Assistant or Associate Professor

About This Role

The Department of Grain Science and Industry at Kansas State University has a long-standing reputation for outstanding students, global industry influence, and cutting-edge research. The department of Grain Science & Industry is in the middle of an exciting revitalization process to position itself as the global leader in grain and plant-based product innovations to enhance health and promote environmental sustainability. Through the Global Center for Grain and Food Innovation (https://www.k-state.edu/ag-innovation/facilities/global-center-grain-food-innovation/ ), which is expected to be completed in 2026, the department will lead collaborative partnerships with both the public and private sector to create impactful solutions that advance our global food security, health, and sustainability. As part of the revitalization efforts, the Department of Grain Science and Industry is seeking applications for up to six 9-month tenure track positions in multiple priority areas. The positions will be in Manhattan, Kansas, which is one of the nation’s top living places (https://manhattan.org/115/About-Manhattan ).

Positions: Tenure-track, Assistant/Associate Professor of Grain Science & Industry (20-40% Teaching, 60-80% Research)

Responsibilities: The successful individuals will contribute to the department’s land-grant missions in teaching and research, and K-State’s Plan for Economic Prosperity in Kansas (https://www.k-state.edu/research/economic-prosperity/). Among primary job expectations:

• Establish and maintain reputable scholarly research programs with extramural support from various sources including federal agencies, commodity organizations and industry partners.
• Teach undergraduate and / or graduate courses.
• Provide quality academic advising to undergraduate and graduate students, mentor students on setting academic and career goals, supervise undergraduate research and other high impact learning activities as needed, and assist with undergraduate student recruitment activities.
• Recruit and mentor graduate students.
• Serve on departmental, college, and university committees; and appropriate professional/industry associations. 
• The candidate will perform other duties as assigned by the Department Head.
• The candidate is expected to support diversity, collegiality, and must have the ability to work in a multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary setting.

Priority areas: 

1. Pet Food Science

Leadership to drive innovation through basic and applied interdisciplinary research that transforms companion animal health and support pet food and allied industries.

• Companion Animal Health: Collaborate with a cross-functional team to conduct basic and applied research utilizing in silico, in vitro and/or in vivo approaches to improve the health and well-being of companion animals. Potential focus areas include but are not limited to nutrition, metabolism, immunology, gut health, geroscience, metabolic network modeling, epidemiology, and application of cell culture and dynamic in vitro digestion models applicable to both companion animals and humans.
• Ingredient and Pet Food Technology: Lead innovations in ingredient and pet food processing technologies related to canning, baking, irradiation, non-thermal, high pressure, etc. to enhance the sustainability, quality, processing efficiency, economics and nutritional value of pet food products.
• Pet Food Quality and Safety: Lead initiatives to create innovative physical and chemical methods to improve nutrient retention, preservation, and safety in raw materials and pet food products. Develop and explore practical applications of novel technologies and the use of AI to provide solutions at both laboratory, and ingredient and pet food manufacturing facility scales, supporting food safety efforts through risk prediction and monitoring models, supply chain and processing optimization, as well as the detection, identification, and characterization of foodborne pathogens.

2. Feed Technology and Manufacturing

Leadership to drive innovation through basic and applied interdisciplinary research that transform animal health and performance and support the animal feed and allied industries.

• Feed and Ingredient Technology: Lead innovations in feed and ingredient processing technologies to address economic, safety and sustainability challenges, to optimize processing efficiency, to enhance the quality and nutritional value of animal feed products, and to ensure feed products promote the health, longevity and/or performance of farmed animals. Advance environmental sustainability of livestock production systems through feed efficiency.
• Feed Quality: Lead innovation to improve the nutritional integrity, safety, and consistency of animal feed products. Investigate and educate on factors affecting ingredient quality, processing methods, and storage conditions to ensure feed meets industry standards and supports optimal animal nutrition and health. Lead initiatives to create innovative physical and chemical methods to improve nutrient retention, preservation, and safety in raw materials and feed products.
• Feed Safety and Biosecurity: Foster cross-disciplinary research to secure the nation's food supply through system innovations that ensure feed biosecurity, biodefense, and safety. Develop and explore practical applications of feed biosecurity protocols, animal food safety plans and novel technologies to provide solutions at both laboratories, and ingredient and feed manufacturing facilities. Support animal food safety efforts through risk prediction and monitoring models, supply chain and processing optimization, as well as the detection, identification, and characterization of foodborne pathogens.

