Assistant Professor of Precision & Performance Nutrition at University of Maine – Orono, ME, USA

Summary

The University of Maine's School of Food & Agriculture is seeking a tenure-track Assistant Professor of Precision & Performance Nutrition. This 10.5-month appointment involves a split of 40% teaching, 30% research, and 30% service, including providing nutrition services to D1 student athletes. The successful candidate will establish an externally funded research program, mentor graduate students, and teach undergraduate and graduate courses in nutrition and sports nutrition. A Ph.D. in Nutrition or a related field with a Master's in Human Nutrition, along with RDN and Maine LD credentials, is required. The position offers a typical hiring salary of $84,000. The application deadline is October 18, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. EST.

Key Facts

Department	School of Food & Agriculture (SFA)
Position Type	Assistant Professor
Discipline	Nutrition
Degree Required	Ph.D. in Nutrition, or in a closely related field with a Master's degree in Human Nutrition
Salary	$84,000
Funding	externally funded research program; grant awards
Contract Duration	Regular, tenure-track, 10.5-month appointment (July 15–May 31)
Deadline	2026-10-18
Required Documents	Cover letter, Resume/curriculum vitae, Names and contact information for references (upon request)
Employer Address	College Avenue, Orono, ME, 04469, US
Employer Contact	Jade McNamara at [email protected]

About the Project

The successful candidate is expected to establish a successful and nationally recognized human nutrition research program, preferably focused on performance or precision nutrition. This involves preparing applications for external funding to secure grants, advising and mentoring students in research, and forming collaborations with internal and external partners. The research should aim to address important nutrition and health issues and benefit the nutrition of athletes and/or individuals with specific nutritional needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver nutrition services to UMaine's student athletes, including group and individual nutrition counseling during the school year and summer.
• Serve as a nutrition programming resource for coaches and managers, providing consultation on athlete fueling stations.
• Deliver or supervise non-credit nutrition and food preparation classes for athletes.
• Develop and teach essential undergraduate and graduate courses in nutrition, including in the online M.S. program in Food Science and Human Nutrition.
• Develop and teach an undergraduate course in sports nutrition.
• Facilitate a Dietetic Internship rotation in Sports Nutrition.
• Establish a successful and nationally recognized human nutrition research program, preferably in performance or precision nutrition.
• Prepare applications for external funding that lead to grant awards.
• Advise, mentor, and provide research experiences for students at all levels.
• Form collaborations with internal and external partners to increase grant success, address important nutrition and health issues, and benefit the nutrition of athletes and/or individuals with specific nutritional needs.

Required Skills

• Earned Ph.D. in Nutrition, or in a closely related field with a Master's degree in Human Nutrition.
• Credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
• Must have or obtain a state of Maine Licensed Dietitian (LD) credential.
• Expertise in precision nutrition and the nutritional needs of young adults, especially athletes.
• Prior experience in teaching at the undergraduate or graduate level.
• Prior nutrition counseling and/or nutrition education experience.
• Evidence of potential for scholarship, such as peer-reviewed publications or successful grant applications.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Evidence or promise of dedication to professional as well as institutional service.
• Willingness to obtain Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD) or Certified International Society of Sports Nutrition (CISSN) credential (preferred).
• Prior experience providing nutrition counseling to athletes (preferred).
• Prior experience as an instructor or teaching assistant using Brightspace or similar learning management systems (preferred).
• Willingness to develop asynchronous online graduate courses (preferred).
• Evidence of collaborative interdisciplinary research and partnerships with non-academic or industry organizations (preferred).
• Post-doctoral fellow experience in nutrition or health (preferred).

Who Should Apply

This position is suitable for a highly qualified individual with a Ph.D. in Nutrition or a closely related field, a Master's degree in Human Nutrition, and RDN and Maine LD credentials. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in nutritional metabolism and performance nutrition, prior teaching and nutrition counseling experience, and a demonstrated potential for scholarship. They should be dedicated to establishing an externally funded research program, mentoring students, and providing nutrition services to athletes.

Benefits

• Tuition benefits (employee and dependent)
• Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and short and long term disability
• Retirement plan options

About the Employer

The University of Maine is a community of over 11,900 undergraduate and graduate students and 2,500 employees across its Orono campus, Machias regional campus, and throughout the state. It is a land, sea, and space grant university, serving as the flagship institution of the University of Maine System. UMaine is recognized as the state's public research university and a Carnegie R1 top-tier research institution, committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the primary focus of this Assistant Professor position?

The primary focus is on Precision & Performance Nutrition, involving teaching, research, and service, particularly providing nutrition education and counseling for D1 student athletes.

What is the duration of the appointment?

It is a regular, tenure-track, 10.5-month appointment, from July 15 to May 31.

What are the required credentials for this position?

Applicants must have an earned Ph.D. in Nutrition or a closely related field with a Master's degree in Human Nutrition, be a Credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and obtain a state of Maine Licensed Dietitian (LD) credential.

What is the typical starting salary for this position?

The typical hiring salary for this 10.5-month work year position is $84,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

What documents are required for the application?

Applicants must upload a cover letter describing experience, interests, and suitability for the position, and a resume/curriculum vitae. References will be requested later for selected candidates.

What is the application deadline?

The application deadline is October 18, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. EST.