Assistant Professor - Dairy Health and Management

The University of Wisconsin River Falls, a member of the University of Wisconsin System, is located in scenic west central Wisconsin, 30 miles from the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic cities of Minneapolis and St Paul. Year-round arts, cultural and recreational events are easily accessible from River Falls. UWRF's undergraduate and graduate students pursue degrees in four colleges: Arts and Sciences, Education and Professional Studies; Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences; and Business and Economics.

The University provides an excellent environment for learning, emphasizing the importance of faculty-student interaction in classrooms, laboratories, academic advising, and co-curricular activities. A favorable student-faculty ratio affords opportunity for meaningful interchange between faculty and students. Strong interests in teaching, research and community service are highly valued. More information about UWRF can be found at: http://www.uwrf.edu/workhere/.

Position Summary:

This is a nine-month, full-time academic, tenure-track faculty position (60% research and 40% teaching) at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal and Food Science. The standard full-time teaching load is 12 credit hours per semester (4.67 credits per semester for this 40% teaching appointment). The successful candidate will demonstrate strong interests and abilities to conduct research and teach courses in dairy and/or animal science with an emphasis on dairy animal health and management. Opportunities exist for optional summer employment through research grants, teaching, or other funding sources. Anticipated appointment date: August 21, 2023 (earlier start date may be negotiable).

Responsibilities:

Research – 60%

• Develop an applied research program focusing on one or more of the following areas of dairy cattle health: mastitis and milk quality, reproduction, metabolic disorders, infectious diseases, lameness, therapeutics, or other high-impact areas of animal health associated with dairy farming.
• Communicate research results to diverse audiences including professional scientific meetings, refereed publications, and dairy industry groups.
• Develop collaborations and networks across the dairy industry, within local and state government, and within the state of Wisconsin Dairy Innovation Hub.
• Provide leadership and expertise on issues and policies relating to maintaining dairy cattle health and preventing disease conditions (both infectious diseases and metabolic disorders).
• Secure extramural funding sufficient to sustain a vibrant research program that includes the training and support of undergraduate research students.

Primary research will focus on dairy cattle health. Research opportunities exist on our University Laboratory Farm with 100 milking cows and 100 youngstock. Additional research opportunities exist with commercial dairy farmers in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest for conducting field studies, surveys, or epidemiologic studies. Collaborative dairy research opportunities exist with colleagues on our UW-River Falls campus, as well as colleagues at UW-Madison and UW-Platteville as part of the state-wide Dairy Innovation Hub program. Participating and contributing to dairy animal research at the state, regional and national levels is expected. Writing research proposals/grants and soliciting extramural funding is required. Establishing, participating, and maintaining affiliations with dairy producers, dairy-industry groups, and dairy associations at the state, regional and national levels is expected.

Teaching – 40%

Primary teaching will include undergraduate courses in dairy and/or animal science with an emphasis on, but not limited to, dairy cattle health and management. These teaching opportunities may include introductory dairy and animal science courses, and other courses in the core dairy and animal science curriculum, depending on departmental needs, the individual’s interest, educational background, and skill level. Additional responsibilities include serving as academic advisor to undergraduates and participating in departmental service.

The University encourages participation in faculty governance and service activities at the departmental, college and university levels. Faculty members are also expected to engage in scholarly activity, which broadly defined, includes the scholarship of research, the scholarship of teaching, or similar scholarly activities. UW-River Falls strives to be a leader in collaborative and undergraduate research; we therefore seek faculty members who have an interest in, or experience with collaborative research, scholarship, and creative activity.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in Dairy Science, Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine/Science or closely related discipline. Applicants who have finished course work and are still working on their dissertation may be considered for a conditional appointment and must complete their PhD by August 21, 2024, or within one year after their date of appointment.
• Primary educational/professional expertise in dairy cattle.
• Professional priority for achieving excellence in dairy cattle health and management research.
• Experience in conducting research as evidenced by writing scholarly articles, peer-reviewed publications, and acquiring external grants.
• Education and experience in dairy cattle health, or dairy herd management, or dairy epidemiology, or dairy herd automation and monitoring.
• Strong interest in and desire to teach college-level courses.
• Well-developed and effective oral and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with North American animal agricultural practices.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A veterinary medical degree (DVM, VMD, BVSc, BVM, or equivalent).
• Knowledge of the North American dairy industry.
• Ability to teach in the core disciplines of dairy science at the college level.
• Strong interest in and ability to provide undergraduate students: 1) leadership and mentoring in research; 2) academic advising; and 3) advising of co-curricular activities such as student organizations.

Application:

Applicants are required to apply online. UWRF will not consider paper, emailed or faxed applications. Applicants are required to provide:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Letter of interest specifying qualifications and experience (cover letter)
• A three-part statement, not to exceed 3 pages, covering
  • your dairy health and management research experience,
  • your primary and secondary teaching interests, experience in classroom, and any evidence of successful teaching at the college level,
  • your applied research and scholarly activity agenda. (Other Document)
• An unofficial transcript (official copies of transcripts will be required if hired).
• Provide the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of three references who can specifically comment on your teaching ability, research experience, and professional preparation (references).
   

Inquiries should be addressed to:
Professor Bonnie Walters – Search Chair
Department of Animal and Food Science
bonnie.s.walters@uwrf.edu

Deadline to Apply: Initial review of applications will begin upon receipt. For full consideration, applicants should submit all required materials by February 26, 2023.

View our excellent benefits at: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/fasl.pdf