The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) School of Health Professions (SHP) seeks a Chair of the Department of Nutrition Sciences (DNS). UAB is a Carnegie-classified R1 university and includes one of the nation’s largest academic health science centers and the third-largest public hospital system. The University received over $715 million in research grants and extramural awards in FY2022, and ranked 12th among public universities and 27th overall in federally funded research expenditures. U.S. News & World Report ranked UAB among the top eight percent of universities worldwide in 2022-2023. In 2021 UAB was recognized by Forbes as the best large employer in the country and No. 4 best employer for diversity. In October 2022, UAB received the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine – it was the University’s fifth consecutive HEED award.
The UAB School of Health Professions is one of the largest and most well-respected health professions schools in the nation. It offers more than 35 educational programs and houses several centers and institutes. SHP’s total research funding was a record $24 million in 2022, and it has been in the top three for NIH funding among schools of its type in the US since 2016.
The Department of Nutrition Sciences (DNS) has 25 full-time faculty members, 62 staff, and approximately 182 students and postdoctoral fellows working in distinguished research and education programs across a broad array of areas, including diabetes, obesity, cancer, aging, circadian patterns, and developmental origins. The Department launched an undergraduate Biobehavioral Nutrition and Wellness major in 2021 and is in the early stages of a $10-million building renovation to include a state-of-the-art metabolic kitchen. DNS hosts the NIH-funded Nutrition Obesity Research Center (NORC) and the Diabetes Research Center (DRC), and recently received a $10.8 million NIH grant to establish a Nutrition for Precision Health Center.
The Department seeks in its next Chair an outstanding scholar who will realize a bold vision that includes excellence in research, academic programs, clinical care, and service. Candidates will have a record of academic and administrative distinction, along with a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Candidates must have a doctoral degree relevant to nutrition sciences from an accredited institution and a record commensurate with a tenured faculty appointment at the rank of professor in the School of Health Professions.
Unless explicitly stated in the job posting, it is UAB’s expectation that all employees will reside in the State of Alabama as ofthe date the employment begins.
UAB is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and family-friendly environment in which all faculty and staff can excel and achieve work-life balance irrespective of, race, national origin, age, genetic or family medical history, gender, faith, gender identity and expression as well as sexual orientation. UAB also encourages applications from individuals with disabilities and veterans. A pre-employment background check investigation is performed on candidates selected for employment.
