Assistant Professor, Precision Nutrition and Food Microbiome

43702BR

Animal and Food Sciences

Position Description

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University invites applications for a nine-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor in Precision Nutrition and Food Microbiome Interfaces to begin September 1, 2026. The anticipated workload distribution is approximately 75% research, 20% teaching, and 5% service.

The successful candidate will develop a nationally competitive research program investigating how food composition, processing, and dietary bioactives influence gut microbiome dynamics, intestinal physiology, and human or animal health outcomes. Areas of emphasis include foods regulated by FDA/USDA (e.g., produce, meats, fermented foods, and ready-to-eat foods). The appointee will collaborate with departmental food microbiology faculty on pathogen control, validation, and regulatory compliance, and with food and meat science faculty on food composition and health evaluation.

This position contributes to a One Health cluster hire that includes faculty in bioinformatics, landscape metagenomics of infection, soil and environmental ecology, microbiology/virology/immunology, and precision lifestyle and microbiome science. The position supports the teaching in food science and contributes to industry- and agency-facing educational programming consistent with Texas Tech University's mission.

About the University

Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University began with a mission to serve the needs of West Texas, but its impact has always reached far beyond. Today, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock (pop. 300,000+), is home to a vibrant community of more than 42,000 students.Texas Tech's 1,800-acre campus showcases Spanish Renaissance architecture and is home to one of the country's largest public art collections. Its 13 colleges include a prestigious School of Law and a distinguished School of Veterinary Medicine. These programs equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their respective fields. Built on the values of West Texas - hard work, grit and authenticity - the university graduates students who are deeply engaged in service to their communities and well-positioned to succeed in the world. Texas Tech is committed to achieving research and scholarly accomplishments that compare favorably to the member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU). For more than 100 years, Texas Tech has been a premier destination for those seeking a world-class education and a unique, personalized experience as a member of the Red Raider family.

About the College

The Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources includes the departments of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Agricultural Education and Communications, Animal and Food Sciences, Landscape Architecture, Plant and Soil Science, and Veterinary Sciences, along with multiple research centers and institutes. The College houses eight major research centers and institutes: the Center for Agriscience Communications, Davis College Water Center, Fiber and Biopolymer Research Institute, Institute for Genomics of Crop Abiotic Stress Tolerance, International Center for Agricultural Competitiveness, International Center for Food Industry Excellence, Texas Cooperative Research Unit, and the Thornton Agricultural Finance Institute.

Davis College enrolls more than 2,700 undergraduate students and more than 500 graduate students. The College sustains approximately 110 tenure-track faculty, 40 non-tenure-track faculty, and more than 165 support staff. Faculty across Davis College generated approximately $17.3 million in federal and private funding to support the research, teaching, and outreach and engagement missions.

Davis College is currently engaged in The Pursuit of PRIME campaign, which is dedicated to shaping the future of agriculture, natural resources, and managed landscapes. The College prepares the next generation of leaders to address major challenges and build a brighter future through investments in advanced facilities, innovative research, and hands-on education. Rooted in Texas Tech's spirit of resilience and excellence, this commitment extends beyond the classroom to strengthen communities and inspire prosperity for generations to come.

About the Department/School/Area

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Texas Tech University prepares ethical leaders and advances innovation in animal agriculture, food systems, equine, and companion animal science. Guided by our values of accountability, community, excellence, grit, and integrity, we pursue impactful teaching, research, and outreach that improve animal lives, strengthen resilient food systems, and enhance human-animal connections.

The department is home to approximately 30 faculty, many of whom are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in their fields and serve more than 1,450 undergraduate and graduate students. Student growth has crested at historic levels, while research productivity and external engagement continue to expand at an unprecedented pace. Areas of research strength include meat science and muscle biology, food science and safety, animal nutrition, health and welfare, and companion animal studies. Faculty and students benefit from modern teaching and research facilities as well as specialized units such as the Equestrian Center, Equine Therapeutic Riding Center, Grantham Companion Animal Research Facility, and the New Deal Agricultural Field Laboratory. Together, these resources support a vibrant and expanding community dedicated to discovery, collaboration, and the enduring spirit of West Texas.

The Texas Tech System-Wide IOHI https://www.depts.ttu.edu/onehealth serves the public by training scientists and health professionals in leading transdisciplinary research and developing innovative solutions for today's most pressing One Health problems. IOHI emphasizes rural healthcare access and communities to ultimately benefit the regional and global health and wellbeing of humans, animals, and ecosystems. The culture of the institute operates at the speed of relevance, expediting the translation of research to practice and discovery to public impact. One Health is inclusive of disciplines from STEM, social sciences, and public health where effective solutions must involve veterinarians, public health and healthcare professionals, microbiologists, agricultural and environmental experts, exercise scientists, nutritionists, food security and safety experts.

The One Microbiome Initiative, within the IOHI seeks to build a cluster of faculty focused on transformative research across broad areas of microbiome investigation, including disease prevention in part through lifestyle-microbiome modulation, and other cutting-edge research that will expand studies within and beyond gut bacteria, and include investigations into the role of fungi, phage, and viruses in human and animal health. The goal is to promote synergistic discoveries that lead to advances in areas like precision microbiome modulation.

Major/Essential Functions

In line with TTU's strategic priorities to engage and empower a robust student body, enable innovative research and creative activities, and transform lives and communities through outreach and engaged scholarship, applicants should have experience working with robust student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels within individual or across the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service.

