Job Description

Description of Work
The Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) is seeking applicants with research programs in obesity and co-morbidities, preferably in conjunction with extracellular vesicles, for a faculty position at the rank of Associate Professor with tenure. This is a full-time, 9-month appointment with an apportionment of 75% research, 20% teaching, and 5% service.

The successful candidate is expected to establish an internationally recognized research program that integrates nutrition, genetics, and molecular biology approaches to advance the understanding of dietary molecule-driven disease prevention; expertise in extracellular vesicles (EVs) is desired. The candidate is expected to develop collaborative research with faculty at UNL and/or other institutions; seek out interdisciplinary research projects with investigators from UNL’s NIGMS-supported Nebraska Center for the Prevention of Obesity Diseases through Dietary Molecules (NPOD, https://cehs.unl.edu/npod/) and/or other programs in Nebraska; expand an already externally funded research program recognized by professional peers; publish research findings in top-tier, peer-reviewed journals; and present research findings annually at scientific national or international meetings and/or through invited presentations at research institutions. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching, mentoring, and advising a diverse postgraduate, graduate, and/or undergraduate student body and serve on graduate student committees.

The Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences at UNL provides a dynamic teaching and research environment with approximately 1000 undergraduate and 70 graduate students. Nutrition and Health Sciences is home to the NIH-funded NPOD. NPOD has facilitated the acquisition of more than $200 million in external research funding since 2014 and supports a cutting-edge research core facility, the Biomedical and Obesity Research Core (BORC, https://cehs.unl.edu/borc/). Faculty research is supported by NIH, USDA/NIFA, foundations, and industry in collaboration with the Office of Research and Innovation (https://research.unl.edu/).

NPOD investigators have carved out an internationally recognized niche in EV research, which has resulted in a considerable influx of federal and other external research funding, and have established the prominence of NPOD in the field of EV research. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln offers outstanding research facilities for small and large animals, including a gnotobiotic facility and BORC’s animal imaging facility, metabolic cages, phenotyping, and body composition analysis equipment. The incumbent is expected to become a member of NPOD and its leadership team. NPOD members qualify for utilizing services in BORC at heavily subsidized rates. NPOD supports a vibrant seminar series with external speakers, a spring research retreat and fall research symposium, two annual recognition events for students and postdocs, and monthly meetings of its members with an emphasis on research grant proposal development.

Nebraska offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with the successful candidate’s background and experience. UNL is responsive to the needs of dual-career couples.

For additional questions, please contact Search Committee Chair Dr. Janos Zempleni by email (jzempleni2@unl.edu).

The College of Education and Human Sciences respects people, ideas, voices, and perspectives. Diversity strengthens our ability to problem solve and build more equitable and inclusive solutions for complex challenges.

As an EO/AA employer, the University of Nebraska considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. See https://www.unl.edu/equity/notice-nondiscrimination.
Minimum Required Qualifications
Ph.D. in molecular biology, biochemistry, immunology, nutrition, or a comparable degree and field.
Established record at a level appropriate to Associate Professor rank.
Established research program with a strong record of publications and active external grant funding.
Demonstrated excellence in teaching and mentoring of pre- and/or postdoctoral students.
Preferred Qualifications
Expertise in extracellular vesicles.
Ability to work independently and in a collaborative team environment.
Postdoctoral training.