North Carolina State University Seeking an Assistant Professor: Local Food

The department of 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences at North Carolina State University is seeking applicants for a tenure track Assistant Professor Position (50% research/50% extension) to address the growing area of local food systems and the impact they can have on the health of North Carolinians.

This position would bring policy-informing research together with outreach and engagement activities to further foster local foods as an important factor in healthy communities and families. NC State University and NC Cooperative Extension (NCCE) are positioned as a strong leadership voice at the intercept of public health, local food systems and community development. The Department of 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences has identified a gap in the applied research surrounding the development, delivery and evaluation of how local foods can impact public health within communities, and ultimately with families in North Carolina.

Research Responsibilities

• Evaluate the needs and impacts of local foods on North Carolinians using rigorous research methods
• Inform policy decisions and extension activities, through research in the area of local foods, food availability, and food accessibility as it relates to healthy eating, overweight and obesity, and chronic disease risk reduction
• Examine the link between the consumer, local foods, and health behaviors
• Develop a social laboratory including the development of evaluation guidelines for projects and training local people in both the assessment and evaluation of projects

Extension Responsibilities

• Lead a program to engage faculty within, and those supported by, the department who are currently 
• Provide support to community gardens, local food availability, food safety and food accessibility
• Work with county staff to develop strategies to work effectively with stakeholder within the local food systems and create materials to reduce barriers and increase the impacts of initiatives
• Support all of NCCE professionals as they seek to partner with individuals and organizations within local foods systems

Educational requirements and preferred skills 

• Earned doctorate in nutrition, food systems or health related field
  Past experience working in the area of local food systems
• Research experience in public health policy and health behaviors
• Proven publication record in the professional literature
• Grant writing experience
• Knowledge of the land grant system and/or Cooperative Extension

Application Process
Review of applications will begin on March 11, 2013 and continue until a suitable candidate is found. Please attach a CV, cover letter and names of three references to your application. For further information or to apply visit https://jobs.ncsu.edu and “search vacancies” for position number 00103088.

For questions, contact Dr. Benjamin Chapman, Assistant Professor and Search Committee Chair, at (919) 515-8099 or benjamin_chapman@ncsu.edu

AA/EOE.  ADA accommodations:  Call 919-513-3809.

NC State University welcomes all persons without regard to sexual orientation or genetic information.  NC State University is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their experience, research, teaching and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community.

The University is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.