Assistant Professor - Nutritional Sciences

Date Posted: 03/14/2025
Closing Date: 04/22/2025, 11:59PM ET
Req ID: 39771
Job Category: Faculty - Tenure Stream (continuing)
Faculty/Division: Temerty Faculty of Medicine
Department: Dept of Nutritional Sciences
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Description:

The Department of Nutritional Sciences in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto invites applications for a full-time tenure-stream position in the area of nutritional sciences. The appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor and the anticipated start date is September 1, 2025. 

Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in Nutritional Sciences, Human Nutrition, or a related discipline at the time of appointment with a demonstrated record of excellence in research and teaching. The successful applicant must also be either registered or eligible for registration with the College of Dietitians of Ontario. Completion of post-doctoral studies or equivalent would be an asset, as would prior experience working as a clinical dietitian. The successful applicant will have expertise in interventional or experimental human research (e.g. randomized controlled trials, cross-over studies, etc.).  Strong preference will be given to applicants whose work includes novel methodological approaches and outcome assessments that extend beyond weight or body composition. We seek candidates whose research and teaching interests complement and enhance our existing departmental strengths. Expertise in vitamins and minerals would also be an asset as the Department is wishing to strengthen the faculty complement in this area. The successful candidate will be expected to pursue innovative, independent, and impactful interventional research at the highest international level and to establish an outstanding, competitive, and externally funded research program.

The Department makes a significant contribution to nutritional sciences undergraduate education predominantly to students registered through the Faculty of Arts and Science. The successful applicant will specifically be tasked with helping with the development of an Applied Human Nutrition Specialist program for undergraduate students from the Faculty of Arts and Science.

Candidates must provide evidence of research excellence of an internationally competitive caliber, which can be demonstrated by contributions and publications in leading journals or forthcoming publications meeting high international standards, the research statement, presentations at significant conferences, accolades or awards, and evidence of superior research plans, as well as strong endorsements by referees of high standing.

Candidates must demonstrate a record of excellence in teaching in a degree granting program.  Evidence of excellence in teaching is demonstrated through teaching accomplishments, and the teaching dossier, including a teaching statement, sample course materials, and teaching evaluations or other evidence of superior performance in teaching-related activities submitted as part of the application, as well as strong letters of reference.  Other teaching-related activities can include performance as a teaching assistant or course instructor, experience leading workshops or seminars, student mentorship and/or conference presentations.

In addition to research and teaching, the successful applicant will also be expected to perform standard professional and administrative activities typical of an academic unit.

Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The Department of Nutritional Science is committed to improving nutritional health across the life cycle, striving for equity – locally and globally – through collaborative research, contributions to policy and practice, and teaching that cover the spectrum from -omics to population health. In addition to nutritional sciences undergraduate education, the Department has robust MSc and PhD graduate programs, and in collaboration with the Joannah and Brian Lawson Centre for Child Nutrition, has made important new contributions to the incorporation of nutrition into the medical curriculum, and post-graduate medical education. The research interests of the Department range from basic science to clinical investigation and population health spanning four core research platforms: healthy human development and aging; precision nutrition using –omics approaches; chronic disease prevention and treatment; and nutrition, food, and public policy.

The University of Toronto provides the opportunity to teach, conduct research, and live in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. The University of Toronto likewise ranks annually as one of the best public universities in the world and as the premier university in Canada. The University is affiliated with various hospitals, research institutes, healthcare sites, and institutions, and enjoys partnerships with many cognate departments and community organizations. For more information about the Department of Nutritional Sciences, including its 2021-2026 Strategic plan, please visit our home page at-- http://nutrisci.med.utoronto.ca.

All qualified applicants are invited to apply online by clicking on the link below.

Applicants must submit the following:

• a cover letter;
• a current curriculum vitae;
• a research statement outlining current and future research interests (~2 pages);
• three first-authored original research publications from the last 5 years;
• a teaching dossier that includes a statement of teaching and mentoring philosophy and a description of teaching activities which could also include, if applicable, undergraduate or graduate student mentorship, teaching assistant experience, or scientific presentations, (~ 2 pages); sample course materials; and teaching evaluations or evidence of superior performance in other teaching-related activities as listed above;
• a statement of contributions to equity, diversity and inclusion, and accessibility (1 page) as outlined below; and
• name and contact information for three references.

The Department is committed to applying the principles of equity, diversity, indigeneity, inclusion, and accessibility (EDIIA), which includes wellness in our operations. We seek candidates whose application materials speak to their commitment to EDIIA and whose approach to teaching and service will support our commitment to these values. Candidates are therefore also asked to submit a 1-page statement of contributions to equity and diversity, which might cover topics such as research activities or teaching that incorporates a focus on underrepresented communities.

Applicants must also provide the name and contact information of three references. The University of Toronto’s recruiting tool will automatically solicit and collect letters of reference from each referee the day after an application is submitted. Applicants, however, remain responsible for ensuring that references submit recent letters (on letterhead, dated, and signed) by the closing date. More details on the automatic reference letter collection, including timelines, are available in the candidate FAQ.

Submission guidelines can be found at http://uoft.me/how-to-apply Your CV and cover letter should be uploaded into the dedicated fields. Please combine additional application materials into one or two files in PDF/MS Word format. If you have any questions about this position, please contact Dr. Deborah O’Connor, Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at dns.chair@utoronto.ca.

All application materials, including recent reference letters, must be received by April 22, 2025.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

Diversity Statement
The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see http://uoft.me/UP.

Accessibility Statement
The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.