Careers

Assistant Professor

Apply now Job no: 505522
Position type: Full-Time 9-Month
Department: 012000 - Food Sci Nutrition Hlth Promo
Location: Main Campus - Starkville, MS
Categories: Faculty
Position Open Date:

Position Function:

The MSU Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion seek candidates for a nine-month, tenure track academic appointment available beginning Fall semester (August) 2024. The successful candidate will hold an 80% appointment in teaching through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a 20% appointment in research through the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. The successful candidate will also teach both undergraduate and graduate courses in Health Promotion including those related to the Health Promotion Emphasis Area in the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and the Master of Science in Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion with a Concentration in Health Promotion. In addition, the candidate will be expected to develop a nationally recognized research program in their area of expertise through scholarship, extramural funding, and mentoring graduate students.

Salary Grade:  UC

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

The Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion (FSNHP) at MSU offers an undergraduate degree with concentrations in nutrition and food science. A Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis area in Health Promotion is offered in cooperation with the Center for Distance Education and the College of Arts and Sciences; the Master of Science degree in the three concentrations of Nutrition, Food Science, and Health Promotion, as well as a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Nutrition; and the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Nutrition, Food Science, and Functional Foods. Both the department and MSU focus strongly on preparing graduates to excel in their chosen professions.

The Department of FSNHP is a comprehensive department offering teaching, research, service, and outreach designed to extend the continuum from the processing of food to its marketing, consumption, and impact on public health and community. The mission of the Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion is to advance an integrative approach to foods, nutrition, and health by innovative research and progressive education of undergraduate and graduate students and to educate the public through creative outreach.

Our diverse faculty of 18 has established a focus on food safety as well as a “food as medicine” perspective, and the department has Extension faculty in all three specialty areas. The department also collaborates with a Ph.D. program in agricultural and extension education with the School of Human Sciences emphasizing health promotion with aims at certification in the field of health education (Certified Health Education Specialist) or wellness (Certified Wellness Practitioner).

Area of Specialization:

Health Promotion

Anticipated Appointment Date:

August 16, 2024.

Tenure Track Status:

Yes. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Follow all policies and procedures of the university. The policies can be found in the Academic Operating Policy and Procedures (AOP) Manual as Policy 13.03.
2. Performance will be at least satisfactory in the areas of teaching, research, and service as defined by the University Promotion and the Tenure Guidelines.
3. Recruiting, advising, and teaching undergraduate students in the Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies program and graduate students in the department’s Master of Science Concentration in Health Promotion.
4. Conduct scholarly research, seek external funding, and establish a record of scholarly publications and presentations.
5. Participate in service activities as required by the department, college, and university.
6. Engaging in community health promotion activities and establishing partnerships with the regional and national health promotion government agencies and professional organizations in ways that serve the academic mission of the unit and this position, including for student community-engaged learning experiences, research, and service as described above.

Minimum Qualifications:

The candidate must possess an earned doctorate in Health Education, Health Promotion, Health Behavior, Community Health Education, or a closely related field that positions the candidate to prepare students for the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) credential. (See CHES® roles and responsibilities from the National Council for Health Education Credentialing here: https://www.nchec.org/responsibilities-and-competencies. Candidates must have earned the CHES® credential or be CHES eligible. Candidates should have the potential and/or demonstrated ability for successful performance in the areas of teaching, research, and service. Candidates should also have the experience and/or desire to teach in one or more of the following areas: health education/health promotion program design, implementation and evaluation, epidemiology, cultural competency, health equity, health communications, health policy and advocacy, health behavior theory, or community health. Potential and/or demonstrated ability to secure external funding and potential/demonstrated ability to publish in peer-reviewed scholarly journals regarding work surrounding health equity, social justice, implementation science, and/or community-based participatory research is also required.

The successful candidate must have his or her degree conferred by the position start date.

ABDs or degree pending considered (all but DISS):

Yes. 

Preferred Qualifications:

Earned Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES®) or MCHES®-eligible
Potential to teach in hybrid and/or distance learning modalities
Demonstrated or potential for successful graduate-level curriculum development

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Applicants must have the ability to develop a research program in their area of interest with extramural funding, teach effectively in various areas of health promotion, have interpersonal skills needed to advise both undergraduate and graduate students in the field, as well as work with a diverse, international student population and faculty.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

No unusual physical requirements. Requires no heavy lifting, and nearly all work is performed in a comfortable indoor facility.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Applicant should apply online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu and should also send a cover letter; official transcripts for all graduate work, curriculum vitae, and name, address, telephone number, and email address of three professional references to:

Dr. Leah Pylate 
Search Chair
Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Health Promotion
Mississippi State University
Mailstop 9805
Mississippi State, MS 39762

A review and evaluation of applications will begin October 15, 2023 and will continue until the position is filled.

Please redact all social security numbers on transcripts before submission.

Screening Date:

October 15, 2023 until filled. 

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

MSU is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy, gender identity, status as a U.S. veteran, and/or any other status protected by applicable law. We always welcome nominations and applications from women, members of any minority group, and others who share our passion for building a diverse community that reflects the diversity in our student population.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

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