Director, Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL) / Associate or Full Clinical Professor, Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science

JOB SUMMARY

The Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science (PVS) in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources (CAHNR), University of Connecticut (UConn), invites applications for a Director for the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (CVMDL). The position will be a non-tenure track, clinical faculty position at the rank of Associate or Full Clinical Professor. The appointment includes directing the CVMDL and contributing to departmental teaching.

The CVMDL is a nationally recognized veterinary diagnostic laboratory located on the UConn Storrs campus. It is accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians – the only veterinary diagnostic laboratory in New England with this accreditation – which certifies the laboratory’s quality and competence through a rigorous Quality Management System. The CVMDL is a member of national and regional laboratory groups, including the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LiRN), and the New England Wildlife Disease Cooperative (NWDC), and is a National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) authorized laboratory. The Diagnostic Testing Services (DTS) section within the CVMDL manages the coordination and delivery of routine and specialized diagnostic tests.

The CVMDL holds a Level 2 NAHLN status and handles over 90,000 diagnostic specimens and more than 2,000 pathology cases annually. These pathology cases are diverse, encompassing specimens from livestock, companion animals, zoos, aquariums, wildlife, and laboratory animal species.

In recent years, CVMDL has made significant investments exceeding $2 million in facility and equipment upgrades. These enhancements include improvements to the Histology and Necropsy units, the addition of a Next Generation Sequencing laboratory, expanded capacity in the Molecular Diagnostics section, and the incorporation of a Bruker MALDI-TOF system in the Microbiology section.

The CVMDL provides high-quality diagnostic services to clients including veterinarians, members of the agricultural industry, owners of companion, zoo, and aquatic animals, stewards of Connecticut wildlife, and residents of Connecticut, New England, and beyond. The CVMDL strives to work cooperatively with federal and state veterinary agencies to enhance disease surveillance and response. The successful candidate will provide dynamic leadership to the CVMDL, engage key stakeholders, including federal and state agencies, develop new programmatic initiatives, and expand its partnerships and collaborations within the Department, University, State and beyond. Specifically, the Director will:

• Oversee the successful and timely delivery of veterinary diagnostic and necropsy services.
• Supervise and mentor the activities of faculty, staff, and students working or studying in the CVMDL.
• Ensure quality service complying with accreditation and membership standards of AAVLD, NAHLN, NPIP, and Vet-LiRN.
• Liaise with state and federal veterinarians and agencies on animal health and zoonotic diseases, providing professional expertise, diagnostic support, and the timely reporting of results.
• Assess and expand CVMDL offerings to address evolving markets, technologies, and needs.
• Develop and nurture active relationships with key partners in industry, foundations, government and other stakeholders with the objective of building relationships that support new strategic initiatives.
• Enhance the research and development activities of the laboratory to improve and advance diagnostic technology.
• Provide oversight of CVMDL budgetary activities, including securing external funding to support the activities and programs of CVMDL.
• Engage in and expand the CVMDL’s role in Extension, communicating technical information clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences such as clients, community members, and media.
• Align research interests (including grantsmanship and publications) with CVMDL diagnostic caseload.
• Pursue opportunities for international or field-based activities, such as foreign animal disease surveillance, for which the lab is approved.
• Ensure compliance with all university, state, and federal policies.

The Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science is the leading infectious disease and diagnostic unit on the Storrs campus. The department’s research focuses on the pathogenesis of infectious diseases, medical microbiology (bacteriology and virology), pathology, and immunology. It is home to the CVMDL and the Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research (CEVR). The department undergraduate major