Tenured: Professor and Department Head of Food Science & Technology

Overview The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University invites applications for the full-time, tenured position of Professor who will serve as Head of the Department of Food Science & Technology. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2027. This is a 9-month tenured position, with a research appointment (negotiable from 25%-50%), and an administrative stipend equivalent to two months of summer salary. Competitive university benefits accompany the position. Additional support in the form of a post-doctoral scientist is available upon the establishment of a Hatch project. The administrative stipend and post-doctoral support will be in effect while the individual holds the position of Department Head. This position will also provide oversight for Texas A&M AgriLife Extension programming within the department. The Professor and Head will serve as the Department's chief administrative officer and as an advocate for Food Science and the allied disciplines it represents. The position provides leadership and support for numerous faculty initiatives that include enhancing and expanding undergraduate and graduate education, increasing contributions to knowledge and science through extramurally funded research, fostering collegiality and interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty, conducting extension and outreach programs, securing additional resources, strengthening relationships with stakeholder groups, and promoting communication of science-based findings to inform public policy and private decision-makers. As a tenured Professor, the successful candidate will be expected to maintain an active teaching program and contribute to the Department’s instructional mission through excellence in teaching and student mentorship. The Department of Food Science & Technology is a nationally approved program by the Institute of Food Technologists’ Higher Education Review Board, with an ambitious vision for continued excellence. With integrated teaching, research, and extension programs, the Department has four areas of excellence: Global Food Safety & Quality, Functional Food Systems for Healthy Texas and Beyond, Innovative Technologies, and Global Sensory & Consumer Science. External research grants and contract funding acquired by faculty annually are approximately $3-7 million. The department has 11 core faculty members and an additional 12 affiliate graduate faculty in four academic departments throughout the College. There are 86 undergraduate and 30 graduate students. The Department offers a BS in Food Sciences & Technology with two options, the Food Industry option and the Food Science option, and two undergraduate certificates. The department also offers MS and PhD degrees in Food Science & Technology. The department will help support and have access to immersive learning labs and classrooms in the Aplin Center, a first-of-its-kind hub transforming hospitality, retail and marketing education. Initiated by a $60 million gift from former student Arch “Beaver” Aplin III ’80, founder and CEO of Buc-ee’s, the Center will serve as a shared resource across academic programs. The department houses the eBeam center, a national and international leader in eBeam and X-ray technologies. The NASA Space Food Research Facility provides an unparalleled opportunity for food science and technology undergraduate and graduate students to obtain hands-on experiential learning on food processing technologies. The department’s strategic plan can be accessed at, which is aligned with the strategic plan of the College and AgriLife agencies. The college and agency plans can be accessed at the following links: There are ongoing initiatives described above; further details may be available via the department or college websites. Qualifications Candidates must have an earned doctorate in Food Science & Technology or a closely related field, with a record of distinction in research, teaching, and service that would qualify them for tenure at a tier 1 research institution. Demonstrated experience in academic administration is preferred, as is experience in a land grant institution. #J-18808-Ljbffr