3. Human Health and Wellbeing

Leadership in innovation that impacts overall health, longevity, and quality of life.

• Molecular food science: Adapt fundamental scientific principles to transform plant-based commodities and components into products that precisely target chronic disease prevention and improve longevity and quality of life.
• Food microbiome and gut health: Develop integrated cross-disciplinary research in molecular microbiology, molecular nutrition, and biochemistry to advance human health through integrated microbiome research.
• Food as medicine: Lead discoveries that produce high visibility impacts in the food for health, precision nutrition, and food as medicine paradigms.   

4. Innovative Manufacturing Technologies

Leadership in advanced technologies and timely solutions that create value for industry and consumers, and advance economic development.

• Biomanufacturing: Develop leading-edge technologies in manufacturing, precision fermentation, and biotechnology as they relate to plant-based food components to produce high-value products and solve problems relevant to stakeholders.
• Predictive analytical and smart data integration: Innovations in the food space that exploit big data, fine-scale nutrient mapping, AI tools, computational chemistry, and advanced information technology to improve food quality, safety, and nutrition.   

5. Sustainable Food Systems

Responsive innovations that improve resiliency and efficiencies in the food value chain.

• Bioconversion: Innovations that capture unique value from grain and food manufacturing byproducts and waste streams, develop new ingredients and product solutions from plant commodities, and seek novel applications for underexploited resilient food crops.
• Cell based technologies: Innovate using cellular agricultural technologies, biotechnology, and related areas to sustainably produce novel food ingredients and nutrients. 

6. Analytical Tools to Support Grain and Plant Component Chemistry

Leadership in application of fundamental principles of chemistry to support food safety, ingredient functionality, and food quality and process improvements.

• Chemistry of grain and plant-food components: Conduct basic and applied research on chemical principles that govern composition, structure, and function of grains and other plant-based components, to facilitate food and feed processing efficiency, and improve product quality, and nutritional and health attributes.
• Analytical tools development: Lead innovations in advanced analytical techniques and methods to precisely characterize complex food and feed matrices, components, and metabolites to enable applications that lead to healthier, safer, more sustainable, and higher quality products for humans and animals.

Worksite Option

This position is required to be performed on-site. Work is performed on employer premises or designated assignment location.

Visit this link for K-State’s guidance and policies on remote work and flexible work arrangements.  Remote work agreements are required for all flexible work arrangements and are subject to review.

An employee who is working remotely must reside within the United States in order to comply with all federal and state laws, filings, or tax requirements. Remote work agreements are required for all flexible work arrangements and are subject to review.  Review K-State’s remote work policy details for more information.

What You'll Need to Succeed

Minimum Qualifications:

• Ph.D. degree in a relevant discipline, such as grain science, animal nutrition, agricultural or biological engineering, food science, human nutrition, biochemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering, polymer science etc.
• Ability to teach and advise undergraduate and graduate students
• Ability to build a strong and impactful research program
• Track record of scholarly publications
• Commitment to the University’s land-grant mission

Preferred Qualifications:

• Postdoctoral experience
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with faculty, university administration, and industry scientists and leaders
• Demonstrated research experience and achievements in relevant areas
• Experience in obtaining extramural grants
• Desire and ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment and advance the university’s commitment to collegiality, diversity, and inclusivity 

Other Requirements:

• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment.

How to Apply

Applicants should complete the application process through K-State’s PageUp recruiting system and upload the following:

1. Cover letter to indicate which position(s) you are applying for and include an explanation of how your expertise aligns with the position(s)
2. Statement of teaching philosophy and statement of research philosophy
3. Curriculum vitae
4. Copies of unofficial academic transcripts
5. Name and contact information for three professional references

Contact information: Dr. Yong-Cheng Shi, Search Committee Chair, Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, 201 Shellenberger Hall, Manhattan, Kansas 66506-2201. Telephone: (785) 532-6771; Fax: (785) 532- 7010, E-mail: ycshi@ksu.edu.

Application Window

Applications will close on October 31, 2025.

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range

Salary commensurate with experience and consistent with the position sought.