A new strategic university-wide emphasis on Global Systems Science, and university-wide investment into Agricultural Research, Education, Extension and Technology Transfer (AGREETT) program (http://www.cfans.umn.edu/agreett), has prompted the University of Minnesota, College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) into hiring a cluster of at least six faculty members in the broad area of infectious disease across its three Departments. The Veterinary Population Medicine Department (VPM) invites applications for a tenured or tenure-track faculty position in antimicrobial use and resistance in food animals. The position is a 9-month appointment, but 12 months of support will be provided for the initial 2 years of the position. The appointment may be made at the assistant, associate, or full professor ranks. The final rank and terms of appointment will depend on the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate consistent with collegiate and University policies.
Production-limiting diseases, both ongoing endemic disease conditions and newly emerging diseases that create devastating outbreaks, can lead to significant economic hardship for both producers and consumers. The expected growth of the world population to 9.5 billion by 2050 portends a substantial increase in demand for animal protein. The state of Minnesota is a substantial, and internationally competitive, producer of avian, bovine and porcine proteins. VPM and the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) are among national leaders in education, research, service, and outreach to support food animal industries, including aspects related to public health. The recent implementation of FDA guidance 213 has increased the responsibility and accountability of the veterinary profession for oversight of antibiotic use in food animals. The regulatory changes were motivated by global concerns about the impact of antibiotic resistance in human medicine and the need to promote appropriate antibiotic use in all arenas. The successful candidate will join a vibrant VPM faculty with broad expertise in animal production, infectious diseases and veterinary public health, and with strong collaborative relationships with animal industries, and faculty in other UMN colleges including the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences; University of Minnesota Extension; and the School of Public Health.
RESPONSIBILITIES
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with the potential to develop a nationally recognized research program that complements our existing infectious disease and food safety programs and can provide expert advice to industry related to antibiotic use and resistance and its implications for animal and human health The primary responsibilities of the position will be to establish a research program relevant to antibiotic use and resistance in food animal production, and importantly to interface with industry and the veterinary profession via outreach to strengthen knowledge and practices of antibiotic use. There will also be opportunities to co-teach in professional (DVM) and graduate (MS, MPH, PhD) courses. The VPM department has an internationally recognized swine, dairy and aquatics infectious diseases program, with active projects involving antibiotic resistance, foodborne pathogens and zoonoses, disease surveillance and control, vaccine development, and investigation of microbial pathogenesis, host-pathogen interactions and microbiome/metagenomics. An affiliated center, the Center of Animal Health and Food Safety serves as an important link to partnership with state and federal government along with key food industries.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Candidates must have a postgraduate research degree (PhD or Masters) with research experience in infectious diseases.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates with a DVM or equivalent foreign degree, with experience on research and outreach in antimicrobial use and resistance in food animals will be given preference.
SALARY AND START-UP PACKAGE
Highly competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. The candidate will be offered newly-renovated laboratory space in support of interdisciplinary science. The University offers an excellent benefits package. For example, the University pays 100% of the premium for Faculty Basic Life Insurance as well as 100% of the premium for Faculty Group Income Disability Insurance. Faculty contributes 5.5% of their annual salary and the University contributes 10% toward the Faculty Retirement Plan. There are also two Optional Retirement Plans available. For more benefits information see https://humanresources.umn.edu/benefits.
START DATE
Negotiable, after a suitable candidate is identified.
APPLICATIONS
Applications will be accepted and reviewed upon receipt until the position is filled. Qualified applicants should apply online at http://z.umn.edu/agreettamr, Job ID: 315717. Required documents include a curriculum vitae, a statement of research, outreach and teaching interests, a letter of intent outlining professional record and academic career goals, and names and contact information of three professional references. Inquiries about the application process should be directed to Ms. Anna Jones at bystr005@umn.edu. Inquiries about the position should be directed to the chair of the search committee, Dr. Peter Davies, Professor, (612-625-8290, davie001@umn.edu).
The Veterinary Population Medicine Department encourages all qualified candidates to apply, particularly women and other under-represented minorities, and candidates with research and teaching experience in multicultural, multiracial settings. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status or sexual orientation. The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer.
ABOUT MINNESOTA
The Twin Cities metropolitan area (St Paul/Minneapolis) is the 16th-largest metropolitan area in the country and ranks among the country’s most desirable places to live, offering exceptional cultural, social, and recreational opportunities. The public school system in Minnesota is excellent and the University of Minnesota Day Care Center is among the best in the nation. Livability.com ranked Minneapolis as the healthiest city in the U.S in 2015.
The Twin Cities hosts 4 major professional sports teams, are a cultural center for theater, opera, museums, great shopping and have an international airport providing a direct connection to most major cities. State parks are plentiful and hiking, skiing, swimming, boating and fishing are within minutes of most anywhere in the Twin Cities area. You can live in rural areas with only a 30 minute commute to the Veterinary College. Really, it is (mostly) not that cold and people love it here! For more information please see the following websites: https://humanresources.umn.edu/find-job/rap and http://www.exploreminnesota.com.