An academic institution in Abu Dhabi is seeking qualified candidates for a full-time, tenure-track Assistant Professor or Associate Professor position specializing in Food Safety and Food Risk Assessment. The successful candidate will contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate education, develop an independent research programme, and advance scientific knowledge in food safety, foodborne disease prevention, hazard detection, food traceability and sustainable food supply chains.
Location: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Industry: Higher Education / Academic Research
Employment Type: Full-Time, Tenure-Track
Specialization: Food Science, Food Safety, Food Microbiology and Food Risk Assessment
This position is suitable for experienced food science researchers and academics with expertise in food safety management, quantitative microbial risk assessment, predictive microbiology, food toxicology, epidemiology or emerging food safety technologies. The selected candidate will be expected to establish research collaborations, secure external research funding, publish in high-quality peer-reviewed journals and mentor students pursuing advanced research degrees.
The appointment level will depend on the candidate’s academic qualifications, research achievements, teaching experience and scholarly contributions.
Job Responsibilities
- Teach undergraduate and postgraduate courses in food science, food safety, food microbiology, food inspection, HACCP, food safety management systems and related disciplines.
- Design and deliver lectures, practical sessions, research-based learning activities and assessments that reflect current developments in food safety science.
- Integrate modern scientific approaches, including molecular and genomic techniques, predictive modelling, data analytics and emerging food safety technologies, into teaching activities.
- Participate in curriculum development, course reviews and the introduction of new subjects aligned with developments in food science and public health.
- Supervise undergraduate projects, master’s dissertations and PhD research in food safety, risk assessment and related research areas.
- Mentor students in scientific writing, experimental design, research methodology, data interpretation and publication preparation.
Research and Scholarly Activities
- Establish and lead an independent research programme focusing on food safety science, quantitative food risk assessment and foodborne disease prevention.
- Conduct research on microbial and chemical hazards, food contamination, foodborne pathogens, predictive microbiology and food safety interventions.
- Develop innovative methods for identifying, assessing and mitigating risks throughout food production, processing, storage, transportation and distribution.
- Apply relevant research approaches, including molecular epidemiology, microbial ecology, genomic analysis, artificial intelligence, big data analytics and predictive modelling.
- Investigate the relationships between food systems, environmental factors and human health to support safer and more sustainable food supply chains.
- Prepare competitive research proposals and secure external funding from government agencies, research councils, industry partners and other funding organisations.
- Publish original research findings in reputable, peer-reviewed international scientific journals and present research outcomes at conferences and academic meetings.
- Build interdisciplinary research collaborations within the university and with national and international research institutions.
- Translate research findings into practical recommendations for food manufacturers, regulatory authorities and public health organisations.
University Service and Professional Engagement
- Participate in departmental, college and university committees, academic planning and institutional development activities.
- Contribute to professional societies, scientific conferences, journal editorial activities and peer-review assignments.
- Collaborate with food industries, government agencies, regulatory authorities and public health organisations on applied food safety research.
- Support professional development, scientific knowledge exchange and community outreach initiatives related to food safety and regulatory compliance.
- Promote academic integrity, research ethics, inclusive education and excellence in teaching and research.
Job Qualifications
- A PhD in Food Science, Food Safety, Food Microbiology or a closely related discipline.
- Demonstrated expertise in one or more relevant areas, such as food safety and risk assessment, quantitative microbial risk assessment, food toxicology, foodborne disease epidemiology, hazard detection, predictive microbiology or microbial ecology.
- A strong record of research productivity, supported by high-quality peer-reviewed publications in relevant scientific fields.
- A competitive Scopus h-index and demonstrated scholarly impact appropriate to the candidate’s academic career stage.
- The ability to develop and deliver effective undergraduate and postgraduate teaching in food science and food safety-related subjects.
- Excellent written and spoken English communication skills.
- Strong analytical, research management, collaboration and student mentorship skills.
- A commitment to academic excellence, research integrity, diversity and inclusive learning environments.
Preferred Qualifications and Experience
- Postdoctoral research experience at a reputable university or research institution, or previous experience at the Assistant Professor level, for candidates applying for an Assistant Professor appointment.
- An established record of independent scholarship, successful research grant acquisition and academic leadership for candidates applying for an Associate Professor appointment.
- Previous university-level teaching experience in food safety, food microbiology, food inspection, HACCP or related subjects.
- Experience securing external research funding and managing multidisciplinary research projects.
- Demonstrated collaboration with food manufacturers, regulatory authorities, public health agencies or government organisations.
- Active participation in relevant scientific and professional societies.
- Relevant professional certifications or additional specialist training in food safety, risk assessment or related fields.
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