Assistant Professor of Dairy Foods Processing and Innovation
Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Oklahoma State University – Stillwater, Oklahoma

The Department of Animal and Food Sciences at Oklahoma State University invites applications for an 11-month tenure-track faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor (80% research and 20% teaching). This position carries the expectation of excellence in research and teaching commensurate with the land-grant mission of Oklahoma State University.

Position Description
The successful candidate will be expected to develop a nationally recognized, externally funded research program in dairy food processing that addresses industry needs. Areas of focus may include dairy foods processing, dairy chemistry, develop value-added and innovative dairy products and processing, shelf-life extension, sustainable processing practices, and packaging solutions that can benefit both small and large-scale dairy businesses. There is an expectation to obtain external funding from industry, federal agencies, commodity groups, or other granting sources. The successful candidate is also expected to develop collaborations with other faculty in the department, division, university, and externally, and to publish research findings in high-impact scientific journals. The new hire will be expected to develop collaborations and synergies with faculty and staff in the Food and Agricultural Products Center. Teaching responsibilities will be consistent with the needs of the Food Science degree program and the selected candidate’s expertise and interests. This may include the existing FDSC 3603 Processing Dairy Foods course or new courses related to dairy products, sensory analysis, or other appropriate courses. In addition, the successful candidate will advise graduate students and will also be expected to participate in faculty career mentoring of undergraduate students.

Qualifications
A Ph.D. in Dairy Science, Animal Science, Food Science, or related areas with an emphasis on dairy processing. Preference will be given to individuals with a proven track record of grantsmanship and publications in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, individuals should possess strong oral and written communication skills, as well as demonstrated success in collaboration within an academic setting.

Employment Conditions
This position is to be filled by July 1, 2026, or as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. The position is an 11-month, tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant Professor. Salary and benefits are competitive and based on qualifications and experience. Retirement and long-term disability, medical, dental and life insurance programs are available to employees. Continuation of this position is subject to performance, needs, and available funding.

About the Department
The Department of Animal and Food Sciences has over 1150 undergraduate students, 60 M.S. and Ph.D. students, and 33 faculty. The department is home to nine undergraduate student organizations and seven competitive undergraduate judging teams. The department operates nine farm and ranch units with high-quality livestock encompassing over 12,000 acres. For more information about the department, go to: http://www.afs.okstate.edu/

Application
Formal applications are via electronic submission at https://jobs.okstate.edu.
To apply, candidates should submit: (a) a letter of application describing how their academic preparation and experience qualify them for this faculty position; (b) curriculum vitae; (c) official academic transcripts from their degree granting institutions; (d) statement of research philosophy and research goals ; (e) statement of teaching philosophy and goals for scholarly activity in teaching; and (f) names and contact information of three professional references. Questions can be directed to Dr. Ranjith Ramanathan (Ranjith.ramanathan@okstate.edu).

Review of applications will begin December 19, 2026. For full consideration, please submit all materials by December 19, 2026. Review of applications will continue until a suitable candidate is selected. To learn more about OSU Agriculture and Stillwater, visit these websites:
• https://agriculture.okstate.edu
• https://agresearch.okstate.edu
• https://extension.okstate.edu
• https://www.okstate.edu
• https://www.visitstillwater.org
• https://www.stillwaterchamber.org