Assistant​/Associate​/Full Professor of Community Health & Nutrition

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Community Health & Nutrition

Apply now Job no: 538534
Work type: Tenure-Track Faculty
Location: Main Campus (Gainesville, FL)
Categories: Biology/Life Science, Agricultural Sciences
Department:  - AG-FAM YOUTH - COMM SCI

Classification

Title:

Ast/Aso/Full Prof

Candidates for this rank shall hold the highest degree appropriate to their field. A candidate shall be expected to demonstrate successful experience pertinent to the position they are being recommended and have demonstrated qualities relevant to the goals of the academic unit in which they will be employed.

This is a 9-month tenure-accruing/eligible position at the rank of assistant, associate, or full professor that will be 70% Extension (Florida Cooperative Extension Service) and 30% research (Florida Agricultural Experiment Station), available in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), at the University of Florida (UF). This assignment may change in accordance with the needs of the unit.

Tenure will be granted in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences (FYCS).

The faculty member will lead statewide Extension efforts that translate research-based dietary strategies into practical, community-level programs. They will collaborate with county Extension agents, healthcare providers, and local organizations to design and implement programs that utilize dietary approaches to address chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. These initiatives will emphasize the role of nutrition in health and disease prevention, while promoting healthy eating practices and improving local food security to drive measurable improvements in community health.

The faculty member will:

• Develop practical, adaptable, ready-to-use tools for county Extension agents to deliver evidence-based educational programs and resources that advance nutrition and community health.
• Build capacity by training and supporting county Extension agents and other community educators.
• Partner with healthcare systems to integrate nutrition education into patient care to improve health outcomes.
• Advocate for policies that promote health-enhancing food choices and strengthen sustainable local food systems.
• Collaborate with policymakers, healthcare leaders, and community stakeholders to advance population health.

The faculty member’s research will focus on applied, interdisciplinary studies that evaluate the effectiveness and impact of innovative dietary interventions on chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. This may include collaborating with health care partners on clinical trials, community-based intervention research, and program evaluation. The faculty member will be expected to secure competitive funding, publish in peer-reviewed journals, and contribute to the scientific understanding of nutrition and community health.

The successful candidate will participate actively in undergraduate and graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees, supervising thesis, dissertation and undergraduate research, and publishing research results with students. Faculty are encouraged to participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising, and may teach courses and seminars.

Because of the IFAS land-grant mission, all faculty are expected to be supportive of and engaged in all three mission areas—Research, Teaching and Extension—regardless of the assignment split specified in the position description.

A doctorate (foreign equivalent acceptable) in Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Community Health or a closely related discipline is required. Candidates should demonstrate strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to build positive interpersonal relationships, including working across disciplines and sectors with Extension, public health, or community-based partners.

We welcome applicants who show promise for and demonstrate excellence in research, teaching, Extension, and service. Evidence of scholarly productivity, such as peer-reviewed…