Featured Positions

Two Tenure-Track Faculty Positions – Department of Animal Science

University of Vermont

The Department of Animal Science at the University of Vermont invites applications for two Tenure-track Faculty Positions to begin August 2011.
Food Animal Biotechnology: This is a 9 month, tenure track, research and teaching position. Responsibilities include teaching and advising undergraduate and graduate level courses, and University service. In addition, the appointee will be required to develop a funded, innovative research program in the area of animal/rumen biotechnology to address areas of economic importance and interest to Animal Agriculture and/or Food Systems. Ideally, the research program should focus towards product differentiation and value added treatment-based strategies tailored towards different market segments, such as: infants (development and growth, disease control, or prevention of adult disease), youths (development and growth, or prevention of adult disease), adults (maintenance of good health), and the elderly (delay senility – “Cognitive Foods”, reduce osteoporosis – “milk products”). Work can also be tailored towards value added processing of biomaterials and by-products. Research focused on dairy cattle is preferred and the appointee will be expected to collaborate with colleagues within and outside the Department of Animal Science to strengthen national and Vermont dairy issues.

For further information on the Food Animal Biotechnology position, contact search committee chair Dr. Feng-Qi Zhao at feng-qi.zhao@uvm.edu.

Animal Genetics/Genomics: This is a 9 month, tenure track, research and teaching position. Responsibilities include teaching an introductory animal genetics course (focusing on ruminant and monogastric livestock animals), contributing to upper or graduate level courses, and advising undergraduate and graduate students. University service is also expected. In addition, the appointee will be required to develop a funded, innovative research program that will focus on host animal genetics and biochemical processes influencing desirable production traits in livestock and/or environmentally sustainable food production systems. This integral process will ultimately lead to the development of healthier and more nutritious foods, while establishing breeding lines of highly productive, but low methane emitting dairy and beef cattle. Moreover, this individual will be part of a large multidisciplinary team that will contribute new knowledge to better understand and combat obesity in humans where there is a direct link between intestinal microbial ecology and the diversion of calories towards fat production. Research focused on dairy cattle is preferred and the appointee will be expected to collaborate with colleagues within and outside the Department of Animal Science to strengthen national and Vermont dairy issues. Research programs should incorporate the use of Genetics, Genomics, Proteomics, and, or Metabolomics.

For further information on the Animal Genetics/Genomic position,  contact search committee chair Dr. David Kerr at david.kerr@uvm.edu.

Applicants for either position are encouraged to apply before December 6, 2010, at which time review of applications will begin.  Candidates must have a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral level degree in Dairy Science, Animal Science, Animal Genetics, Molecular Genetics, Functional Genomics, Biotechnology, or a closely related field. At least two years postdoctoral experience is required and demonstration of success in attracting extramural funds is preferred.

All candidates must apply online at www.uvmjobs.com and must attach to that application a curriculum vitae and statements of research interests and teaching philosophy along with three (3) letters of recommendation.

The University of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Applications from women and people from diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds are encouraged.  The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through their research, teaching, and/or service. Applicants are requested to include in their cover letter information about how they will further this goal. For more information regarding the University of Vermont’s diversity initiatives, please visit the President’s web site at: http://www.uvm.edu/president.

Founded in 1791, UVM has been called one of the “public ivies” and is consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in the United States. The University is located in Burlington, Vermont, also rated as one of the best small cities in America. The greater Burlington area has a population of about 125,000 and enjoys a panoramic setting on the shores of Lake Champlain, between the Green Mountains of Vermont and the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Burlington and the surrounding area provide an environment rich in cultural and recreational activities for individuals and families, with multiple opportunities for interactions with local industry and communities.

The University of Vermont recently identified three “Spires of Excellence” in which it will strategically focus institutional investments and growth over the next several years. These include: Neuroscience, Behavior and Health; Complex Systems; and Food Systems. Candidates whose research, scholarship, and/or creative work interests align or intersect with these three areas, particularly Food Systems (http://www.uvm.edu/~tri/?Page=foodsys.php), are especially encouraged to apply.

The Department of Animal Science has nearly 300 undergraduate students in four concentrations of study: pre-veterinary, equine, dairy, and general animal science. The Department currently has 12 graduate students and offers an integrated Animal, Nutrition & Food Science Ph.D. program. There is also strong opportunity to collaborate with the W.H. Miner Agricultural Institute in nearby Chazy, NY. More information on the Department is available at: http://asci.uvm.edu/.