Assistant Professor

Position Description

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Precision Nutrition and Food Microbiome Interfaces to begin September 1, 2026. The anticipated workload distribution is approximately 75% research, 20% teaching, and 5% service.

The successful candidate will develop a nationally competitive research program investigating how food composition, processing, and dietary bioactives influence gut microbiome dynamics, intestinal physiology, and human or animal health outcomes. Areas of emphasis include foods regulated by FDA/USDA (e.g., produce, meats, fermented foods, and ready-to-eat foods). The appointee will collaborate with departmental food microbiology faculty on pathogen control, validation, and regulatory compliance, and with food and meat science faculty on food composition and health evaluation.

This position contributes to a One Health cluster hire that includes faculty in bioinformatics, landscape metagenomics of infection, soil and environmental ecology, microbiology/virology/immunology, and precision lifestyle and microbiome science. The position supports the teaching in food science and contributes to industry- and agency-facing educational programming consistent with Texas Tech University’s mission.

Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University began with a mission to serve the needs of West Texas, but its impact has always reached far beyond. Today, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock (pop. 300,000+), is home to a vibrant community of more than 42,000 students. Texas Tech's 1,800-acre campus showcases Spanish Renaissance architecture and is home to one of the country's largest public art collections.

Its 13 colleges include a prestigious School of Law and a distinguished School of Veterinary Medicine. These programs equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their respective fields. Built on the values of West Texas — hard work, grit and authenticity — the university graduates students who are deeply engaged in service to their communities and well-positioned to succeed in the world.

Texas Tech is committed to achieving research and scholarly accomplishments that compare favorably to the member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU). For more than 100 years, Texas Tech has been a premier destination for those seeking a world-class education and a unique, personalized experience as a member of the Red Raider family.

The Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources includes the departments of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Agricultural Education and Communications, Animal and Food Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Plant and Soil Science, and Veterinary Sciences, along with multiple research centers and institutes. The College houses eight major research centers and institutes: the Center for Agriscience Communications, Davis College Water Center, Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, Institute for Genomics of Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, International Center for Agricultural Competitiveness, International Center for Food Industry Excellence, Texas Cooperative Research Unit, and the Thornton Agricultural Finance Institute.

Davis College enrolls more than 2,700 undergraduate students and more than 500 graduate students. The College sustains approximately 110 tenure-track faculty, 40 non-tenure-track faculty, and more than 165 support staff. Faculty across Davis College generated approximately $17.3 million in federal and private funding to support the research, teaching, and outreach and engagement missions.

Davis College is currently engaged in The Pursuit of PRIME campaign, which is dedicated to shaping the future of agriculture, natural resources, and managed landscapes. The College prepares the next generation of leaders to address major challenges and build a brighter future through investments in advanced facilities, innovative research, and hands‑on education. Rooted in Texas Tech’s spirit of resilience and excellence, this commitment extends beyond the classroom to strengthen…