Associate Director for Precision Nutrition and AgriLife Research Professor
About The Position
The Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA) is a research institute focused on precision nutrition, responsive agriculture, and behavioral research to reduce diet-related chronic diseases. It aims to optimize health by connecting agriculture, food systems, and nutrition. The IHA's vision includes three focus areas: Precision Nutrition, Responsive Agriculture, and Healthy Living. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Responsive Agricultural Food Systems Research Unit (RAFSRU) is co-located with IHA and collaborates on research to prevent and mitigate nutrition-associated chronic diseases. Texas A&M AgriLife is a large agricultural and life sciences program comprising several entities, including Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and is dedicated to improving lives, environments, and the Texas economy through education, research, extension, and service.
Requirements
- Ph.D. in Nutrition, Nutritional Sciences, or a related field.
- Established record of high-impact publications in leading journals (e.g., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Journal of Nutrition).
- Established record of sustained extramural funding (NIH, USDA, or equivalent).
- Demonstrated leadership in interdisciplinary research and program development.
- Strong commitment to collaboration and team science.
Nice To Haves
- Expertise in human clinical nutrition or other modern precision nutrition approaches.
- Professional credentials such as Registered Dietitian (RD) or equivalent clinical experience.
- Proven ability to lead large-scale collaborative initiatives.
- Experience translating research into practice, policy, or food/agricultural systems.
- Track record of leadership in national or international scientific organizations.
Responsibilities
- Lead and expand IHA’s Precision Nutrition (PN) research portfolio.
- Develop and execute a vision for building synergy and aligning PN with other IHA focus areas (Responsive Agriculture and Healthy Living).
- Shape institutional priorities and national visibility in PN.
- Advance discoveries across broad areas of nutrition, including the effects of food, nutrients, and dietary patterns on health and disease risk; diet interactions with gut microbiota, contaminants, and environmental exposures; interindividual variability in dietary responses; and nutritional modulation of metabolism, transcriptional regulation, epigenetics, immunity, and resulting health-span.
- Link pre-clinical discoveries to human biomarkers to advance the prevention/treatment of chronic diseases.
- Translate mechanistic insights into actionable dietary strategies and agricultural innovations.
- Maintain a nationally recognized, externally funded research program.
- Build cross-disciplinary teams across nutrition, agriculture, engineering, public health, and clinical sciences.
- Foster partnerships with federal agencies (e.g., NIH, USDA), industry, and academic institutions.
- Lead large-scale, multi-investigator grants and initiatives.
- Mentor graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty.
- Contribute to education in nutrition and related disciplines.
- Promote workforce development in Precision Nutrition.
- Represent IHA in national organizations (e.g., American Society for Nutrition).
- Contribute to scientific advisory panels, editorial boards, and policy discussions.
- Enhance IHA’s reputation as a global leader in Precision Nutrition.
Benefits
- Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums.
- 12-15 days of annual paid holidays.
- Up to eight hours of paid sick leave each month.
- At least eight hours of paid vacation each month.
- Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
- Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
