Assistant Professor - Chemistry for Sustainable Foods & Chemical Food Safety

Faculty Position Available:

Assistant Professor

Chemistry for Sustainable Foods & Chemical Food Safety

Department of Food Science, Cornell University

Position: Assistant Professor, Tenure-track

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-5701, USA.

The academic home for this position is the Department of Food Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

The Department of Food Science at Cornell University invites candidates for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track assistant professor position to develop a research and teaching program related to Food Chemistry in one of the following areas of research:

Chemistry for Sustainable Foods : Appropriate research areas may include but are not limited to: Chemistry of sustainably sourced food components (flavor, color, nutritive and bioactive compounds) which can promote health while ensuring a palatable food supply; developing state-of-the-art physicochemical tools for characterization of novel sustainable food components; computational studies of key chemical reactions in foods, and extending shelf-life and reducing food waste through mechanistic studies of chemical changes during food processing and storage.

Chemical Food Safety : Appropriate research areas may include but are not limited to: Development and utilization of rapid, inexpensive, and/or in situ sensors for real-time detection of chemical hazards e.g. , allergens, heavy metals, or mycotoxins during manufacturing and throughout the food chain; toxicological studies, risk modeling, sampling and exposure assessments; novel analytical and/or computational approaches to detect adulteration of raw materials or finished products; and chemical hazard mitigation strategies.

Position Responsibilities:

This position has a balanced effort between research (50%) and teaching (50%) on a 9-month academic year basis. A track-record of publishing outstanding peer-reviewed scholarship is expected, as is excellence in and commitment to teaching, translation of knowledge, and advising and mentoring of students. We seek a colleague with an outstanding record demonstrating success and promise across all these areas, and who will be supported by and contribute to a vibrant culture of inclusive excellence at Cornell. A mentoring program for new faculty provides guidance and assistance.

Research (50%): The successful candidate will be expected to conduct an internationally recognized and externally funded research program in chemistry for sustainable foods or chemical food safety.

Teaching (50%): The candidate will be expected to teach one undergraduate course per semester and a third course every other year that could be a graduate seminar (or a course of equivalent effort). One undergraduate course would be a general education course related to food science and one would be a food chemistry course. The third course, to be taught every other year, will be based on department needs and the incumbent's strengths and will be discussed with the department chair. The incumbent will be expected to advise undergraduate students and mentor Master's and Ph.D. students.

Service to the Department: The candidate will be expected to participate in faculty meetings, select committees, and related service work appropriate to faculty members.

Qualifications: A Ph.D. in Food Science, Food Chemistry, Chemistry, Material Science, Biochemistry, Nutrition or a related field is required. The ideal candidate will show promise of or have already developed a national and international reputation for their innovative scholarship.

Applications received by October 25, 2025 will be given full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to relocate within commuting distance of Ithaca, NY. Relocation assistance may be provided. Finalists for this position will be asked to sign an affidavit that they have not been found to have violated employer policies at their previous institution(s).

In compliance with New York's Pay Transparency Law, the annual base salary range is $90,000 - $135,000 when hired at assistant professor rank. This pay range represents base pay (for a 9-month appointment). Cornell University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Cornell's regional and global presence includes state-wide Cornell Cooperative Extension programs and offices in all counties and boroughs, global partnerships with institutions and communities engaged in life-changing research and education, the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, and the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

Pay Range:

Pay Ranges:

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience.

• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position.

• Academic Discipline

• Unique applicable skills.

Employment Assistance:

Notice to Applicants:

EEO Statement:

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of "... any person ... any study." No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRRA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

2025-08-20