritional Sciences is the administrative home for the Cornell Graduate Field of Nutrition and the Graduate Field of Epidemiology and currently has two NIH-sponsored training grants to support pre- and post-doctoral trainees. DNS is also the only nutrition-focused WHO/PAHO Collaborating Center in the US and was recently named an Affiliate Center in the Cochrane US Network.

Academic Environment at Cornell University

Cornell is a major Land Grant research and teaching institution established in 1865 with both endowed and state‐assisted units. The student population on the Ithaca campus is approximately 5,350 graduate/professional students and more than 14,000 undergraduates. Cornell offers a strong, interdisciplinary research environment, and has ongoing campus‐wide investments in Radical Collaborations that seek to leverage our uniquely collaborative environment to advance the areas of social sciences, sustainability, data science, digital agriculture, genome biology, humanities and arts, infection biology, nanoscale science and molecular engineering. Other Cornell programs and initiatives include Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Cornell Center for Health Equity, the Cornell Center for the Study of Inequality, the Global Cornell Initiative, the Engaged Cornell Initiative, and the Academic Integration Initiative that seeks to strengthen linkages among Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell Tech and Cornell’s main campus in Ithaca, NY.

Qualifications:

The candidate is expected to have:

• A PhD, ScD, DrPH, or equivalent degree in nutrition, community nutrition, nutrition education, nutrition intervention, public health nutrition, or a related field; 
• Demonstrated leadership experience and ability to provide vision for NYS EFNEP, and for the Division’s Food and Nutrition Education in Communities program that includes NYS EFNEP as well as training and evaluation projects for NYS SNAP-Ed; 
• Demonstrated research excellence in nutrition and health inequalities in one or more areas including, but not limited to, maternal and child nutrition, obesity, chronic disease, application of sociological, cultural and behavioral theory in nutrition interventions and evaluation, and/or food insecurity; 
• Demonstrated scholarship related to nutrition and human health, in the broadest sense, should be central to the candidate's research program; 
• Prior experience with Cooperative Extension is preferred; 
• Interest in teaching at the undergraduate and/or graduate level;
• Commensurate with rank, demonstrated research excellence supported by a record of publication (in recognized peer-reviewed journals and/or books) in the field and a strong history of externally supported research;
• An interest in building academic linkages within DNS program areas, and with other departments and centers throughout the university.  

Responsibilities:

The candidate is expected to:

• Lead the NYS EFNEP staff and activities;
• Lead the Division’s Food and Nutrition Education in Communities staff and activities;
• Maintain a vigorous, externally funded research program;
• Maintain a high level of scholarly activity;
• Mentor graduate students;
• Forge professional relationships within the Division of Nutritional Sciences and other academic units on campus;
• Forge professional relationships with state and national leaders of EFNEP and SNAP-Ed;
• Participate in the Division of Nutritional Sciences’ graduate and/or undergraduate teaching programs.

Academic Rank and Compensation:

This position, which is part of a cluster hire, is a 9-month appointment, with the expectation of tenure.  The Associate/Full Professor position is designated as 55% effort in research, 25% effort in extension, and 20% effort in teaching.  Salary level will depend on experience and expertise and will be competitive with comparable positions at peer universities.

Applicants must apply through Academic Jobs Online at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/14284 and upload a cover letter, CV, research statement, a teaching statement, and a statement of diversity.  Applicants must also arrange for three confidential letters of recommendation to be submitted through Academic Jobs Online. For the related positions that are part of the cluster hire, please also see https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/14333.

Review of applications will begin in late October of 2019 and will continue until this position has been filled.  

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.