Work Location: The School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA, will be the work location. The School of Nutrition and Food Sciences includes research, teaching, and cooperative extension programs. The department awards graduate and undergraduate degrees and includes an accredited dietetics program and an IFT approved BS in Human Nutrition and Food Sciences. Extension faculty in the school provide leadership for extension programming and work directly with extension agents and/or consumers and media outlets to provide training, educational materials, and assistance for extension clientele.

Position Description: This position is a 12-month, tenure track appointment with joint responsibilities in Extension (80%) and Research (20%). The focus of this position is home food preservation/consumer food safety, retail food safety, and home-based/cottage foods businesses. The primary responsibility of this position is to continue and further develop a nationally recognized extension program and applied research with emphasis in home food preservation and farmers markets, encouraging food safety practices. The position will provide leadership on current and emerging issues pertaining to these areas. This position’s responsibilities will include planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive issue-based educational outreach programming related to home preservation and retail food safety, ServSafe training and related issues. Programming will include but will not be limited to safe food handling, food recalls, warnings, natural disasters, home food preservation methods and hygiene. The faculty member is expected to establish working relationships across Louisiana Cooperative Extension Services including Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS), 4-H, campus departments and related agencies and groups such as commodity groups, the U. S. Department of Agriculture, and others. The appointee will actively seek extramural funding through grants and contracts to build a viable extension and applied research program in the areas of consumer food safety. The job requires some travel and some evening and weekend work.

Qualification Requirements: A PhD in food science, food microbiology, nutrition, or related field from an accredited university is required. The successful applicant must have a background in food safety. Knowledge and experience in home preservation is required. General knowledge/understanding of nutrition is preferred. ServSafe certification for teaching and certifying others is preferred. Evidence of effective teaching skills in both formal and informal settings is preferred. An ability and desire to work closely and cooperatively with faculty in the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences and across disciplines, work with media including web-based and social media, communicate with a wide variety of audiences. The successful candidate must have a valid driver’s license.

Salary and Benefits: Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The Louisiana State University Agricultural Center has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options. Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, life, long-term disability, accident, vision, long-term care, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses), university holidays (14 per year, & typically includes a week off at Christmas), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits, Employee Assistance Program, and possible educational leave and tuition exemption for coursework at campuses of the LSU System. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.

Date Available: Upon completion of the selection process.

Application Deadline: August 31, 2023, or until a suitable candidate is identified.

Application Procedure: Apply online at LSU AgCenter Careers (or through Workday for internal applicants)by attaching file(s) containing: 1) Letter of application or cover letter that includes statement of accomplishments, 2) a statement describing how diversity would figure into your research, or extension activities,3) outreach and extension statement, 4) research statement, 5) Curriculum vita, 6) Transcripts, and 7) at least three letters of recommendation. Questions about the online application system should be directed to the HRM Office at 225/578-0324. (Paper, faxed, or emailed application materials will not be accepted.) In lieu of attaching the letters of reference, they may be sent directly to:

Evelyn Watts, Chair Search Committee
Associate Professor, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences
201C Animal and Food Sciences Building
39 Forestry Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Phone: 225-578-6304
E-mail: egwatts@agcenter.lsu.edu
Website: AgCenter website

The LSU Agricultural Center is a statewide campus of the LSU System and provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.