Position:         Assistant or Associate Professor of sensory science (9-month, tenure-track)

Location:        Knoxville, Tennessee

Effective Date: Preferred starting date is August 1, 2025. Screening of applicants will begin April 15, 2025.

Overview: This position is 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 approach. The cluster will include six faculty in the home units of Nutrition; 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, to build a strategic plan that emphasizes enhancing collaboration and impact by creating an interdisciplinary, translational human health and wellness identity at the University of Tennessee in food and nutrition security. This strategic plan focuses on interdisciplinary academic programming and scholarship.

The successful applicant will develop a nationally recognized research and teaching program in food sensory science. The split of the appointment is approximately 75% research and 25% teaching. The sensory scientist is expected to devote at least 70% of time and activities to collaborate with other cluster scientists toward cluster initiative’s goals. We welcome applications from traditional sensory scientists and those engaging emerging technologies including but not limited to artificial intelligence, virtual reality, neural science, and data analytics to advance sensory science, assist the industry in developing new products, supplies and services, and markets, or guide the consumers in improving health and wellness. Preference will be given to candidates with prior research, teaching, and grants writing experience. Candidates applying for the associate professor rank should have the credentials meeting those of UTK and Department of Food Science. The granting of tenure upon appointment for the rank of associate professor will be based on qualifications.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Participate in interdisciplinary academic and research programming focusing on sensory science and its impact on food and nutrition security.
• Acquire extramural funding to support the interdisciplinary research program.
• Publish in high quality disciplinary and/or multidisciplinary journals.
• Teach graduate and undergraduate courses in accordance with appointment.
• Mentor MS/PhD students and serve on graduate student thesis and dissertation committees.
• Participate in service activities of the Cluster, Departments, College, University, and profession.

Required Qualifications:

• An earned doctorate in Food Science or other relevant disciplines with sensory science experience by the time of appointment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including refereed journal publications.
• Evidence of effectively working within interdisciplinary teams.

The University of Tennessee Knoxville is the state’s flagship research institution and is currently in the midst of unprecedented growth in enrollment, with more than 38,000 enrolled students. As a land-grant university, it is committed to excellence in scholarship, learning and service and aims to enrich and elevate society. The University is a Carnegie Foundation Research (R1) University with the highest research activity and has achieved a Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. In addition, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is nearby and many opportunities for collaboration and career development are provided by the University of Tennessee Oak Ridge Innovation Institute.

Knoxville is situated in a valley between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Cumberland Plateau, areas of great beauty and among the most bio-diverse in the USA. Known as ‘The Maker City,’ Knoxville is the third largest city in the state with a metropolitan statistical area population of over 850,000 people. Downtown Knoxville, adjacent to campus, is a thriving neighborhood filled with restaurants, shops, and indoor and outdoor entertainment venues, and is home to the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, the Knoxville Opera Company, annual international festivals, such as the Big Ears Music Festival, and seasonal and weekly events such as Jazz on the Square, Shakespeare on the Square, and the Farmers Market. Trip Advisor recently named Knoxville a Top Ten Destination on the Rise. Knoxville is also located within easy driving distance to Asheville, Atlanta, and Nashville.

The Department of Food Science resides within the UTIA and adheres to the three-pronged mission of land grant universities by providing quality research, teaching and Extension, including outreach, to the citizens of Tennessee and elsewhere. The mission of the Department is “to address global problems in food safety, quality and health through fundamental and applied research, prepare graduates for the global food industry or health professional programs, and deliver effective outreach education to the citizens of Tennessee and beyond.” The Department offers BS, MS, and PhD degrees. The Department currently has 15 full-time faculty members with expertise in diverse areas of food chemistry, food microbiology, food processing and engineering, and food sensory science. The successful candidate will have access to ten research and education centers located across the state and will have opportunities for collaboration within the Department and across UTIA and UTK and play an important role in the direction of growth of the Department. For more information about the Department, visit our web site at: http://foodscience.tennessee.edu/.

The Center for Sensory Science of the University of Tennessee resides within the Department of Food Science. With established partnerships with several stakeholders and a large pool of volunteer participants, the center offers a variety of sensory evaluation and consumer research services to the food industry. The center provides an excellent platform for the candidate’s research and teaching programs. For more information about the center, visit the center web site at https://sensory.tennessee.edu/.

Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Benefits available include group medical insurance, dental insurance, group and individual life insurance, long-term disability insurance, workers’ compensation, retirement plan with UT contribution, sick leave, annual leave, paid holidays and administrative leave days, unemployment compensation, educational discounts, and use of University Services. The 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 these six pdf files through https://apply.interfolio.com/164492: 1) a letter of application detailing your interest and qualification in the position, 2) a curriculum vitae detailing education background, experience, and publications, 3) a statement of research (no more than two pages), 4) a one-page statement of teaching interest and philosophy, 5) transcripts of all college course work, and 6) names and contact information (including e-mail addresses) of five individuals who will serve as references. Screening of applicants will begin April 15, 2025, and continue until the position is filled. Any questions regarding the position can be directed to Dr. Qixin Zhong, Search Committee Chair, Department of Food Science, [email protected], 865-974-6196.

All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admission without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. In accordance with 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 of 1990, the University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the university. Requests for accommodations of a disability should be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Accessibility, 1840 Melrose Avenue Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-3560 or [email protected] or (865)974-2498. Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color and national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), the ADA (disability), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Investigation & Resolution 216 Business Incubator Building 2450 EJ. Chapman Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 or (865)974-0717 or [email protected].