Joint search of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; and the Tufts University School of Medicine; Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts

Ranks – Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine; Research Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor at the Friedman School

The Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the Tufts University School of Medicine jointly seek to hire at least two new faculty members with passion, expertise, and scholarship in the area of Food is Medicine (FIM).

Tufts University is making a major new investment to launch a new, cross-university Food is Medicine Institute.   Directed by Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian and bringing together research, training, patient services, policy development, and community engagement, this first-of-its-kind Institute will serve as a catalyst to drive change, improve health, reduce health disparities, and create a more equitable and resilient healthcare system that recognizes the power of nourishing food.  Its efforts will be centered in health equity to work collaboratively with and improve the lives of traditionally marginalized, vulnerable populations.  The Institute will also host and build a national network of partnerships with stakeholders within and beyond healthcare to ensure that efforts advance well-being and policy broadly and reach the people who need them most.

Tufts is already the nation's academic leader in FIM research, with more than a dozen active projects and over $20 million in grant funding secured in the past 2 years.  The Food is Medicine Institute will build upon and advance this leadership with additional university and external investments.  This faculty search is part of a cluster hire to recruit and bring together multiple new faculty across domains of scholarship that jointly focus on novel and rigorous approaches to advance FIM.  Faculty may be appointed at the Friedman School, the School of Medicine, or both, depending on their background, training, scholarship, and interests.

The successful candidate(s) will expand upon, complement, and synergize with our current strengths and bring new expertise and scholarship focused on FIM, including around food and nutrition security, clinical trials, policy evaluation, health services and care delivery, and health disparities. Areas of focus could include, for example:

·       design, implementation, and evaluation of medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, or produce prescriptions, examining reach, uptake, health outcomes, costs, and utilization;

·       incorporation of FIM screening, resource referral, and outcomes evaluation into electronic health records and care pathways;  

·       development of digital nutrition and culinary education for shoppers, patients, and/or healthcare professionals;

·       leveraging food retail, online delivery systems, and consumer-facing technology and information to advance FIM;

·       strengthening nutrition security in federal nutrition programs like SNAP, WIC, or school meals;

·       modeling, simulation, and cost-effectiveness analyses of these or similar interventions; and

·       federal and state policy development, analysis, and advocacy related to FIM.

Across all these areas, novel and rigorous approaches to investigate and address structural disparities and inequities are of special interest.

Candidates must possess a relevant medical or doctoral degree, with additional background and training in health sciences (e.g., medicine, nutrition, public health, health services, etc.), social sciences (e.g., economics, political science, sociology, etc.), or related professions (e.g., public policy, business, law, etc.).  Faculty who work well across disciplines, are collegial and collaborative, and have interest in the intersections of medicine, nutrition, health, and equity will particularly thrive in this role.

Candidates should have a track record of successful interdisciplinary research, especially related to FIM interventions or policies within healthcare systems or food systems.  We seek candidates whose work is relevant to diverse stakeholders in public and private sectors and focuses on populations traditionally underrepresented in research.  Experience in clinical trials, quasi-experimental evaluations, health care delivery, or nutrition policy would be an asset.

The successful candidate should demonstrate productivity in independent research and publications, including demonstrated success or promise to build a robust externally funded research program.  Depending on career interests, faculty rank, and faculty track, candidates may have the opportunity to teach graduate level courses, advise and mentor diverse graduate students at masters, doctoral, and professional levels, and engage in school and university service.

This is a full-time, 12-month position.  Start date is negotiable.  Salary, start-up package and benefits are highly competitive and will be commensurate with the successful candidate's experience.

Questions about the position should be addressed to Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, search committee chair, by email at [email protected].  Interested candidates should submit their application including a cover letter, curriculum vitae, statement of professional objectives, and contact information for three references.  The statement of objectives, uploaded as a single document, should cover the candidate's goals for research, public impact, and teaching as relevant, particularly in the field of FIM.  Review of applications will begin on August 15, 2023, with interviews and candidate visits anticipated during Fall 2023.  Committee members include: Dariush Mozaffarian (Chair), Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Jeffrey Blumberg, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Sean Cash, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Sydney Grob, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Michael Paasche-Orlow, Tufts Medical Center; Ronit Ridberg, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Alice Rushforth, Tufts Medical Center; Helene Vilme, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; John Wong, Tufts Medical Center; and Fang Fang Zhang, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

The first review of applicants will take place at the end of September, and the second review will take place at the end of November. The search will remain open until the end of November.

Tufts University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.  The Friedman School and School of Medicine are committed to the recruitment of a diverse, inclusive faculty, and thus, women, people of color, and members of other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.  Tufts University prides itself on creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. Current and prospective employees of the university are expected to have and continuously develop skills in positively engaging with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students.

Tufts University, founded in 1852, prioritizes quality teaching, highly competitive basic and applied research, and a commitment to active citizenship locally, regionally, and globally. Tufts University has also committed to becoming an anti-racist institution and prides itself on the continuous improvement of diversity, equity and inclusion work. Current and prospective employees of the university are expected to have and continuously develop skill in, and disposition for, positively engaging with a diverse population of faculty, staff, and students.

Tufts University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff and fostering their success when hired. Members of underrepresented groups are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. See the University's Non-Discrimination statement and policy here https://oeo.tufts.edu/policies-procedures/non-discrimination/. If you are an applicant with a disability who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, please contact us by calling the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 617-627-3298 or at [email protected]. Applicants can learn more about requesting reasonable accommodations at https://oeo.tufts.edu/

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