Associate Director for Precision Nutrition and AgriLife Research Professor

Location: College Station, Texas

Job Type: Faculty

About the role

The Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture (IHA) at Texas A&M AgriLife Research is the world’s first research institute to combine precision nutrition, responsive agriculture, and behavioral research to reduce diet‑related chronic disease while considering environmental and economic effects. IHA’s mission is to optimize health for current and future generations through innovative research that connects agriculture, food systems, and nutrition. The institute collaborates closely with the USDA Agricultural Research Service’s Responsive Agricultural Food Systems Research Unit.

Responsibilities

• Lead and expand IHA’s Precision Nutrition research portfolio.
• Develop and execute a bold vision that aligns Precision Nutrition with Responsive Agriculture and Healthy Living.
• Shape institutional priorities and raise national visibility in Precision Nutrition.
• Advance discoveries across nutrition areas, including effects of foods, nutrients, bioactives, dietary patterns, diet‑microbiota interactions, interindividual variability, and nutritional modulation of metabolism, epigenetics, immunity, and health‑span.
• Link pre‑clinical discoveries to human biomarkers to advance prevention and 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 and promote workforce development in Precision Nutrition.
• Represent IHA in national organizations, scientific advisory panels, editorial boards, and policy discussions.
• Enhance IHA’s reputation as a global leader in Precision Nutrition.

Required Qualifications

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

• 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.

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 and 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.