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.
- Handle 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.
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
[contact details available in the full listing]
Deadline to Apply: Initial review of applications will begin upon receipt. For full consideration, applicants should submit all required materials on or before March 15, 2026