As a faculty member in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences, the successful candidate will be expected to:

Conduct Research (75%)

• Develop and maintain a high-impact, externally funded research program examining how food matrices, processing, and bioactive compounds modulate intestinal environments (microbiome, barrier integrity, postbiotics, immune signaling) and drive systemic health outcomes (metabolic, neurological, inflammatory, or infectious disease).
• Apply omics and nutrigenomic approaches (such as metagenomics, metabolomics, and transcriptomics) and model systems (animal, human, or ex vivo) to connect food microbiome interactions with health endpoints.
• Integrate food safety perspectives into research by co-designing studies that assess both safety and health-promoting attributes, including pathogen reduction strategies.
• Collaborate with food scientists, microbiologists, process engineers, and One Health cluster colleagues to incorporate validation, regulatory considerations, and translational relevance.
• Lead or contribute to multi-PI proposals (NIH, USDA, FDA, NSF, and industry).
• Disseminate research through peer-reviewed publications, conferences, and engaged scholarship.

Teach (20%)

• Teach approximately two courses per year (or equivalent distribution), including undergraduate and/or graduate instruction aligned with departmental needs and areas of expertise.
• Contribute to the development or enhancement of learning experiences in subject areas related to food-microbiome interactions, precision nutrition, omics applications, or functional food science, which may include modules, laboratory components, hybrid formats, or co-taught courses.
• Support the department by teaching or assisting with core food science courses as needed (e.g., Food Analysis, Food Chemistry, Food Microbiology), depending on expertise and curricular demand.
• Mentor and supervise MS and PhD students, serve on graduate committees, and direct thesis/dissertation research.
• Participate in educational programming connected to the International Center for Food Industry Excellence (ICFIE) or other department-affiliated initiatives consistent with TTU's teaching and educational mission.

Serve (5%)

• Provide service to the department, college, university, and profession.
• Participate in regional and national professional organizations such as the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and the American Society for Nutrition.

Advise and Collaborate

• Support integration of departmental food safety initiatives with the broader One Health cluster to build "food:safety:health" research pipelines.
• Foster collaboration between the Institute for One Health Innovation and the Department of Animal and Food Sciences.
• Engage in cluster- and center-level initiatives such as seminar series, interdisciplinary workshops, collaborative proposals, and seed grant programs.

Organization

Texas Tech University

Faculty Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Food Science, Nutritional Sciences, Biochemistry, Microbiology, or a closely related field by the start date. Examples include defended dissertation, scheduled defense, or documented progress toward degree completion.
• Evidence of scholarly productivity relevant to microbiome science, precision nutrition, or food-health interactions. Examples include peer-reviewed articles (published, accepted, or submitted), dissertation chapters, or conference abstracts.
• Experience with molecular/omics tools (e.g., metagenomics, metabolomics, transcriptomics) and/or intestinal physiology systems. Evidence may include dissertation methodologies, coursework, workshops, or collaborative training.
• A proven capacity or a record indicative of the ability of securing extramural funding, demonstrated by contributions to grant proposals, competitive fellowships, scholarships, or clearly articulated plans in application materials.
• Ability to teach and mentor students, demonstrated through TA experience, guest lectures, undergraduate mentorship, pedagogical training, or teaching evaluations (if available).
• Commitment to working with a breadth of student populations at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels, demonstrated through mentorship, outreach participation, student organization involvement, or training in comprehensive teaching.

This position is designated as involving access to critical infrastructure systems and/or research, as defined by Texas Executive Order GA-48. As such, candidates must successfully complete a comprehensive background check prior to employment. Employees are required to comply with all applicable state and federal regulations related to the protection of critical infrastructure. Ongoing employment is dependent upon maintaining eligibility for access and successfully passing periodic security and compliance reviews.

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the required qualifications, individuals with the following preferred qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply:

• Postdoctoral or equivalent research training experiences
• Experience working with FDA/USDA-regulated food systems, such as produce, meats, fermented foods, or ready-to-eat foods. Examples include internships, industry collaborations, or regulatory short courses.
• Experience in human or animal experimental systems, including familiarity with the Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) processes, sample collection, or coordination of clinical or translational studies.
• Experience contributing to interdisciplinary teams, particularly in data science, microbiology, food safety, nutrition, or biomedical areas.
• Evidence of translational or industry-facing engagement, such as pilot-scale trials, product development, stakeholder workshops, or extension-adjacent activities.
• Experience supporting or leading components of multi-PI or center-level proposals, including drafting sections, generating preliminary data, or managing a project component.
• Record of mentoring, such as supervising undergraduate researchers, interns, or junior lab members, and supporting experiential learning opportunities.

Candidates with advanced experience may be considered for appointments at a higher rank. Preferred qualifications include:

• Established record of securing extramural funding as PI or co-PI.
• Sustained collaborations with industry or regulatory agencies.
• Leadership in multi-institutional or center-level initiatives.
• Experience directing research groups or supervising multiple graduate students.

Duty Point

TTU Lubbock, main campus and affiliated facilities

Safety Information

Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.

Does this position work in a research laboratory?

Yes

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include the following documents in your application:

1. Cover Letter
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Copies of post-baccalaureate transcripts
4. Other document(s) directly related to required qualifications
5. List of three or more references

Questions about this position should be directed to Dr. Angela Walla, Search Committee Chair at Angela.Walla@ttu.edu.

Job Type

Full Time

Pay Basis

Monthly

Pay Statement

Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan.

Travel Required

Up to 25%

Grant Funded?

No

Job Group

Assistant Professor

EEO Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.

Salary Grade

800

Applications must be received by

03/20/2026