Assistant Professor - Animal Welfare - Dairy Cattle

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Position Title:

Assistant Professor - Animal Welfare - Dairy Cattle

Job Category:

Faculty

Employment Type:

Regular

Job Profile:

Assistant Professor

Job Duties:

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. This position is part of the Dairy Innovation Hub, a state-wide initiative to advance dairy research, education, and outreach. The teaching load for this 40% teaching appointment is 4.67 contact hours per semester.

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 welfare and management. Opportunities exist for optional summer employment through teaching, research grants, internship supervision, and other funding sources.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Research (60%)

* Conduct primary research on dairy cattle welfare and management.

* Utilize the UWRF Dairy Herd and/or collaborate with commercial dairy farms across Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest.

* Hande and evaluate herd data sets using dairy management software.

* Work with individual cow management systems.

* Engage in collaborative dairy research with UW-Madison, and UW-Platteville, as part of the Dairy Innovation Hub program.

* Establish and maintain affiliations with dairy farmers, dairy-affiliated groups, and dairy associations at the regional, state, and national levels.

Teaching (40%)

* Teach undergraduate courses in dairy and/or animal science with emphasis on dairy welfare and/or management.

* Help in teaching core disciplines of Dairy or Animal Science based on departmental needs, individual interest, educational background, or skill level.

* Be an effective and engaged teacher.

* Maintain a strong interest and ability in providing undergraduate students with leadership, mentoring, and advising.

* Have well developed and effective oral and written communication skills.

Key

Job Responsibilities:

Department:

Animal and Food Science

Required Qualifications:

* PhD in Dairy Science or Animal Science or Animal Welfare or closely related discipline. A DVM with a graduate degree would also be considered. Applicants who have finished course work and are still working on their dissertation may be considered for a conditional appointment and must complete their Ph.D. or graduate degree within one year after their date of appointment.

* Educational and professional expertise primarily in dairy cattle

* Professional priority for achieving excellence in dairy welfare and management research

* 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:

* Handling and evaluating herd data to assess and improve dairy cattle health and wellbeing

* Experience with dairy management software, such as Dairy Comp, PC Dart, etc.

* Experience with individual cow management systems, such as Cow Manager, etc.

* Experience in evaluating the individual cow's environment as it relates to cow comfort

* Demonstrated research activity in publications in relevant areas

* Experience and ability to teach in the core disciplines of Dairy or Animal Science at the college level

* Experience, contacts, and involvement in the dairy industry

* 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.

How to Apply:

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

* Curriculum Vitae

* Unofficial Transcripts

* 2- 3-page Statement on Research Plans and Teaching Philosophy

* Letter of interest specifying qualifications and experience (cover letter)

* Names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of at least three references who can specifically comment upon your teaching experience and professional preparation (references)

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Melkaye Melka

Associate Professor & Search Chair

melkaye.melka

Final date to receive applications:
Initial review of applications will begin upon receipt. For full consideration, applicants should submit all required materials on or before March 15, 2026

Employees receive excellent benefits including exceptionally low-cost comprehensive health, dental and vision benefits; employer match of Wisconsin Retirement System contributions of 6.95%; an attractive amount of paid leave per year in addition to paid sick leave. To learn more about our benefits, go to

https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./

UW-River Falls does not offer H-1B or other work…