The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position (open rank) for Fall 2020. The mission of the Rudd Center is to promote solutions to childhood obesity, poor diet, and weight bias through research and policy. The successful candidate will have an established program of research relevant to this mission. Current Rudd Center areas of study are child care and schools; food insecurity; weight bias and stigma; economic policy; and food marketing to youth. We invite candidates whose research strengthens or complements these areas, including, but not limited to: public health nutrition, federal food programs, public policy, health equity, community-engaged research, food marketing/advertising, and communications. The interdisciplinary nature of the Rudd Center is supported by having core faculty members from different academic departments, and we invite candidates from a broad range of academic disciplines and research areas to apply. This position will be housed in the academic department that best fits the individual’s research and teaching expertise.

About the Rudd Center:  Ranked as one of the top-performing non-profit organizations in childhood nutrition and health, the Rudd Center has a reputation as a leader in connecting science with policy to foster a healthier food environment for children and families. The work at the Rudd Center is inspired by the belief that every child, regardless of who they are, where they live, and what they look like, deserves the opportunity to eat healthfully. This is not the reality today. We are committed to interrupting this cycle of inequity by: conducting research to inform advocacy and policy; supporting evidence-based solutions; challenging the status quo; and holding the food industry, media, government, and others that affect the food environment accountable for their actions. For more information please visit www.uconnruddcenter.org.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to research and scholarship of the Rudd Center through extramural funding, high quality publications, impact as measured through citations, and national recognition as through honorific awards. The successful candidate will also be expected to support the solution-oriented work of the Rudd Center by engaging in two-way communication with policy-makers and health advocates, and disseminating research findings through multi-media communications.

In the area of training, the successful candidate will share a commitment to effective instruction at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and mentoring of students and post-doctoral fellows in research, outreach and professional development. Successful candidates will also be expected to broaden participation among members of under-represented groups; and integrate multicultural experiences into instructional methods and research. As a center within UConn’s Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP), the Rudd Center has access to a wealth of resources to support faculty research (https://chip.uconn.edu/).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Earned Ph.D. in psychology, public health, public policy, communications, economics, nutrition, or related field; a demonstrated record of external research funding; a demonstrated record of excellence in teaching; a demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals and presentations at major conferences; a commitment to undergraduate and graduate teaching; and a commitment to promoting diversity through academic and research programs. Equivalent foreign degrees are acceptable.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Assistant professor (or higher rank) appointment at current institution; a demonstrated record of research on topics related to the mission of the Rudd Center; a collaborative and collegial style; respect for multidisciplinary collaboration; demonstrated interest in conducting research to inform policy; a strong scholarly record of peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals and presentations at major conferences; teaching experience as instructor of record for one or more undergraduate or graduate courses; documentation of teaching excellence; outstanding oral and written communication skills.

APPOINTMENT TERMS

This is a full-time, 9-month, tenure-track position with an anticipated start date of August 23, 2020. The successful candidate's appointment will reside at the Rudd Center in Hartford, with teaching responsibilities and faculty involvement at the home academic department in Storrs or Hartford. Salary and rank will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is in a transformational period of growth supported by the $1.7B Next Generation Connecticut (http://nextgenct.uconn.edu/) and the $1B Bioscience Connecticut (http://biosciencect.uchc.edu/) investments and a bold new Academic Plan: Path to Excellence (http://issuu.com/uconnprovost/docs/academic-plan-single-hi-optimized_1). UConn is pleased to continue these investments by inviting applications for faculty positions in the Rudd Center. 

TO APPLY

Please submit the following: cover letter, curriculum vitae; research and scholarship statement (innovative concepts that will form the basis of academic career, experience in proposal development, mentorship of graduate students, etc.); teaching statement (including teaching philosophy, teaching experience, commitment to effective learning, concepts for new course development, etc.); commitment to diversity statement (including broadening participation, integrating multicultural experiences in instruction and research and pedagogical techniques to meet the needs of diverse learning styles, etc.); sample journal articles or books.  Additionally, please follow the instructions in Academic Jobs Online to direct three reference writers to submit letters of reference on your behalf.  Preference will be given to those who apply by September 1st, 2019, however screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. 

For more information regarding the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, please visit the website at http://uconnruddcenter.org/

For more information regarding the Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP), please visit https://chip.uconn.edu/

Employment of the successful candidate will be contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check.  (Search # 2019533)

This position will be filled subject to budgetary approval.

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics, which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

___________________________________________________________________

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty, and staff. The diversity of students, faculty, and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural, and diverse community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities, and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.