POSITION: Assistant/Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Food Safety and Preservation (75% Extension and 25% Research) academic year appointment with 2 months summer salary as long as the appointment is 50% or greater in Extension in the Foods and Nutrition Department, College of Family and Consumer Sciences

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Provide leadership and training at the state, regional, and national level in the area of food safety and home food preservation
• Revise and update specific Extension agent trainings
• Provide leadership for county-based program planning, implementation and evaluation for county Extension agents conducting programing and applied research in home food preservation
• Present annual ServSafe® training for Extension agents & recertification training required every 5 years
• Updating programmatic materials for Extension agents to use in ServSafe® Food Handler Programs
• Secure external funding as the PI to support the National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP)
• As director of the NCHFP, direct externally supported staff who will update the website content on a regular basis and expand capabilities to disseminate content digitally
• Prepare new updated editions of the book “So Easy to Preserve” and other related publications and ensure that publications are marketed to generate funds which will provide program support
• Prepare and present workshops and trainings at the state, regional and national level in food safety and home food preservation
• Respond to questions from the public and professionals related to food safety associated with home food preservation
• Collaborate with internal and external partners, including College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Food Science and Extension family and consumer sciences faculty and staff
• Develop and secure external funding to support interdisciplinary research program in the area of applied food safety and home food preservation
• Present research findings at national conferences and publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals
• Serve as major advisor for doctoral students and secure external funding to support PhD assistantships

QUALIFICATIONS: To be considered for the position of Assistant/Associate Professor and Extension Specialist in Food Safety and Preservation, the applicant must hold an earned doctoral degree (upon application) in a discipline-related field. To be considered for the position of Associate Professor, the applicant must meet the above qualifications and attained Assistant Professor at a comparable university and have at least three years of relevant experience. Faculty expectations for Promotion in the College of Family & Consumer Sciences (FACS), Department of Foods & Nutrition are summarized at:
https://provost.uga.edu/_resources/documents/Foods_and_Nutrition_2015.pdf 

THE UNIVERSITY AND THE DEPARTMENT: The University of Georgia (UGA), a land-grant and sea-grant university with statewide commitments and responsibilities is the state’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA was founded in 1785 by the Georgia General Assembly as the first state-chartered University in the country. UGA employs approximately 1,800 full-time instructional faculty and more than 7,600 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 39,000 students including approximately 30,000 undergraduates and over 9,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 17 schools and colleges, as well as a medical partnership with Augusta University housed on the UGA Health Sciences Campus in Athens. Through funding from UGA Extension http://extension.uga.edu/ and FACS, department-based specialists in cooperation with county-based agents of the College of Agricultural and the Environmental Sciences http://www.caes.uga.edu/ extend lifelong learning to the people of Georgia through research-based education in agriculture, the environment, communities, youth and families. FACS Extension helps Georgians become healthier, more productive, financially independent and environmentally responsible. Extension specialists and agents stay in touch with issues relevant to people in local communities through county Extension offices.

The Department of Foods and Nutrition is one of four departments of the College of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Georgia https://www.fcs.uga.edu/fdn. The department has 25 faculty including 3 tenure-track Extension Specialists, 400 undergraduate students majoring in Nutritional Sciences, Dietetics, and Culinary Science and Nutrition as well as 30 graduate students in the PhD and MS thesis graduate degree programs and 40 in the non-thesis MS degree programs including the on-line MS degree program.

THE COMMUNITY: The University of Georgia is located in Athens, Georgia, 65 miles northeast of Atlanta. Athens offers a rich cultural environment interconnected with the university and is perennially identified as one of America’s most livable cities. Additional information can be found at: http://www.visitathensga.com/aboutathens/

SALARY: Commensurate with experience and qualifications. Information regarding fringe benefits may be viewed at http://www.hr.uga.edu 

ANTICIPATED START DATE: January 1, 2022

APPLICATIONS DEADLINE: Applications completed by June 1, 2021 will be given full consideration; however, the search will remain open until the position is filled. The application packet must include a cover letter of interest that details how the applicant’s credentials and experience meet the needs of the position as well as responsibilities and qualifications detailed in the posting; a current curriculum vitae; and contact information for three references. References will not be contacted without further correspondence with the applicant. All applicant materials must be submitted to UGAJobs website:
https://www.ugajobsearch.com/postings/185795 

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, genetic information, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or protected veteran status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu). Please do not contact the department or search committee with such requests. The college welcomes applications and nominations of minorities and others who share our passion about and reflect our desire to support a culture of diversity and inclusion.

Questions about the position may be directed to:
Ali Berg, PhD, RDN
Associate Professor and Extension Nutrition and Health Specialist
Chair, Search Committee
Department of Foods and Nutrition
The University of Georgia
280 Dawson Hall
Athens, GA 30602