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Position Summary:
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech is seeking an outstanding candidate for a faculty position with focus on seafood quality and safety. The position will be located at the Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center ( AREC ), (https://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/virginia-seafood.html), Hampton, Virginia with tenure home in the Department of Food Science and Technology (www.fst.vt.edu), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia. This is a 9-month (AY), tenure-track position with a 50% Extension and 50% Research appointment.
The successful candidate is expected to develop and establish a nationally recognized integrated extension and research program on post-harvest seafood quality and safety as it pertains to fish, shellfish, and related products. The Extension program will focus on assisting seafood harvesters and producers, processors, wholesalers, distributers, and retail establishments in improving the quality, safety, nutritional aspects, and value of their products. Furthermore, outreach and educational programs will be developed and conducted for producers, educators, processors, consumers, regulatory agencies and other decision makers. The individual will be expected to develop and establish a nationally and internationally recognized research and extension programs, obtaining extramural funding from a variety of funding sources with emphasis on competitive and industry funding. Potential areas of research may include (but are not limited to) seafood quality and safety as well as optimization of value-added and shelf-life applications as they relate to seafood products. This position supports the Universities' Global Systems Science Destination Area (https://fralin.vt.edu/gssda.html), focusing on the transdisciplinary study of the dynamic interplay among natural and social systems. Faculty working together in this area are collaborating toward transdisciplinary solutions to critical social problems emergent from human activity and environmental change. Linkages with other faculty both within and outside the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are highly encouraged. The successful candidate is also expected to contribute to graduate education. Qualified candidates will demonstrate the ability to recruit and mentor graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) and undergraduate students, and be committed to service in AREC , department, college and university committees, as well as appropriate professional organizations.

Required Qualifications:
Ph.D. in Food Science or related field, and experience in microbiology, chemistry, quality control, or processing of fish, shellfish, and related food products. Demonstrated ability to obtain extramural funding is highly desired. The candidate must have excellent communication skills, demonstrated ability for and commitment to quality student education, demonstrated publication record, and demonstrated ability to develop and conduct scholarly research, both independently and collaboratively. The individual shall create an environment that fosters collegiality and diversity with appropriate stakeholders and university.

Preferred Qualifications:
A strong background in seafood safety is fundamental. Additional experience in innovation for shelf-life extension as well as shipping, tracking and ID of fresh/processed/packaged products is also desirable. Experience on national teams addressing seafood quality, safety, and security issues is helpful, as is demonstrated experience with interdisciplinary teaching and/or research in areas that align with Virginia Tech's university-wide, multi-disciplinary focus on Virginia Tech's Global Systems Science Destination area.



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