Assistant Professor: Animal Genetics and Breeding

Overview

Job

Location:

Twin Cities
Job Family:
Academic
Full/Part Time:
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary:
Regular
Job Code: 9403
Employee Class:
Instr Fac/TC and Coord Cmp

FLSA Status:
Exempt

Term: 9-month, tenure-track.

Reports to:

Department Head. The 9-month salary (option to be paid over 12 months) can be supplemented through research and/or educational grants. Salary will be supplemented with 9 weeks of summer salary for the first three (3) years of the appointment to help establish research and Extension programs.

Location:

College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Campus:
St. Paul

This position is not eligible for H1B sponsorship.

Position:
Assistant Professor, tenure-track (9-month) with Teaching (50%) and Research (50%) responsibilities involving dairy and animal genetics. The individual will provide leadership in animal breeding, genetics, and applied animal production courses. Potential courses include Animal Breeding, Introduction to Animal Science (including College-In-Schools oversight), Animal Handling, Advanced Dairy Cattle Breeding, Genetics, or graduate-level courses in genetics, genomics, or mathematical genetics. The successful candidate will develop an externally funded research program in an area of dairy and animal genetics, with potential topics including genetic/genomic selection tools, phenotyping of novel traits, propagation of desirable complex traits, genetic theory applications, and high-throughput and whole-genome sequencing.

Research aims should contribute to sustainability factors such as feed or production efficiency, climate resiliency, environmental footprint, nutritional value, food safety, animal health and wellbeing, and One Health. The tenure home is the Department of Animal Science within CFANS. The position is housed at UMN St. Paul campus. The candidate is expected to develop independent, yet collaborative, research and teaching programs and to recruit and mentor graduate students from diverse backgrounds.

Collaboration with colleagues across UMN and beyond is expected.

Responsibilities

The UMN Department of Animal Science seeks applicants who can lead and collaborate in instruction and establish an innovative, independent yet collaborative, extramurally funded research program and contribute to the public service mission of the University.

Teaching: 50%

• Establish a high-quality teaching program in dairy and animal breeding, genetics, and applied animal management
• Develop a successful graduate student training program, including teaching in area of expertise
• Provide academic mentoring for graduate and undergraduate students
• Contribute to student success through recruitment and retention activities, and student experiences and organizations
• Participate in professional development opportunities supporting teaching and advising
• Provide leadership in documenting and sharing innovations in teaching and learning

Research: 50%

• Conduct innovative research related to dairy and animal breeding and genetics
• Obtain internal and extramural funding, support graduate student research, publish in relevant refereed journals, and achieve national and international recognition
• Contribute to research programs in dairy and animal production systems within the department and interdisciplinary collaboration with faculty across the UMN and beyond

The Dairy and Livestock Industry

Minnesota's dairy industry in 2023 ranked 7th for milk cow inventory with 450,000 cows, 7th for milk production 10.5B lbs, and 6th for cheese production 817M lbs. Minnesota ranks 6th for milk goat inventory at 14,000 head. The Twin Cities region hosts numerous food-production related employers and partners.

Required

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Dairy or Animal Science or Genetics with emphasis on genetic improvement of dairy or domestic animals completed by the time of appointment
• Demonstrated ability to propose and conduct independent and collaborative research
• Publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Evidence of skills in teaching and advising students
• Demonstrated strong commitment to the University's goal of creating an inclusive campus climate

Preferred

• Background in providing oversight to research in quantitative genetics, genomics, or application of genetic theory
• Evidence of obtaining extramural grant funding
• Experience in graduate student advising and mentoring
• Experience and ability to work with research and teaching teams in an interdisciplinary, diverse, and multicultural environment
• Evidence of communication of research results to external audiences
• Evidence of utilization of innovative teaching methods and technology

The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) is composed of 13 academic departments, 10 research and outreach centers across Minnesota, plus the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Bell Museum, and dozens of interdisciplinary centers that span the college, the university, and the globe. CFANS offers thirteen undergraduate majors and…