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Assistant Professional Researcher in Community Nutrition

Position overview

Salary range: The salary range for this position is $93,400-$122,100. “Off-scale salaries”, i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions, qualifications, and experience.

Application Window

Open date: June 23, 2025

Next review date: Friday, Jul 11, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

NATURE AND PURPOSE
The Department of Nutrition at the University of California, Davis, is recruiting for a full-time Professional Researcher at the Assistant rank in Community Nutrition.
The Professional Researcher develops and oversees their own independent, creative, and high quality research program equivalent to that required for the Professor series. The Professional Researcher takes major responsibility and leadership for their program(s). The appointee is expected to secure funding as a PI or co-PI within a collaborative program. Appointees do not have teaching responsibilities.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

I.RESEARCH (90%)
This candidate is required to develop an independent research program on community nutrition, conducting studies on real world behaviors, and drivers of these behaviors, that impact nutrition based on quantitative and qualitative data.

The candidate will be expected to:

  1. Lead and collaborate with others on the research team and community representatives to develop proposals to acquire funding from federal, state, or other agencies
  2. Devise and conduct studies using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods analyses to better understand drivers of community nutrition and evaluate related community-based interventions.
  3. Collect, summarize and analyze data employing robust methodologies.
  4. Publish research results in peer-reviewed journals.
  5. Disseminate research findings to non-academic audiences in the community.

Other research duties may include:

  1. Managing the allocated budget and project resources efficiently and effectively. Monitor project timelines, milestones, and deliverables to ensure they align with the established projects’ goals and objectives.
  2. Coordinate with others on the research team and maintain communication to foster a collaborative and productive work environment to maximize team efficiency and output.
  3. Prepare comprehensive and accurate progress reports detailing the advancements and outcomes of the research projects. Ensure timely submission of progress reports to funding agencies, adhering to their specific reporting requirements.
  4. Completing administrative paperwork necessary to conduct research projects, including preparing and submitting data requests, institutional review board submissions, and completing required training activities.
  5. Train, consult with, and advise graduate students and post-doctoral researchers with regard to experimental design and data analysis of studies conducted in his or her area of expertise.

II.PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (5%)
The candidate will participate in professional societies and conferences appropriate to his/her specific field and will serve as a reviewer of research proposals and scientific publications as appropriate. The candidate will attend seminars to present research results and give research presentations at national or international scientific meetings. When appropriate, the candidate may be requested to coordinate seminars and laboratory meetings.
The candidate will develop content expertise in this area of research and keep abreast of new developments in the field through regular review of peer-reviewed articles and scholarly literature.

III.UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5%)
University and Public Service is required for the Associate and Full Title ranks. The candidate will engage in University service activities such as guest lecturing and committee service. Teaching full classroom courses is not an expectation of this position.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

•Ph.D. in nutrition or related field.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• Demonstrated evidence of successful scholarly publication in peer-reviewed journals, as first author, in the field of community nutrition.
• Evidence of successful acquisition of extramural research funding, as PI.
• Demonstrated evidence of communicating community nutrition research to non-academic audiences
• Demonstrate the ability to work cooperatively and collegially within a diverse environment.

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

• Demonstrated experience conducting community-engaged applied research.
• Supervisory experience with students or data analysts.
• Completion of additional post-PhD training on innovative approaches to community nutrition

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research

  • Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Reference requirements
  • 2-4 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07158

Help contact: eevilleda@ucdavis.edu

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.
UC Davis also is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

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Job location

Davis, CA