Lecturer - Food Science & iCons

About UMass Amherst

The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450 acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued-and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.

About the Departments: Food Science and iCons at UMass Amherst

The first academic discipline in food science began at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1918. The Department of Food Science at UMass Amherst has evolved into one of the most prestigious food science departments globally, with the UMass Food Science Ph.D. program consistently ranked as the best in the United States. The department is renowned for its cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaborations, and commitment to solving global food challenges.

The UMass iCons Program is a signature interdisciplinary certificate program hosted by the College of Natural Sciences at UMass Amherst that sets diverse teams of undergraduates from 45 different majors across STEM and Business fields at UMass to work on problems of global significance in four tracks: (1) food-water-climate, (2) sustainable energy-materials, (3) biomedicine, and (4) AI-future of work. The mission of iCons is to inspire a diverse generation of innovators across these fields with the attitudes and skills needed to solve the complex problems facing society. iCons has graduated ~400 alumni who have found career success in education, entrepreneurship, industry, law, medicine, policy, and research.

The Department of Food Science and the UMass iCons Program are collaborating to bring expertise in food science and food systems into iCons, and expanding faculty expertise in active and experiential learning across both units. Together, we foster an inclusive and collaborative environment, encouraging diverse perspectives[MF1] [PS2] and partnerships across academia, industry, and government to drive innovation in food science and related areas.

Job Summary

The Department of Food Science and UMass iCons program invite applicants to apply for a full-time, academic-year Lecturer position (100% FTE, 9-months), to be jointly hired by the Department of Food Science and the UMass iCons Program. The initial appointment will be for two years, and is renewable based on performance and program need. The successful candidate will be a core faculty member in both the Department of Food Science and the UMass iCons Program, and will interface with other academic groups as well. This job will primarily entail teaching courses and labs.

Essential Functions

• Examples of Teaching Duties (80%):
  
  
  
  • A Food Science General Education course (200 students)
  • The iCons 3 Food Lab course for iCons juniors in the food-water-climate track (Fall)
  • The iCons 1 course on introduction to real-world problem solving (Spring)
  • Food science lab courses, such as Nutritional Microbiology Lab, Food Analysis Lab, etc. (Spring)
  • Develop a new Food Science course on entrepreneurship and Food Product Development (Fall)
  • The future composition of your workload may vary, depending primarily on the academic and administrative needs of the programs.
  
  
  
  
• Examples of Service Duties (20%):
  
  
  
  • iCons: Training new faculty (after getting to know the iCons Program), advising students.
  • Food Science: Serve on assigned department committees, and other duties as assigned.
  
  
  
  

Other Functions

• Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, equality, and inclusiveness.
• Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean's strategic priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Ph.D. in Food Science or related fields.
• Experience in training or mentoring people.
• Laboratory experience and familiarity with the proper use and maintenance of laboratory instruments.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• 2-3 years of teaching experience, especially in a student-centered learning environment.
• Experience mentoring STEM research.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Teach in a variety of instructional settings, including lecture-based classrooms, chemistry laboratories, and microbiology teaching labs.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.

Salary Information

It is expected that the salary range for this position is between $65,500 and $95,312.

Please note:

• The low-end of the pay range in all faculty searches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is the minimum salary for the rank included in the collective bargaining agreement between the University and the Massachusetts Society of Professors, UMass Amherst/MTA/NEA.
• The high-end of the pay range reflects an increase above the median of salaries at this rank within the department for faculty who may have multiple years of faculty experience.
• The specific pay for this position will be determined by the University based on consideration of all relevant factors when and if it decides to extend and offer of employment.

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with the application, please submit the following:

• Resume or CV.
• Cover letter.
• Contact information for three (3) professional references. References will be checked at the finalist stage.
• A statement of teaching interests.

Apply by February 1, 2026 in order to ensure priority consideration. Search will remain open until the position is filled. The presumed start date is September 1, 2026.

At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals at: Inclusive Excellence : College of Natural Sciences : UMass Amherst, and For the Common Good - 2024-2034 : Strategic Plan : UMass Amherst.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.