Small Ruminant Production Medicine

Working/Functional Title

Small Ruminant Production Medicine

Position Summary

The Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences (LCS) at the College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Michigan State University, invites applications for a full-time faculty position focused on small ruminant production medicine. This position is available at the rank of Assistant or Associate Professor in the Health Programs track, depending on the candidate's qualifications and interests.

The successful candidate will join a dedicated team of professionals committed to advancing the department’s teaching, clinical service, research, and outreach/extension missions. This position is essential to supporting the growing needs of the veterinary student body, particularly in small ruminant production medicine, and fostering the department’s long-standing relationships with the agricultural community. LCS faculty promote and support Michigan's strong and growing small ruminant industries.

LCS is educating the next generation of veterinary professionals, conducting research that improves the lives of animals and humans, and providing the finest clinical services available. Our diverse faculty focuses on areas ranging from dairy and production animal medicine to specialized equine services, intensive research, and student training. They work closely with students pursuing DVM degrees, veterinarians in internship and residency programs, and MS and PhD students. Learning to understand, diagnose, and treat disease takes place in some of the most advanced facilities and laboratories. Faculty and students work together to find new solutions and put them into practice for a better world. LCS educational facilities include the Large Animal Clinic in the Veterinary Medical Center, where faculty members and students provide emergency care as well as diagnostics, medical and surgical treatment, and therapeutic services for horses, cattle, and other ruminants, as well as other animals, including zoos and wildlife.

Position Responsibilities:

The candidate will have an approximately 50% commitment to teaching within the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum, with the remainder of the appointment distributed between clinical service, research or outreach/extension based on the candidate’s expertise and preferences.

Teaching duties will include predominantly field service instruction in small ruminant production medicine, mentoring veterinary students, and contributing to developing clinical rotations that emphasize hands-on learning with real-world applications. The successful candidate will be charged with growing the instructional programs for the DVM clinical programs in small ruminants in partnership with other ruminant specialists in the department. Therefore, a commitment to providing high-quality clinical experiences for students is essential. Our students consistently express a desire to learn more about small ruminants, and our goal is to ensure they are well-prepared to meet the needs of small ruminant clients upon graduation. The remainder of the position can be tailored to the candidate's interests. Research opportunities are available and encouraged for those interested in contributing to the field of small ruminant medicine at both the basic and applied levels, as well as developing the use of small ruminant models for diseases within the One Health framework. Outreach/extension responsibilities may involve collaboration with local producers and MSU Extension specialists and educators to improve herd health and production practices regionally, nationally, or internationally.

Health Programs (HP) appointments are unique to Michigan State University Colleges of Human, Osteopathic, Veterinary Medicine, and Nursing and are predicated on the need to enhance programs in clinical education, patient care services and clinical research. Health Programs (HP) appointments emphasize clinical service and teaching, although these positions are flexible to allow ample time for research and scholarly activity. HP appointments are expected to contribute to preclinical and clinical education of veterinary students, interns, and residents. In addition, HP faculty are expected to be active in research and other scholarly endeavors. A complete description of the Michigan State University HP system is available at Health Programs Faculty Appointment System Handbook (msu.edu).

Michigan State University is on one of the nation's largest and most beautiful campuses. The University has a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and is home to a diverse international community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists, teachers, and leaders. East Lansing's collegiate atmosphere is complimented by the low cost of li