Food Science Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Job Description

Texas A&M AgriLife Research seeks an outstanding, innovative, and dynamic research faculty member in the Department of Animal Science at the rank of Research Assistant Professor. This appointment will be 12 months, non-tenured, 100% Research. The applicant will collaborate with scientists across the department, the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and Texas A&M University. The candidate will build a highly impactful, externally funded, nationally recognized, and self-sustaining research program addressing key production and processing challenges in Texas's food and meat science industry.

The successful candidate will develop and maintain a nationally recognized, externally funded research program focused on meat microbiology, food safety, and microbial ecology within animal and food systems. This work will integrate applied and fundamental approaches, including microbial ecology, data analytics, and systems-level modeling to address critical challenges facing the meat and food industries.

Specific responsibilities will include:

• Establish a robust, externally funded research program addressing meat safety, microbiome ecology, pathogen control, and/or product shelf-life. This includes research aligning agricultural production with human nutritional needs, environmental conditions, and economic prosperity for farmers and ranchers.
• Utilize advanced analytical, microbiological, and data science approaches to generate impactful, translational outcomes for the livestock and meat industries which contribute to human health.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals and present findings at national and international scientific meetings.
• Recruit, mentor, and train M.S. and Ph.D. students in animal science-related research.
• Serve on graduate committees and contribute to the development of future scientists and industry professionals.
• Collaboration with industry partners, producers, processors, and regulatory agencies to address food safety challenges and improve product quality as well as human nutritional needs.
• Participate in outreach and engagement activities as appropriate to translate research findings into practical applications for stakeholders.
• Secure extramural funding from federal agencies, industry groups, and other sources to sustain and grow the research program.
• Build strategic partnerships that enhance research capacity, collaboration, and stakeholder impact.
• Participate in departmental, college, and agency service activities.
• Contribute to professional societies and scientific communities relevant to animal science, food safety, and microbiology.

Administrative Relationships:

• Reports directly to the Head of the Department of Animal Science, with guidance from the Director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture.
• Directs the work of support staff, other technical personnel, and graduate students as needed.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in an area of Animal or Food Science, emphasizing meat science or a closely related field.
• Experience with Food and Meat Science and management practices and related activities.
• Strong quantitative skills related to Food and Meat Science research, including expertise in issues related to pathogen persistence, spoilage, and shelf-life in meat production and processing environments.
• Record of peer-reviewed publications of original research.
• Experience working with federal agencies or in other multi-agency collaborative settings.
• Grant writing experience and evidence of the ability to attract external funding.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellence in verbal and written communication, including relevant publication records.
• Team-building skills, collaboration capacity, and project management abilities.
• Ability to multi-task and establish effective working relationships.
• Knowledge and understanding of the mission and role of the Land Grant University System.

Location and Facilities

This position will be administratively located within the Texas A&M AgriLife Research program in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, and will be affiliated with the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture.

The Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University is a nationally recognized program with a strong emphasis on research, innovation, and industry engagement in animal agriculture, meat science, and food systems. The department includes a diverse faculty with expertise spanning meat science, food safety, nutrition, physiology, genetics, and production systems.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture, IHA, is the world's first research institute seeking to optimize health for current and future generations through innovative research connecting agriculture, food systems, and nutrition. The IHA integrates expertise in precision nutrition, responsive agriculture, and social and behavioral research to provide evidence-based solutions for a healthier world. The successful candidate will have opportunities to engage in collaborative, multidisciplinary research initiatives aligned with IHA's mission.

The candidate will have access to modern research facilities and resources within the Department of Animal Science, the Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture, and across the Texas A&M University campus, including laboratories, pilot processing facilities, and shared core facilities that support microbiology, molecular biology, and data analytics. Opportunities for collaboration exist with AgriLife Research centers across the state, federal agencies, and industry partners. These resources and collaborations provide a strong foundation for developing a nationally recognized and impactful research program.

Additional information about Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science, and the Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture is available at:

• Texas A&M AgriLife Research: https://agriliferesearch.tamu.edu/
• Texas A&M University Department of Animal Science: https://animalscience.tamu.edu/
• Texas A&M AgriLife Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture: https://iha.tamu.edu/

ApplicantInstructions

• Cover letter (two-page limit)
• Curriculum vitae, including a list of three references and their contact information within the CV
• Vision statements of research and service (two-page limit).

The anticipated start date is August 1, 2026.

For questions, email inquiries to Dr. Tryon Wickersham, Search Committee Chair, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2471, via Ms. Amy Carwile, e-mail: (amy.carwile@ag.tamu.edu).

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.