Here we look at senior-level academic jobs in nutrition and dietetics, the qualifications and experience you will need and opportunities for progression.
High-level nutrition and dietetics research plays an important role in helping to shape public health policy. Academics at this level will already have a reputation for excellence in nutrition research which contributes to improvement in global healthcare strategy.
Job Descriptions
- Senior Lecturer in Nutritional Science
- Associate Professor of Dietetics
- Professor of Public Health Nutrition
Senior Lecturer in Nutritional Science
Senior lecturers in nutritional science teach and train undergraduate and postgraduate students following nutritional science, biomedicine and health sciences degrees. They also lead and contribute to new and ongoing research projects.
Duties:
- Design and delivery of teaching to undergraduate and postgraduate students
- Contributing to curriculum development and managing staff
- Supervising doctoral students and junior researchers
- Working with other senior level academic staff, lecturers and technicians on applied research projects related to nutritional science
What qualifications and experience do you need?
A PhD in an area related to nutrition, dietetics or biomedicine, along with significant teaching and research experience and output, would be essential for senior lecturer roles.
What’s the pay?
Senior lecturers in nutritional science can expect a salary in the range of £47,381 to £59,344 p.a., depending on teaching experience and research output.
What can it lead to?
On gaining experience as a senior lecturer, you could progress to associate professor or professor of nutritional science.
Where can I find jobs?
Interest in degrees in nutritional science is increasing, so you will find that lecturing posts in this field are more widely available. If you are currently a lecturer in nutritional sciences, promotion to a senior lecturer post would depend on the quality of your teaching and research activities.
Find senior lecturer jobs in nutrition here.
Associate Professor of Dietetics
An associate professor of dietetics leads teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate dietetics programmes. They may also teach and research across a number of other medical and health sciences disciplines.
As well as teaching and research, an associate professor of dietetics would also be a registered dietitian with clinical practice experience within a healthcare setting.
Duties:
- Leading the delivery of teaching of related undergraduate and postgraduate programmes
- Contributing to and leading research programmes in dietetics and public health
- Publication and dissemination of results
- Overseeing clinical placements for dietetics students with local NHS providers
- Working closely with the Head of Department to further research activities in dietetics
What qualifications and experience do you need?
A PhD would usually be essential for associate professor positions, however equivalent professional experience as a senior dietitian may also be acceptable, depending on your research skills and experience.
For an associate professor role in dietetics, you would also need to have clinical experience as a practising dietitian and current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Dietetic Association (BDA).
What’s the pay?
Associate professors in dietetics can expect to earn in the range of £54,992 to £59,344 p.a., depending on teaching, research and clinical practice experience.
What can it lead to?
The next step on the academic ladder would be to apply for a professorship in dietetics. This would depend on your contribution to the reputation of the university’s teaching activities and research projects.
Where can I find jobs?
You will find associate professor in dietetics roles in higher education institutions which train dietitians as part of their degree offering, usually within faculties of medicine and health sciences.
Find associate professor in dietetics jobs here.
Professor of Public Health Nutrition
A professor of public health nutrition would usually be a senior clinical dietitian who has contributed to and led research into human nutrition and public health policy.
They would also be responsible for teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students across multiple disciplines within the medical and health sciences.
Duties:
- Leading research into public health nutrition programmes and campaigns
- Teaching students of nutritional science, public health and dietetics
- Working alongside the senior leadership team to develop future initiatives and strategy
- Supervising and managing a team of researchers and lecturers
- Publishing research outcomes and collaborating with academics around the world
What experience and qualifications do you need?
A PhD in public health nutrition or related area, along with an established track record and reputation in public health research would be essential criteria for a professorship.
Depending on the role, you may also be required to have considerable experience as a dietitian and be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
What’s the pay?
Salaries for professorships vary and are often not disclosed in job adverts. However, professors can expect to earn in the range of £50,999 to £70,080p.a., depending on research output and collaboration.
What can it lead to?
On establishing an extensive research portfolio and leadership skills, professors of public health nutrition can progress to a Head of School role or a Deanship.
Where can I find jobs?
Professorships in public health nutrition are highly specialised, therefore availability of jobs is low. However, public health is a multi-disciplinary field which offers wider scope for research. You will find public health nutrition jobs within faculties of medical, health and life sciences.
Find professor of public health nutrition jobs here
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