Professor - Feedlot Extension Specialist

Open Rank Professor - Feedlot Extension Specialist

Position Title:

Open Rank Professor – Feedlot Extension Specialist Department:
Animal Science Requisition No.: F_260066 Posting Open Date: 06/15/2026 Posting Close Date:
Open Until Filled

The Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska‑Lincoln (UNL), Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR), is seeking an open‑rank professor to serve as a Feedlot Extension Specialist. The role is a 12‑month, tenure‑track appointment focused on world‑class Extension and research programs in beef feedlot nutrition and management. The position is 60 % Extension and 40 % research and will be located at a Research, Extension and Education Center (REEC) in western Nebraska, with preference toward the Pacific Northwest Extension Center (PREEC) in Scottsbluff, NE.

• Lead planning, development, delivery, and evaluation of innovative statewide feedlot Extension programs.
• Serve as Chair of the Nebraska Feedlot Extension Committee, collaborating with Nebraska Extension and the Great Plains Veterinary Education Center.
• Develop signature programming areas, including overseeing Beef Feedlot Round tables and new innovative structures.
• Engage producers through social media, podcasts, webinars, and industry summits; create high‑impact digital content and maintain a social media presence.
• Represent UNL at state, regional, and national events; seek funding through grants and partnerships to support Extension programming.
• Publish peer‑reviewed extension articles and develop educational materials for professional and lay audiences.

• Provide services to feedlot sectors in western, central, and eastern Nebraska.
• Establish partnerships in the panhandle region to address stakeholder needs through Extension programming and research collaborations at PREEC.
• Schedule regular visits and engagement activities to build producer relationships.
• Coordinate periodic producer meetings at the county level with educators.
• Generate high‑throughput Extension communication (text and social media) tailored to regional challenges.

• Develop and maintain an externally funded research program addressing critical beef feedlot system issues (management, nutrition, health, sustainability, production efficiency).
• Lead and collaborate on interdisciplinary research with faculty across ruminant nutrition, animal health, agricultural engineering, economics, and related fields.
• Publish findings in peer‑reviewed scientific journals and present at national and international conferences.
• Develop and lead large‑scale grant proposals from federal, state, commodity group, and industry sources; contribute to USDA multi‑state research committees and sustainability initiatives.
• Provide research experiences to graduate and undergraduate students, including thesis/dissertation supervision, mentoring for academic competitions, and participation in research symposia.
• Supply data‑driven insights to inform industry practices and policy discussions on feedlot management, nutrition, sustainability, labor, and animal welfare.
• Identify and secure research funding for the PREEC feedlot and mentor personnel running specific projects.
• Pursue research relevant to Nebraska’s feedlot sectors, emphasizing the panhandle.
• Leverage relationships with feedlot operators across regions for collaborative research sites.
• Identify research needs through producer listening sessions and partner with industry to develop solutions.

• Ph.D. in Animal Science or a terminal degree in a related field.
• Expertise in ruminant nutrition.
• Familiarity with beef feedlot production in Nebraska and the United States.

• Experience, training, and/or working knowledge of the beef feedlot industry in Nebraska and the U.S.
• Strong evidence of research experience and capability to conduct feedlot research.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Evidence of experience and/or training in developing Extension programming.
• Evidence of collaboration and working on collaborative teams.

Western Nebraska, with preference for the Panhandle Research, Extension and Education Center (PREEC) in Scottsbluff, NE.

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