Assistant/Associate Professor of Food Safety and Risk Assessment

Job description

Position Overview
The Department of Food Science at UAEU’s CAVM invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant/Associate Professor position in Food Safety & Food Risk Assessment. We seek a dynamic individual who will focus on advancing food safety related to detection, traceability, management, and the sustainability of food supply chains. This pivotal role integrates food systems research to reduce risks of foodborne diseases by enhancing our understanding of the complex relationships between food, environment, and human health. The successful candidate will strengthen the university’s capacity to address food safety challenges and help position UAEU as a leading center for food safety research and education. The position is open at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor, commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and experience. Appointment at the Associate level requires a record of scholarly achievement appropriate to that rank.
Key Responsibilities
Teaching and Education
• Course Instruction: Teach undergraduate and graduate courses in food safety, food microbiology, food inspection, food safety management, HACCP, and related areas. This includes developing and delivering course content that integrates contemporary methods (such as molecular/genomic methods and data analytics).
• Curriculum Development: Contribute actively to curriculum reviews and develop new courses in the candidate’s expertise, integrating recent research findings and case studies.
• Student Mentorship: Supervise and mentor undergraduate and graduate students, guiding thesis and dissertation research related to food safety and risk assessment.
Research and Scholarly Activity
• Research Program Development: Establish an independent, externally-funded research program focused on food safety science and quantitative food risk assessment, predictive microbiology, microbial or chemical hazard detection, and interventions for food safety.
• Innovation in Risk Assessment: Develop innovative methods for assessing and mitigating health risks within food production, processing, and distribution, potentially involving molecular epidemiology, big data analytics, artificial intelligence, or predictive modeling.
• Research Funding and Collaboration: Secure external funding and engage in collaborative research within and beyond the university. Collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies and industry, to produce practical and impactful research.
• Dissemination of Findings: Publish research outcomes in high-quality peer-reviewed journals and present at scientific conferences, ensuring research integration into teaching and student mentorship.
Service and Outreach
• University Service: Engage in departmental, college, and university service, including committee memberships and participation in institutional activities.
• Professional Service: Actively participate in professional societies, conferences, and editorial roles in scientific journals.
• Community Outreach: Contribute expertise to the food industry, regulatory bodies, and community outreach programs, addressing food safety management and regulatory compliance.

Minimum qualification

Minimum Required Qualifications:
• Education: A Ph.D. in Food Science, Food Safety, Food Microbiology, or a closely related discipline is required.
• Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in food safety and risk assessment, microbial risk analysis, food toxicology, epidemiology of foodborne diseases, novel detection methods, hazard analysis, predictive microbiology, or microbial ecology of food systems.
• Research Productivity: Documented high-quality research productivity in relevant fields demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications. A high Scopus h-index in the relevant research area is expected.
• Teaching Ability: Proven capability or clear potential to teach effectively at the university level in food safety-related subjects.
• Communication and Collaboration: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with strong interpersonal abilities to work in multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to Excellence: Demonstrated commitment to academic excellence, integrity, diversity, and inclusiveness.
Application Procedure
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Interested candidates should submit the following documents through the UAEU online employment portal:
• Cover Letter detailing interest and suitability for the position.
The cover letter must include the following summary table clearly:
o Scopus ID
o H-index (Scopus)
o Number of publications (Scopus)
o University name from which Ph.D. was obtained
o Patents (if applicable, list and number)
o Number of supervised Ph.D. students
o Number of supervised MSc students
o Field-impact weighting (if available)
o Google Scholar Profile Link
• Curriculum Vitae
• Statement of Research Plans
• Statement of Teaching Philosophy and Experience
• Contact Information for at least three Professional References
Start Date: Spring 2026 (Jan 5th 2026).

Preferred qualification

• Postdoctoral and Professional Experience:
o Assistant Professor applicants must have postdoctoral research experience from reputable universities or prior professional experience at the Assistant Professor rank.
o Associate Professor applicants must demonstrate established independent scholarship and successful grant acquisition.
• Teaching Experience: Previous experience teaching at the university level, particularly in food safety, microbiology, food inspection, HACCP, or related fields.
• Grant Success: Proven track record of securing research funding and managing research projects effectively.
• Industry/Regulatory Engagement: Experience collaborating with food industry, regulatory authorities, or public health agencies.
• Professional Involvement: Active participation in professional societies or holding relevant professional certifications.

Special instructions to applicants

Start Date: Spring 2026 (Jan 5th 2026).

Department

Food Science - (CAVM)

College or division

College of Agricul.&Veterinary Med.