Full Professor/Department Chair in Nutrition

Job Title Full Professor/Department Chair in Nutrition

Job Description Summary, Duties and Responsibilities, Required Qualifications and Preferred Qualifications

The search will remain open until the position has been filled.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Department of Nutrition at the University of Rhode Island invites applications for a tenure-track Full Professor who will serve as Department Chair in Nutrition. We are looking for a leader with extensive experience in teaching and scholarship who complements the mission of the Department, College, and University. The position is a calendar-year appointment (partial summer funding available) with a start date of September 2025.

The well-established Department of Nutrition is located within the College of Health Sciences. It is recognized for excellence in teaching, research, service, and professional leadership. Our teaching programs include a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Nutrition, a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Dietetics, an Accelerated Bachelor to Master 4+1 (B.S./M.S. 4+1) degree in either Nutrition or Dietetics, a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Nutrition, an online Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Dietetics, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Health Sciences with an emphasis on Nutrition.

The Department’s faculty leads several research laboratories focusing on human energy balance, lipid metabolism, nutrition and pregnancy, metabolism and muscle biology, eating behaviors, dietary patterns and cardiometabolic health, and community nutrition security. Furthermore, the Department leads several successful outreach programs including the SNAP-Ed, EFNEP, Food Recovery for RI, and the URI Free Farmers’ Market programs.

The Department, College, and University recognize that the field of Nutrition needs to be strengthened by contributions from a broad range of perspectives. The Department of Nutrition is committed to equal opportunity and seeks to serve as a representative inspiration for the next generations. As such, the University pledges that it will post all vacancies, including transfers, and will recruit, hire, train, and promote persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national original, disability, or veteran status.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful Department Chair candidate will be expected to lead and administer for the Department with oversight of: fiscal, curricular, and personnel, based on a shared vision aligned to the missions of the Department, College, and University; mentor and support the professional development of faculty and students; contribute directly to the delivery of the Nutrition curriculum; foster links with academic and professional colleagues on campus and throughout the community; support outcome assessment, and accreditation components. In general, individuals who will contribute to the Department’s commitment to scholarship, evidence-based practice, collaborative and inclusive teaching, and who strongly advocate for the Department are encouraged to apply.

Major Responsibilities:

Research & Teaching

• Maintain a robust program of research germane to nutrition and health that is extramurally funded.
• Maintain a high level of dissemination of research and scholarship as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and presentations at national and/or international meetings. ●Teach nutrition courses at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels.

Academic Leadership Excellence:

• Serve as a direct liaison between the academics and research productivity of the Nutrition program and the fiscal matters of the College and University.
• Provides innovative leadership and ensures the integrity of the academic programs.
• Supports program curricula planning, implementation, evaluation, and revision in collaboration Undergraduate and Graduate Department Committees.
• Evaluate and determine faculty needs to support current and future academic programs.
• Provide support to effectively and efficiently align faculty with academic programs, teaching activities, research priorities, and career development.

Faculty Development:

• Lead strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of initiatives to determine teaching needs, and provide strategic leadership for faculty research development, mentoring, and recruitment.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and college administrators to develop faculty abilities to work with students with diverse learning needs.
• Responsible for identifying the faculty and staff needs to support the academic programs.
• Oversees the orientation and management of part-time faculty.
• Write annual review letters.

Administration and Management:

• Identify resources required for the implementation of the Department and College strategic plan
• Assist the Dean with identifying potential areas for revenue generation.
• Identify needed infrastructure and secure resources to support academic programs.
• Represent the Nutrition Department on various Nutrition and University committees and serve as a liaison across the university, providing leadership and strategy for the Nutrition Department’s engagement in campus-wide initiatives.

Qualifications

Required:

1) A PhD or equivalent degree in Nutrition, Health Sciences, or a closely related field.

2) Record of teaching, research and service commensurate with a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of Full Professor. (Applicants who are currently Full Professors as well as those at the rank of Associate Professor who expect to have a record commensurate with a tenured Full Professor at the University of Rhode Island at the time of appointment may apply.)

3) Experience in securing funding for research.

4) Demonstrated successful teaching in areas that complement the existing curriculum.

5) Demonstrated leadership skills.

6) Demonstrated proficiency in oral communication skills.

7) Demonstrated proficiency in written communication skills.

8) Demonstrated experience in working with diverse groups and populations.

Preferred:

1) Consistent and recent leadership experience including but not limited to Department Chair, Program Director, and/or a comparable leadership experience in a professional organization.

2) Demonstrated experience in interdepartmental and interdisciplinary collaboration.

3) Demonstrated competence in professional fiscal management.

4) Demonstrated research in areas that complement existing programs and foci in the Nutrition Department, College of Health Sciences, and/or other affiliated entities.

5) Demonstrated experience in graduate student and junior faculty mentoring.

6) Demonstrated professional involvement at the state, national, or international level.

7) Experience with establishing plans for effective undergraduate and graduate student recruitment.

8) Experience in securing external funding to support Department needs.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

The University of Rhode Island is an equal-opportunity employer committed to the principles of affirmative action. It is the policy of the University of Rhode Island to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or employee with a disability.

Union AAUP – American Assoc of Univ Professors

Status Academic Year, Full-time, Tenure-track, Permanent

End Date of Restriction or Limitation

Department Nutrition & Food Science

Contact(s)

Please note: Job applications must be submitted directly online only at: (https://jobs.uri.edu)

Contact Email

Campus Location Kingston

Grant Funded No

Extension Contingent on Funding Date

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please attach the following 6 (PDF) documents to your online Faculty Employment Application:

(#1) Cover letter.

(#2) Curriculum Vitae.

(#3) Research Statement.

(#4) Statement of Teaching.

(#5) Diversity Statement.

(#6) Other Document – References – the names and contact information of three professional references. (Note: this document is required even though references may be listed on the application).

Position Number 106261

Posting Number F00470

Posting Date 04/22/2025

Closing Date

Open Until Filled Yes

Quicklink for Posting https://jobs.uri.edu/postings/15068

Read Full Description