Assistant Professor-Tenure System

Position Summary

The Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University invites applications for a full‐time, academic year (9-month) tenure system Assistant Professor with a 50% extension/outreach, 25% research, 20% teaching, and 5% service assignment. The position start date is anticipated to be August 16, 2025.

The successful candidate will develop a robust extension/outreach program focused on swine production systems that support industry needs. The successful candidate will also develop a research program that complements their extension efforts. Specific research areas may include, but are not limited to, nutrition, nutrient management, genetics, behavior and welfare, or biosecurity. In addition, the successful candidate will contribute to the teaching mission of the department by delivering impactful and engaging educational experiences for students. This includes an annual introductory swine management course and a biennial advanced swine management course. Training of graduate students will also be expected.

Pork production continues an evolutionary path leading to substantially coordinated systems of multiple farm-sites, suppliers, lenders, harvesting, and distribution. Effective coordination is critical across both large-scale intensive, and small-scale extensive, production systems. A deep understanding of logistics, feed and genetic procurement, performance metrics, and animal welfare is essential for industry success. Concurrent with changes in these aspects of production are enhanced biosecurity and business continuity in the advent of a highly consequential disease, and efforts to measure and lessen environmental impacts on water and air. The successful candidate will have expertise in a specific part of this coordinated system.

Michigan has a vibrant and growing swine industry which was responsible for over $450 million of hog marketings in 2023, employed more than 4,000 people and generated an additional 5,800 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries. Michigan ranks 13th nationally in swine production with over 1.3 million head in production. Michigan is also home to a state-of-the-art pork processing plant.

The Department has existing faculty working on behavior, genetics, and nutrition of swine. The University has a closed, bio-secure, swine teaching and research center with 250 purebred, registered Yorkshire sows.  The center has all stages of swine production and was recently remodeled and expanded to include group-sow housing facilities. The center batch farrows 48 sows a month and produces over 6,000 pigs a year. In addition, strong collaborations exist with experts in other MSU units including Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Diagnostics, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics, Food Science and Human Nutrition, and MSU Extension, among others.

The successful candidate must possess effective communication skills in their interactions with stakeholders and students which will include those with diversity of demographic, ethnic, gender, and cultural backgrounds. The candidate is expected to develop innovative instructional approaches to extension/outreach and classroom teaching and have a commitment to on-going professional development in the assignments. An understanding of, and commitment to, experiential learning and the land grant mission are essential for success. The successful candidate must be able to work collaboratively with other faculty and extension professionals, effectively communicate and network with swine producers, state government departments, and associated industries and be a strong supporter of animal agriculture.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Doctorate -Animal Science or closely related field

Minimum Requirements

A PhD in Animal Science, or a closely related field. A demonstrated record of activities in extension/outreach, research, and teaching relevant to the position. Candidates should be able to demonstrate the ability and commitment to work cooperatively with colleagues across disciplines.

Desired Qualifications

Desired qualifications:

Postdoctoral training is desired.

Ability to establish stakeholder partnerships.

Evidence of research capabilities as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications.

Demonstrated potential to secure competitive research funding from agencies such as USDA, industry, foundations, etc.

Demonstrated evidence of effective teaching and communication skills.

Evidence of commitment and dedication to mentoring a diverse student populati