Assistant Professor-Tenure System

Job no: 504329
Work type: Faculty/Academic Staff
Major Administrative Unit / College: College Of Agriculture And Nat Resources
Department: Packaging 10002634
Salary: Salary Commensurate with Experience
Location: East Lansing
Categories: Full Time (90-100%), Tenure System Faculty, Agriculture, Non-Union
Position Summary

The School of Packaging (www.packaging.msu.edu) in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University (MSU) is seeking qualified applicants for a position at the Assistant Professor level. This is a tenure stream position with a research/teaching/service (45%/45%/10%) assignment. The successful candidate will be expected to develop a nationally and internationally recognized research program in packaging design which leverages innovation and emerging technologies, and demonstrate excellence in teaching packaging design courses.

Packaging is an interdisciplinary field integrating science, engineering, technology and management to protect and identify products for distribution, storage, sale and use. It encompasses the process of design, evaluation, and production of packages. Packaging is a system integral to the value chain that impacts product quality, user satisfaction, distribution efficiencies, and safety.

As the premier Land Grant University, MSU has strong interrelated programs across the spectrum of food, health, and sustainability and is committed to linking food, environment, and human health. The School of Packaging (SoP), founded in 1952, is the leading institution in packaging education and research. As the only U.S. university offering a Ph.D. program in packaging, the School of Packaging at MSU attracts students from a variety of disciplines around the world. Our community of scholars is poised for significant growth and a commitment to improving practice through the land-grant mission of Michigan State University. We are seeking a colleague who can contribute, through their research, teaching, and service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community and who will build collaborative ties with other departments across the University.

Responsibilities: The successful candidate is expected to develop a research program involving the use of a variety of materials (e.g, plastics, paper products, corrugated fiberboard, metals, glass, etc), new technologies, and processes to create and/or improve storage and distribution of packaged products. Possible avenues for innovation include smart packaging and Internet of Things, new materials, rapid prototyping, additive/subtractive manufacturing, packaging for e-commerce, food waste reduction, healthcare packaging, and packaging test technology. Potential designed packages include flexible and rigid containers such as bags and pouches, cartons, boxes, bottles, cans, and others. Research should employ basic and applied sciences while addressing the issues and opportunities inherent in the changing supply chain. The successful candidate will provide leadership by developing an innovative research program in packaging, securing competitive external grant funding, publishing in high quality peer-reviewed journals, mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, providing leadership and service in professional and scientific associations, and establishing strong ties with the private sector.

The candidate will be expected to exhibit interest and promise of excellence in teaching in packaging. Experience with Esko package design software, Solidworks or similar design software will be needed for the initial teaching assignment of two to three courses per year at the undergraduate level including (1) Package Development Technology and (2) Virtual Design & Prototyping. In addition, a graduate level course related to the candidate's discipline and background may be developed.

The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at Michigan State University is committed to achieving excellence by creating and sustaining an accessible and inclusive culture that values cultural and academic diversity. We are an equal opportunity /affirmative action employer. The CANR is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that academic excellence is achieved through open access and proactive inclusion.

MSU enjoys a park-like campus with outlying research facilities and natural areas. The campus is located in the city of East Lansing, adjacent to the capital city of Lansing. The Lansing metropolitan area has a diverse population of approximately 450,000. Local communities have excellent school systems and place a high value on education. The University is proactive about its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and provides individual accessibility plans to students and employees with disabilities. Michigan State University is also proactive in exploring opportunities for employment for dual career families, both inside and outside the University and respects all family forms. Information about MSU's dual career support can be found at http://miwin.msu.edu/ Information about WorkLife at MSU can be found at http://worklife.msu.edu

Required Degree

Doctorate -Packaging, Mechanical Engineering,

Minimum Requirements

Candidates must have the following qualifications:

A) A doctoral degree in Packaging, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Agricutural/Biosystems Engineering, Mechanics, Material Science or a closely related field.

B) Experience in package design and manufacturing techniques

C) A record that indicates the potential for success in a diverse and inclusive teaching and research intensive environment

Desired Qualifications

The strongest candidate will have:

A) applied principles of engineering to packaging and/or the distribution environment

B) industry experience and/or a demonstrated understanding of the current and emerging needs of the packaging industry

C) a record of competitive grant funding

D) experience with finite element modeling (FEM), computational fluid mechanics (CFD) and system modeling

E) familiarity with optimization techniques and processes employed in product development

F) applied principles of design thinking and innovation to unique and challenging opportunities

Required Application Materials

Qualified applicants should submit the following materials online at http://careers.msu.edu

A) a letter of application

B) a written statement (limited to 2 pages) that outlines your research vision as it relates to the field of packaging Please include a discussion of both short (five years) and long-term (15 years or more) research directions. Include your rationale (why) and strategies (how)

C) a current curriculum vitae

D) a statement of Teaching Philosophy as it relates to computer applications for packaging design (limited to 1 page)

E) a summary of describing how a commitment to diversity and inclusion informs past and future professional contributions in creating an inclusive classroom and/or research endeavors, any experience in mentoring diverse students, and an explanation of how you will contribute to our goals of inclusive excellence (limited to 1 page)

F) the names and email addresses of at least 3 references

Special Instructions

Review of applications will begin on August 15, 2018, and will continue until the position is filled. Inquiries about the position should be addressed to Dr. Laurent Matuana, Search Committee Chair, School of Packaging, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1325. Telephone 517-353-4616, E-mail: matuana@msu.edu

Advertised: Jun 20, 2018 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: