Assistant Professor - Food Packaging

Job Description

Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is seeking applicants for a tenure track faculty position in Food Packaging located in the Department of Food Science and Technology (FST) as part of its Phase II SmartFarm Innovation Network^TM faculty cluster hire. Phase II includes a total of seven (7) faculty positions to be filled within several academic units and Agricultural Research and Extension Centers. Collaborations of cluster hires and existing faculty will enhance interdisciplinary flagship programs at the nexus of digital, biological, social, and physical sciences and engineering with application to agriculture, food, and natural resources. The cluster hire will be affiliated with the Center for Advanced Innovation in Agriculture for enhancing interdisciplinary networking. This ambitious vision in smart farm innovation will create a statewide network of interconnected faculty, partners, and resources for scientific discovery and developing, deploying, and extending new technologies. The goal is to increase overall efficiency, resiliency, sustainability, and economic value of food, agriculture production systems, and natural resources, and expand Virginia Tech’s global influence in this rapidly evolving domain.

Responsibilities: This is a 9-month tenure track position at the rank of Assistant Professor with responsibilities in research (70%) and teaching (30%). The successful candidate will be expected to develop an impactful research and teaching program focused on food packaging. The individual will develop a nationally and internationally recognized research program supported by extramural funding, with an emphasis on development and application of packaging technologies in food systems. Areas of expertise may include, but are not limited to: packaging interactions with food, smart packaging, food and healthcare packaging, biopolymers with expertise in nanotechnology and material science, packaging performance testing, and sustainable packaging materials. The individual will be expected to collaborate with faculty in the FST Department, the SmartFarm Innovation Network^TM cluster, and across the University. The individual is also expected to develop and sustain relationships with industry leaders in packaging development and application. Global engagement is important as the incumbent’s career advances, and will contribute to the expansion of Virginia Tech’s reputation in this domain.

The individual is expected to develop and teach undergraduate/graduate course(s) related to the successful applicant’s expertise. The individual will recruit and mentor graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) and undergraduate students and will be expected to serve on department, college and university committees, as well as appropriate professional organizations.

Required Qualifications

Ph.D. in food science & technology, packaging science, material science, agricultural and biological engineering or related discipline; Excellent oral and written communication skills; Demonstrated ability to develop and conduct scholarly research; Demonstrated ability for teaching in a classroom setting and commitment to quality student education; Strong commitment to create an environment that fosters diversity and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated ability to write competitive research proposals; Post-doctoral research experience; Demonstrated ability to develop and sustain relationships with industry; Familiarity with food packaging regulation.

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with Experience

Review Date

06/15/2021

Additional Information

The successful Candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College . The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers . A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Haibo Huang at huang151@vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: April 9, 2021
Applications close: