Assistant​/Associate Professor – Food Science Extension Specialist

Overview

Working Title Assistant/Associate Professor – Food Science Extension Specialist

Posting Number F2453P

Department CAES-Food Science & Technology

The University of Georgia (UGA) is a public research university established in 1785 and located in Athens, Georgia, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs thousands of faculty and staff and serves tens of thousands of students.

The Department of Food Science and Technology is a unit of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Athens is identified as a livable city with rich cultural offerings.

Posting Type External

Employment Type Employee

Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible

Anticipated Start Date 05/01/2026

Job Posting Date 08/20/2025

Open Until Filled Yes

Location of Vacancy Athens Area

EEO Statement The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb).

USG Core Values Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. More details are available online at the USG policies.

Classification Title Open Rank

Faculty Rank Open Rank

Contract Type Academic (9 mo.)

Tenure Status Tenure Track

Minimum Qualifications A Ph.D. in food science, food microbiology, food safety, food engineering, agricultural engineering, or a closely related field is required.

The Department of Food Science and Technology at UGA is seeking a highly motivated and creative individual to develop an Extension and research program in the area of food safety with a focus on process engineering and the influence of product formulation. The successful candidate will support and advance Georgia’s food and beverage industries through expertise in processing and preservation technologies and extension of science-based information to relevant stakeholders, and develop a complementary research program with the capacity to sustain itself through extramural funding.

This position will involve developing a nationally recognized Extension program that addresses the needs of Georgia’s established food industries and supports emerging food businesses. The program will include in-person and/or online workshops, applied and collaborative research addressing industry challenges, and partnerships with faculty in business and marketing to assist food entrepreneurs, including process approvals for manufactured foods. The University of Georgia values interdisciplinary collaboration, and the successful candidate will be encouraged to engage with faculty across the Colleges of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, and Family and Consumer Sciences as they build their Extension and research programs.

Given the growth of food manufacturing in Georgia, this role offers significant engagement opportunities through Extension and research, and the expectation that the selected candidate will develop and deliver unique Extension programming, serve as a conduit between academia and industry when exploring scientific and technical innovations, and provide foundational food safety training (e.g. Preventive Controls, Better Process Control School) that drive industry success.

Potential research areas include thermal and non-thermal processing, beverage production, fermentation, and packaging.

For the rank of Assistant Professor, candidates do not need a minimum number of years in a lower rank unless the initial appointment was at the instructor level at the University of Georgia. To be considered at the rank of Associate Professor, candidates must have at least 5 full years in rank at the Assistant Professor level before the start date.

Appointment, Promotion, & Tenure of Academic Rank Faculty can be found here:…